Top Things to Do in the Ankara | Must-See Attractions & Experiences

Plan Your Travel To Ankara

Places To Visit In Ankara

Ankara Castle

One of Turkey's oldest sites, the Ankara Castle is a historical fortification dating back to the 7th century. The castle overlooks the city from its peak and is often associated with Ottoman, Seljuk, Roman and Byzantine empires. One of Ankara's must-visit destinations, the castle embodies different architectural styles and is home to twenty pillars and two gateways. The streets leading to the castle are studded with old Ankarian houses.

The Ankara Ethnography museum is dedicated to Turkish Arts and Culture, starting from the Seljuk period. From clothes and ornaments to shoes and other accessories, the museum captures the essence of Ankaraian ethnicity quite well. In addition, there is a library that houses a specialized collection of books covering folktales from Ankarian history and ethnography. The museum also served as a temporary resting place for Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and this area in the museum has been kept well protected as a symbolic gesture to pay him respects. The closest metro line to the Ankara Ethnography Museum is Sihhiye Tren Istanbul. Read More

The father of the modern Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, found his resting