Ankara

Ankara is Turkey's capital and its second city in size after Istanbul. Literally and figuratively, it is located at the heart of both Türkiye and Central Anatolia and the surrounding region. The population is around 4.5 million.

Ankara is the administrative hub of Türkiye and a huge university town, so it has a large population of government workers and university students. As the national capital Ankara is home to a large population of foreign diplomats and embassy staff, it offers goods and services that might be more difficult to find in other Turkish city's — for example you will have no problem ordering a cappuccino or a hamburger.

Ankara is a sprawling, modern city which can appear as little more than a dull, concrete jungle at first glance — most non-local Turks view Ankara as a depressive and grey city with nothing in offer other than the boring world of politics. Consequently, many visitors tend to use it merely as a transit point for getting to places like Konya or Cappadocia, however Ankara does have a lot to offer for those prepared to look a bit deeper — as the proud capital of the Turkish Republic, it is easy to trace the steps of the early republican years here, whether it be in the shape of the fine buildings of the first national architecture movement or the 1940s monuments following the totalitarian aesthetics of the era. Local museums abound with some of the best pieces of art in the nation, ancient and modern. And since it originally lies on the mostly barren Central Anatolian steppelands, Ankara vigorously pursued a policy of tree planting, which resulted in many parks and forestlands around the town, which add to its charms.

Panorama of Kavaklıdere from Anıtkabir - Modern cityscape of Ankara, as viewed from the path leading to Anıtkabir

About Ankara

Like most Turks and the local residents are generally friendly and helpful to tourists. Ankara has a large university student population and many young people can communicate in English. Having said that, it's still a good idea to have a Turkish phrasebook or dictionary on hand.

Apart from the old town in and around the fortress near Ulus and unplanned shanty town neighbourhoods here and there built hastily by new immigrants from countryside in the last five decades, most of Ankara, which was a provincial town of 20,000 people in the early days of the Republic, is a purpose-built capital due to its strategic location at the heart of the nation, although the history of settlement in the vicinity is millennia old.

While the biggest claim to fame of the town used to be the long-haired local breed of goats named after the former name of the city (Angora), out of which high quality mohair textiles were produced, today the few places where you can spot them in the city is the lawns in some parks or at the sides of clover-leaf interchanges on the highways—in the form of cute sculptures.

Orientation

Kızılay Plaza in Ankara, Türkiye - Ankara: Kizilay square

The "downtown" area of this large city is around Kızılay Plaza (Kızılay Meydanı, named after the headquarters of the Red Crescent and the Turkish equivalent of the Red Cross, now replaced by a modern shopping mall) which has a fair number of transportation links to almost anywhere in the city. To the north, Kızılay Plaza is connected by a wide avenue, Atatürk Boulevard, to the squares of Sıhhiye (Ottoman Turkish for "sanitary works" as this has been the site of the building of the Ministry of Health since the foundation of the republic), marked by an unmissable Hittite monument in the middle of its roundabout and Ulus ("nation" and the site of the major institutions of the early years of the republic, such as the old parliament), which has a large equestrian monument of Kemal Atatürk and the founder of the republic, at its side. Ulus and the adjoining Hisar neighborhood around the hilltop fortress and Hamamönü just south of it down the hill form the old town of Ankara.

To the immediate south of Kızılay lies the upmarket neighborhoods of Kavaklıdere, Gaziosmanpaşa and Çankaya. The city's most expensive hotels and restaurants are found in this region, as are most of the embassies and consular services.

Southwest of Kızılay, past the aptly named Bakanlıklar ("ministries") neighborhood, İsmet İnönü Boulevard (named after the second Turkish president) leads into the area collectively known as Eskişehir Yolu (literally "the road to Eskişehir"), which is lined by most of Ankara's large and afforested university campuses and the buildings of the administrative institutions, including the National Parliament. The area morphes into exurbs several tens of kilometers out of the city, which eventually give way to the wide open steppe.

Weather in Ankara

As any other part of the Anatolian highland and the winters are cold and snowy. Temperature is regularly below the freezing point during this season, but it rarely drops below -15°C. Thanks to the low levels of relative humidity and the hot and dry summers are more comfortable than coastal regions of Türkiye. Average daily temperatures in midsummer are around 30°C. Daily temperatures can reach 35°C and above, but is not common and last no more than a few days. Summer nights are cool, though, so be sure to bring at least a cardigan with you to wear outdoors. Spring and autumn are the wettest seasons, but with an annual precipitation of 415 mm (i.e. a semi-arid climate), you are unlikely to get much wet during your trip to Ankara, anyway.

Travel to Ankara

Travel by plane to Ankara

Ankara Esenboga International Airport - Ankara Esenboga International Airport

Ankara Esenboğa Airport IATA Flight Code: ESB Is the only civilian airport in Ankara. International flights are rather low in frequency and scope - apart from Turkish Airlines (THY), only Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and British Airways offer direct connecting Flights to their respective European hubs. Iran Air also has two weekly Flights to Tehran. For other carriers flying into Türkiye, a flight into Istanbul is necessary, followed by an air transfer to Ankara by Turkish Airlines or Anadolu Jet (a low cost brand of Turkish Airlines). - EasyJet also offers discount flights to and from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) and Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg in the summer months (until October 25) and to and from Istanbul and London Luton airport all year round for fares as low as £22.

The only means of public transport are public busses numbered 442 (20 TL with one pass cards). It starts from the airport and follows a main artery to Ankara, passing through almost all central points, including train station, Kızılay, AŞTİ (intercity bus terminal). You can expect it to be rather crowded and as they don't have separate sections for luggage, you might get exhausted at the end of the journey. One common way to travel to and from airports in Türkiye is HAVAS but recently their services were temporarily suspended due to some legal issues with Ankara Metropolitan Municipality. Until the issues are solved and there won't be any HAVAS service. Until then Ankara Metropolitan Municipality started their own shuttle service called Belko Air. They follow a similar route to the public transport, from airport it takes you to train station, Kizilay and AŞTİ. You can put your luggage in luggage compartment. It costs you 17 TL. You can take a taxi as well but that would cost you around 100-1400 TL one way, metered.

Travel by train to Ankara

Ankara is the eastern terminus of the Turkish high-speed rail system (YHT), with frequent fast trains to Konya and via Eskişehir to Istanbul. Trains to Eskişehir and Konya take 90 minutes and those stations are within 3-5 kilometers of their town centres, so they are easy day trips. Trains to Istanbul take 4½ hours; they also stop at Pendik, 25 kilometers east of downtown and convenient for Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen airport (10 kilometers, taxi or bus).

Destinations east of Ankara are served by slow overnight trains. The main services are to Diyarbakir and Kurtalan (the Guney Kurtalan Express), to Erzurum and Kars (the Dogu Express) and to Tatvan (the Vangölü Express) and thence by dolmus to Van. From Van a train runs once a week to Tabriz in Iran, with onward trains to Tehran.

A high-speed line is under construction from Ankara eastwards and the first section to Kayseri and Sivas has been completed. The railway from Türkiye to Georgia and Azerbaijan currently only carries freight, but passenger trains are expected to start in autumn 2019. International trains to Syria and Iraq are all suspended indefinitely.

Ankara Central train station - Ankara Garı - Southwest of the old quarter. Nearest metro station is AnkaraMetroLogo - 15px Ulus, 700 m northwest. Many public buses and dolmuşes stop right in front of the station.

If you are travelling from places other than Istanbul, you will find buses fast, affordable and modern. Watch out for the drivers spraying your hands with lemon cologne if you do not like it.

Ankara Intercity Terminal - Ankara Şehirlerarası Terminal İşletmeleri AŞTİ (pronounced ush-tee| connected to the Kızılay Plaza- Metro AnkarayLogo - 15px 'AŞTİ' . There are also free of charge shuttle buses to Kızılay (and a number of other locations) run by the AŞTİ administration. They depart from behind the main building. ☎ +90 312 207 1000 +90 312 207 1010 The buses terminate at this bus station (otogar), a huge, two-storey building with extended wings on sides. Most of the city's in Türkiye have direct buses to the capital of Türkiye. From Istanbul to Ankara and the bus trip takes around 6 hours and one way fare is between 55 and 820 TL. The fare varies by bus companies. Usually big companies like Pamukkale, Kamil Koç, Metro and Ulusoy have higher rates when other regional bus companies have lower prices, however the trip takes around 8 hours when you prefer these affordable regional bus companies. There are a lot of online services for buying tickets, but most of the time, companies' own websites offer lower prices.

Transportation in Ankara

The city has a dense public bus network, a two-line subway called Ankara Metrosu and a single line suburban railway called Ankara Banliyö Treni.

For tourists, Ankara’s public transit system, particularly the public bus network, can be difficult to figure out, because maps are rare and all information is in (Turkish). Nor is there any access provided for disabled travellers in any form of public transport. Buses and metros tend to be very crowded during rush hours, mainly on Mondays and Fridays.

If you know the city well, public transportation, mainly the metro, is an ideal, easy, quick and affordable way to get around particularly for longer distances. For shorter distances taxis are an easy, quick and affordable way to get around.

Tambilet 2006 - EGO card

There are two types of public buses in Ankara; those run by the Ankara Municipality named Ankara Belediye Otobüsleri (EGO) and those run by a private corporation named Ankara Özel Halk Otobüsleri (ÖHO). You can differentiate these two types by their colours. EGO-run buses are white and blue while ÖHO-run buses are blue. Both types of these public buses use the same bus network and bus stops.

Ankara Municipal Buses

The Ankara Municipal Buses, named Ankara Belediye Otobüsleri (EGO), consists of an extensive and dense bus network and is owned and operated by the Ankara Municipality.

Payment system for municipal buses is based on feler.asp multi-use magnetic cards which are also used for the metro; starting from the smallest available which is the 1-unit card which costs 1.620 TL, 2-unit cards which cost 3.30 TL, 3-unit cards which cost 4.920 TL, 5-unit cards which cost 8.220 TL, 10-unit cards which cost 16.190 TL and 20-unit cards which cost 33.00 TL. A free transfer with the magnetic cards is feasible within a duration of 45 minutes between the bus lines and metro lines. The magnetic cards cannot be purchased in buses and have to be purchased beforehand at kiosks and metro stations.

No stops and maps are displayed in the buses and bus stops nor announced by voice in the buses. However all current bus information is available online at the N/indexEN.asp EGO English website. In addition, apps for smartphones are available with the same functionality.

Ankara Non-Municipal Public Buses

The Ankara Non-Municipal Public Buses, Ankara Özel Halk Otobüsleri (ÖHO), consists of an extensive and dense bus network, operated by a private corporation.

Payment system for non-municipal buses is with cash. The ticket, which is only a one-way ticket, is purchased in buses at a cost of 2.390 TL.

Unfortunately, no stops and maps are displayed in the buses and bus stops nor announced by voice in the buses.

By Metro

File:Çayyolu Metro 19 - Ankara Metro allows for quick access.

The Ankara Metro, named Ankara Metrosu, consists of two metro lines, which are called Ankaray AnkarayLogo - 15px and Ankara Metro AnkaraMetroLogo - 15px which is owned and operated by the Ankara Municipality .

The west-east light-rail line named Ankaray and the north-south heavy-rail Ankara Metro line are both mostly underground lines and intersect at Kızılay station.

The Ankaray line runs between AŞTİ (Ankara Şehirlerarası Terminal İşletmesi - Ankara Intercity Bus Terminal) and Dikimevi. The line is 8.7 km long (8.0 kilometers underground and 0.7 km surface railway) and has 11 stations

The Ankara Metro line, runs between Kızılay and the town center, to Batıkent in the northwest. The line is 14.7 km long (6.5 km underground, 4.5 km surface and 3.7 km elevated railway) and has 12 stations.

Payment for the subway is based on multi-use magnetic cards which is also used for the municipal buses; starting from the smallest available which is the 1-unit card which costs 1.620 TL, 2-unit cards which cost 3.30 TL, 3-unit cards which cost 4.920 TL, 5-unit cards which cost 8.220 TL, 10-unit cards which cost 16.190 TL and 20-unit cards which cost 33.00 TL. A free transfer with the magnetic cards is feasible within a duration of 45 minutes between the bus lines and metro lines. The magnetic cards can be purchased at kiosks and metro stations.

All stations are announced both on a display and by voice in the metros.

By Suburban Railway

Ankara Suburban Railway (Ankara Banliyö Treni) consists of a single line, between Sincan and Eryaman in the west, through the town center, to Kayaş in the east. Trains run every 15 mins between about 06:00 and 22:00 3/yolcu/baskentray.pdf. The line is 37.0 km long, all of it above ground and has 24 stations. There's nothing of visitor interest near the outlying stations, but Eryaman is an interchange with YHT trains to Konya, Eskişehir and Istanbul Pendik.

Buy tickets in cash at any station. A one-way ticket costs 1.70 TL and a return ticket costs 3.00 TL.

The entire line was closed for over a year due to construction at Ankara station and surrounding tracks, but it re-opened in April 2018. It's owned and operated by Turkish State Railways.

Best way to travel in Ankara by a Taxi

Taxis are numerous in Ankara and are recognizable by their yellow color and word Taksi on top of the car. All licensed taxis have the letter T in their license plates.

The fare shown on the meter reads according to distance traveled. The ride will start from 2.130 TL and the rate is 1.90 TL per kilometre. The rates for day and night are same. Tipping is not done other than rounding the fare to the next 50 kurus or 7 TL.

Occasionally, some taxi drivers will refuse to start the meter and try to negotiate a fixed price, mainly with tourists. But most taxi drivers will start taximeters at all times. You should avoid these cabs and simply take another one as you will almost certainly end paying too much. Many taxi drivers, even though very few of them speak a foreign language, will understand your requested destination and instructions. Tell them then to put the taximeter on. Taxi drivers do normally work with the taximeter, so they will not be surprised at all when you ask them to put it on. Emphasize to the taxi driver that you will pay for the meter price before getting in.

Always try to stop a taxi that is passing by on the road or find a legitimate taxi stop.

If you are not familiar with the city and see that you are a tourist and the taxi driver may drive a detour in order to charge you more. Insist on going to the destination that you want and have a map to show them your destination, to avoid a detour.

Also beware that all taxis are required to have the designated license plate with the letter T apart from their yellow colouring.

What to See

Kocatepe Mosque Ankara - Kocatepe

Mosques in Ankara

Kocatepe Mosque - Kocatepe Camii | built between 1967 and 1987 Completed in 1987, this project is built in a neoclassical Ottoman architecture style and is an eclectic building

Hacı Bayram Mosque - Hacı Bayram Veli Cami | restored by architect Mimar Sinan in the 16th century, with Kütahya tiles being added in the 18th century. Just next door is the small tomb of Hacı Bayram Veli, a poet and Sufi, who settled in Ankara in the 15th century to spread his teachings. Thit is considered to be the holiest shrine in the city by pious Muslims, who can be found praying in and outside the tomb in large numbers regardless of the time of the day. Take a look inside to see the colourful dome topping the structure.

Arslanhane Mosque - Arslanhane (Ahi Şerafeddin) Camii | AnkarayLogo - 15px Kurtuluş South 1km. A 13th-century Seljuk mosque near the fortress and quite worth the effort to climb up the steep hill leading there. Has a finely carved wooden ceiling supported by a "forest" of stately wooden columns, following the style of a few such masjids dispersed throughout Anatolia.

Sultan Alaeddin Mosque - Sultan Alaeddin Cami | It has a carved walnutmimber and the inscription on which records that the mosque was completed in early AH 574 (which corresponds to the summer of 1178 AD) by the Seljuk Sultan. Ankara's first mosque was built in former Kaleici neighborhood.

Ahi Elvan Mosque Ahi Elvan Camii | AnkaraMetroLogo - 15px: 'Ulus' Northwest 1.7 kilometers was constructed during the late 14th and early 15th centuries. The finely carved walnut member (pulpic) is of particular interest.

Yeni Mosque Cenab Ahmet Mosque, Ulucanlar Yeni Cami Ulucanlar Avenue (Ulucanlar Caddesi) GPS 39.93699,32.8705 Cebeci Tren İstanbul 600m SE, or AnkarayLogo - 15px Dikimevi Built by the famous architect Sinan in the 16th century. The mimber (pulpit) and mihrap (prayer niche) are of white marble and the mosque itself is of Ankara stone, an example of very fine workmanship..

Anıtkabir, Kemal Atatürk's Mausoleum - Anıtkabir, Kemal Atatürk's Mausoleum Ankara Atakule - Atakule Tower in Çankaya, Ankara.

Museums

Ethnography Museum of Ankara - Ethnography Museum

Ankara Ethnography Museum - Etnoğrafya Müzesi

Museum of Anatolian Civilizations - Anadolu Medeniyetleri Müzesi | Display of the artefacts remained from the pre-Greek and -Roman Asia Minor/Anatolian civilizations — the best bits of sculptures and reliefs of the ancient Near East are all here. The oldest artefacts in display date back to the Paleolithic. This museum is one of the best in Türkiye and by itself makes Ankara certainly worthwhile to visit.

State Art and Sculpture Museum - Resim-Heykel Müzesi | Hosts galleries with temporary exhibitions as well as a permanent display of Turkish art from late 1800s to today.

Cer Modern Altınsoy Cad. No:3 06101 Sıhhıye, modern art museum of the city, Cer Modern is housed in the historic power plant building of Turkish Railways. Contemporary art. - P: +90 312 3100000 F: +90 312 3101000
Rahmi M. Koc Museum - Çengelhan Rahmi Koç Museum | Similar to Istanbul/Golden Horn#See|Istanbul's industrial museum (of which Çengelhan is actually a part) and the technological progress since the 1850s is on display in this museum housed in an old Ottoman caravanserai, what was the former Çengel Han, an Ottoman perioid caravanserai (han) which was completed in 1523, during the early years of the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. - The lower floor is reserved for a carpet gallery, agricultural machinery and pharmaceutical exhibits. Various machines, medicine, everyday life tools and road transport vehicles are exhibited in the ground floor. A brasserie is also at the ground floor. The upper floor hosts sections of rail transport items, toys, communications, scientific instruments, maritime and navigation. There are also sections about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the founder of modern Turkey; Vehbi Koç, Rahmi Koç's father and one of the first industrialists of Türkiye and Ankara city

Ankara Aviation Museum - Türk Hava Kurumu Müzesi | Various aircraft, aviation items, missiles and whatnot are in the exhibition, as are MiGs from the other side of Iron Curtain.

METU Science and Technology Museum - Odtu Bilim Ve Teknoloji Müzesi

Stamps Museum at Turkish Telecom
Mehmet Akif Ersoy Literature Museum Library - Mehmet Akif Ersoy Edebiyat Müze Kütüphanesi
Liberation War Museum - War of Independence Museum, Kurtuluş Savaşı Müzesi | Karşıyaka Mh., This was the first building that hosted the Turkish Republican Parliament. The 1921-22 War of Independence was directed from here, as evidenced by photographs and other items in the display. Waxworks of former Turkish presidents are also on display.

Hacettepe University Arts Museum | You can see over 250 works of many Turkish painters and artists from the early ages of the Republic until our times.

AnkaraColumnFar - Column of Julian the Apostate

Roman Road of Ankara Cardo Maximus Thit is an ancient Roman road

Artifacts of Pious Foundations (Vakif) Museum Ataturk Boulevard in Ulus AnkaraMetroLogo - 15px: 'Ulus' There are Turkish carpets from 15th and 16th centuries, historic candle holders and Korans, old watches, woodworks from 13th century, traditional tiles and many other ethnographic objects.

Archaeological remains

Citadel There were laid by the Galatians on a prominent lava outcrop and the rest was completed by the Romans. Walk through the cobbled streets lined by old houses to climb up to one of the towers, which offers a good view of the sprawling city below and the surrounding mountains.

Roman Theatre - Antik Roma TiyatrosuHisar Parkı Cd No:~18/Çankırı Cad. Dışkapı GPS 39.941643 ,32.860233 AnkaraMetroLogo - 15px

The remains and the stage and the backstage of the Roman theatre can be seen outside the castle.

Temple of Augustus and Rome Monumentum Ancyranum Sarıbağ Sk GPS 39.9443,32.85733 . The remains of a temple constructed between 25 BC - 20 BC after the Roman conquest of central Anatolia. and created the formation of the Roman province of Galatia, with Ancyra (modern Ankara) as its administrative capital. The temple, on the ancient Acropolis of Ancyra, was enlarged by the Romans in the 2nd century. In the 5th century it was converted into a church by the Byzantines. Its remains, some sturdy rock-cut walls decorated by ancient motifs, lie just next to the mosque and tomb of Hacı Bayram Veli, marking this site as a sacred one.

Column of Julian - Julian Sütunu, Belkıs Minaresi | A Roman column erected in 362 CE to commemorate the visit of Emperor Julian (r. 355–363) to Ancyra.

Roman Bath - Roma Hamami | Excavated ruins accessible to the public. Typical features of a classical Roman bath complex: a frigidarium (cold room), a tepidarium (warm room) and a caldarium (hot room). The baths were built during the reign of the Roman emperor Caracallain the early 3rd century AD to honor Asclepios and the God of Medicine. Today, only the basement and first floors remain.

Landmarks

Anıtkabir Completed in 1953 and situated on an imposing hill in the Anittepe quarter of the city is the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the founder of the Republic of Türkiye. The mausoleum and its adjacent buildings make an especial effort to combine the elements of both ancient Anatolian and ancient Turkish art. A museum underneath displays a large collection of Atatürk memorabilia and provides an excellent overview of modern Turkey's history and the wars led to the proclaimation of the republic. Australians and New Zealanders will find it interesting to hear the story of Gallipoli presented entirely from the Turkish point of view.

Atatürk's Tomb (Mausoleum) and Museum Anıt Caddesi Tandoğan - There is a museum housing a superior wax statue of Atatürk; writings, letters and items belonging to Atatürk, as well as an exhibition of photographs recordings of important moments of his life

Atakule Tower - A 125 m-high communications and observation tower in the Çankaya neighborhood. The highest structure of the city, with a shopping mall located under the tower. (Note: Atakule shopping mall itself, where very few shops are left open, will close in autumn as it will be transformed to a hotel

Victory Monument Zafer Anıtı Erected in 1927 and the monument is made of marble and bronze and features an equestrian statue of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Since it was erected a year before the "alphabet reform", it is one of the very few republican monuments in Türkiye that has an inscription written in Ottoman (Turkish), using the Arabic script.

Monument to a Secure, Confident Future | Built in 1935 and bears Atatürk's advice to his people: "Turk! Be proud, work hard and believe in yourself." Features the statues of two gun-holding men with a rough look, presumably representing the Turkish police and the Turkish army, all perfectly fitting the totalitarian art style fashionable during the years the monument was erected.

Hatti Monument | Sıhhiye Plaza GPS , Sıhhiye. Built in the 1970s, this impressive monument symbolizes the Hatti gods and commemorates Anatolia. It features the statues of a deer and two oxen, similar to those found in innumerable archaeological sites throughout Central Anatolia, all neighbored by a stylized Hittite sun disc.

Akköprü A 13th-century stone bridge (the oldest in Ankara) built by the Seljuk Turks spanning the Çubuk River. Despite its name (Turkish) for "white bridge"), it is made of local reddish stones that are so ubiquitously used in Ankara's other major old buildings. Once on the trade route between Istanbul and Baghdad through Ankara, it is now engulfed by suburban development on all sides and may not worth the effort of heading there just for the sake of it unless you are really enthusiastic about old stone bridges, but drop by if you are around for nearby Ankamall or the Etlik bus station, where shuttle vanes for nearby towns depart from.

Muslim Travel Tips

Ankara offers a good selection of cinemas both in Kavaklıdere and Çankaya and several concert halls for classical music and opera. Many universities promote concerts and spring festivals but these are sometimes open to their students only. Folk and traditional music is very alive, from small restaurants to big concert halls where you can find local stars like Musa Eroğlu.

Parks and Gardens

Mehmet Âkif Ersoy Parkı - Fountain in Akif Ersoy Park

Depending on your interests, you can find trekking in local parks and in the surroundings, visiting the museums or hunting for the Islamic Ottoman or Selçuk remains in the ancient castle. Upscale shopping centers like Armada along the Eskisehir road also offer cinemas and quality restaurants.

Abdi Ipekci Park Abdi İpekçi Parkı | 200 m See here the 'Hands' statue

Adile Nasit Park - Adile Naşit Park | Kuzgun Sokak, Ayrancı 39.90334,32.85066

Ankara Botanic Park - Botanik Parkı| Çankaya Street,Cinnah Street, Çankaya Mh. 39.8876,32.8566 AnkaraMetroLogo - 15px,AnkarayLogo - 15px Kizilay

Atatürk Forest Farm and Zoo - Atatürk Orman Çiftliği ve Hayvanat Bahçesi | Thit is an expansive recreational farming area, which houses a zoo, several small agricultural farms, greenhouses, restaurants, a dairy farm and a brewery. It was started by Kemal Atatürk, who wanted to prove that the neglected steppes around Ankara could be converted into a lush, fertile agricultural land.

Genclik Park - Gençlik Parki | Doğanbey Mh., Ulus Dolmuşları 39.936896,32.849507 AnkaraMetroLogo - 15px Ulus 100 m The earliest park of the city, which features a large lake in the middle with cafes and restaurants along its sides and an amusement park complete with a rollercoaster.

Goksu Park - Göksu Parki | Etimesgut suburb - GPS: 39.9920,32.6505 Etimesgut Train Station 2 kilometers South or nearest Metro Stn AnkaraMetroLogo - 15px Batikent Southeast 3 kilometers Enjoy the scenic Susuz Lake (Gölu)

Guvenpark Güvenpark Kizilay square GPS 39.9195,32.8535 AnkaraMetroLogo - 15px,AnkarayLogo - 15px Kizilay 100 m A small park surrounding the Security Monument

Korea Park - Kore Parkı, Kore Şehitleri Anıtı | Hipodrum Street - GPS: 39.9389,32.8414 AnkarayLogo - 15px

Tandoğan 700 m SWA stylized Korean pagoda in this park commemorates the Turkish soldiers who lost their lives in the Korean War.

Kugulu Park - Kuğulu Park | Atatürk Boulevard, Polonniya Street, Kavaklıdere 39.9018,32.8599 AnkaraMetroLogo - 15px,AnkarayLogo - 15px Kizilay 2 kilometers North - Near to Egyptian Embassy Fountains and contemporary sculptures. Famous for and named after and the swans ( Turkish: kuğu) inhabiting the small pond in the middle of the park.

Shopping in Ankara

Ankara's Castle (Kale) has been a trade centre for centuries and its sellers of carpets, leather and antiquities are slowly moving upmarket hoping to attract the tourist trade. It's still a delicious place for walking and browsing and there are family firms where you can buy, for a price, excellent carpets and kilims. Walking down from the castle you can walk through the covered market, an iron structure reminiscent of places like Les Halles in Paris, where you can buy very affordable and excellent produce. Ankara has a number of large shopping malls each of them offering fashion stores (including Zara, Mango, Harvey Nichols, / Marks and Spencer, etc.), technology retailers (like Media Markt and Electro World) supermarkets (like Carrefoursa and Tesco/Kipa). Many of the new malls are located on the Eskişehir Yolu, including Armada, Cepa, Kentpark and Gordion.

Visit a Muslim Friendly Mall in Ankara

Ankamall - Ankamall alışveriş merkezi | 39.9502,32.8313 in the northwestern suburbs, AnkaraMetroLogo - 15px: Akköprü The largest one of Ankara's shopping malls.

Armada Tower Ankara Shopping Mall Armada Alışveriş Merkezi.

Atakule Mall | AtAtakule tower

Karum Shopping center Karum Alışveriş Merkezinin | Iran Street (Caddesi)

Halal Restaurants & Food in Ankara

Ankara is best known with its " Halal Döner Halal kebab". In order to pick a good Halal döner Restaurant (there are many) you should take a look at the Halal Döner round. it should be rectangular and the cuts must be flat and separated.

Like many other capitals, Ankara is where you can eat the best and the freshest fish of the nation all around the year (not the cheapest, though). Around Sakarya str. and there are various types of fish restaurants, from fast food to stylish one, which has been known as a companion of fish. But fish restaurants abound in the city; in Cankaya there are at least two excellent ones, "Akdeniz Akdeniz" and "Lazoli" featuring the first Mediterranean and the second Black Sea cuisine. "Ege", located close to Tunali street, is another excellent choice for fish and raki. The restaurant has also a variety offruit cocktails. If you want to listen good Turkish classical music while you eat and drink raki and then "Sudem" should be seen. It is located on Olgunlar Street.

Besides many classic iskender Halal Kebabs restaurants there are also many restaurant featuring the traditional Halal cuisine of a specific city, catering to the community of more affluent immigrants: from the spicy Urfa to the variety of vegetables coming with Adana Kebab. Uludag Kebabcisi on Denizciler Caddesi in Ulus has been around for about sixty years and is a top of the line restorant mainly serving Iskender Halal Kebab.

Finally, as the national capital, Ankara has a large population of diplomats and hence there are a number of "international" restaurants in Kavaklıdere and Cankaya (also where the majority of diplomatic missions are located). Prices tend to be on the steep side.

Hacı Arif Bey| Güniz sokak 48/1 - A person can eat well for around 60-400 TL. Kebaps and South Anatolian cuisine is a well managed and delicious restaurant for savoring Gaziantep cuisine. A wealth of options are available and prices are not very high.

- Also there are plenty of cheaper restaurant options in Kızılay and Maltepe, selling fast food or Halal Kebab, Halal Döner, lahmacun. In Cankaya, Tunali, GOP region you may find various types of Turkish Halal cousine and luxurious restaurants where prices go higher.

Sushico ,Japanese and (Thai) food. Sushico's GOP restaurant mainly has a very good garden.

Buy/Rent Muslim Friendly Condos, Houses and Villas in Ankara

eHalal Group Ankara is a prominent real estate company specializing in providing Muslim-friendly properties in Ankara. Our mission is to cater to the specific needs and preferences of the Muslim community by offering a wide range of halal-certified residential and commercial properties, including houses, condos, and factories. With our commitment to excellence, client satisfaction, and adherence to Islamic principles, eHalal Group has established itself as a trusted name in the real estate industry in Ankara.

At eHalal Group, we understand the importance of meeting the unique requirements of Muslim individuals and families seeking properties that align with their cultural and religious trainings. Our extensive portfolio of Muslim-friendly properties in Ankara ensures that clients have access to a diverse selection of options tailored to their needs. Whether it's a luxurious villa, a modern condominium, or a fully equipped factory, our team is dedicated to assisting clients in finding their ideal property.

For those seeking a comfortable and modern living space, our condos are an excellent choice. Starting at US$ 350,000 and these condominium units offer contemporary designs, state-of-the-art facilities, and convenient locations within Ankara. Each condo is thoughtfully designed to incorporate halal-friendly features and amenities, ensuring a seamless integration of Islamic values into everyday living.

If you are looking for a more spacious option, our houses are perfect for you. Starting at US$ 650,000, our houses provide ample living space, privacy, and a range of customizable features to meet your specific requirements. These houses are located in well-established neighborhoods in Ankara, offering a harmonious balance between modern living and Islamic values.

For those seeking luxury and exclusivity, our luxury villas in Ankara are the epitome of sophistication and elegance. Starting at US$ 1.5 million and these villas offer a lavish lifestyle with private amenities, breathtaking views, and meticulous attention to detail. Each luxury villa is meticulously designed to provide a serene and halal environment, allowing you to enjoy the finest living experience while adhering to your Islamic principles. For further details please email us at info@ehalal.io

Ramadan in Ankara

Ramadan 2025 in Ankara

Ramadan concludes with the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which may last several days, usually three in most countries.

The next Ramadan shall be from Friday, 28 February 2025 to Saturday, 29 March 2025

The next Eid al-Adha shall be on Friday, 6 June 2025

The next day of Raʾs al-Sana shall be on Thursday, 26 June 2025

The next day for Mawlid al-Nabī shall be on Monday, 16 September 2024

Muslim Friendly Hotels

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Stay Safe

Ankara is probably one of the safest big city's you will ever visit. Most people, including single Muslima travellers, would very rarely encounter problems walking along the streets alone at night. Street crime is extremely rare, even late at night, however "little crime" does not mean "no crime" and common sense should still be applied as anywhere in the world. Petty crime such as pickpocketing can occur, however, mainly in crowded areas. Therefore, one should always take care of their belongings and keep bags closed.

The biggest danger for Muslim travellers is the road traffic, because there is little respect for pedestrians. Every road should be crossed carefully and very quickly. Even if pedestrian traffic lights show green, it is absolutely crucial to have a watchful eye. At crosswalks definitely look out before crossing the street.

Another danger for pedestrians, are the sidewalks because they are often in a very poor condition. Because of the poor or irregular renovation of sidewalks, many of them have loose paving stones and holes in the asphalt. The risk of tripping and hurting oneself should not be underestimated.

Ankara Police Department has a "tourism police" section with staff multilingual in English, (German), French and Arabic.

Tourism Police - Turizm Polisi | Emniyet Turizm Şube Müdürlüğü, İskitler - ☎ +90 312 384-0811, +90 312 384-0606, +90 312 6350-6353 +90 312 342-2227

Cope in Ankara

Embassies & Consulates in Ankara

Ankara is the national capital and most countries have an embassy (or equivalent consular service). These are useful if you need consular assistance from your own country, or need to obtain visas to other countries. The embassies are generally located in the suburbs just to the south of the downtown, such as Kavaklıdere, Gaziosmanpaşa and Çankaya.

Algeria Sehir Ersan Caddesi No. 42, Çankaya - ☎ +90 312 468 7593

Bangladesh Birlik Mh., 391. Caddesi No. 16, 06560 Çankaya, Ankara ☎ +90 312 495 2719

China | Gölgeli Sokak 34, Gaziosmanpaşa - ☎ +90 312 436-0628 +90 312 446-4248

Cuba Güzeltepe Mh., 06540 Çankaya ☎ +90 312 442 8970

Egypt |Atatürk Bulvarı No. 126, Kavaklıdere - ☎ +90 312 426-1026 +90 312 427-0099

India 77/A Cinnah Caddesi, 06680 Çankaya, Ankara ☎ +90 312 438 2195

Indonesia Abdullah Cevdet Sokak No. 10 Cankaya ☎ +90 312 438-2190, +90 312 438-2191

Iran Tahra Caddessi No. 10, 06700 Kavaklıdere, Ankara ☎ +90 312 468 2820

Pakistan Gaziosmanpaşa, İran Caddesi No. 37, 06700 Çankaya, Ankara ☎ +90 312 427 1410 +90 312 467 1023

Russia Kayağdi Sokak No. 5, P.K. 35 Kavaklıdere, 06692 Çankaya, Ankara ☎ +90 312 439 2122

Where to go next

Beypazarı - northwest Thit is well known with its traditional houses, mineral water, bazaar and of course bakery which is called Beypazari Kurusu. It is a quite a lot for a small Anatolian town which make them tourism attraction of the area. You must spare a weekend. You will not regret it.

Gordion Yassihoyuk, near Polatlı off the highway to Eskişehir

Thit is one of the most important ancient city's in Türkiye and is from Ankara in. The city had been home for Hittites, Phyrigians, Persians, Greeks and Romans since 3000 B.C. The remnants of the city are displayed in Gordion Museum and Anatolian Civilizations Museum in Ulus.

Kızılcahamam Thit is a town with many thermal springs, neighbored by forests—a welcome retreat from the arid landscapes around Ankara.

Boğazkale to northeast is the hub for visiting ancient Hattuşaş the capital of Hittites.

Gavurkale and KulhoyukHaymana town - 60 kilometers south-west of Ankara rock friezes and Hittite burial grounds

Soguksu National Park
Ankara is a reasonably convenient place to base yourself if you want to travel around Turkey|Anatolia, Cappadocia or the Black Sea coast and a growing number of tour operators and related service industries are catering to tourists. There is lodging here at all levels, with prices pegged below those of Istanbul or the Mediterranean Turkey|south coast and the new bus station (AŞTİ) is probably the most useful transport hub in Türkiye with services to just about anywhere that's feasible (Lebanon is only 16 hours away, if you're feeling adventurous).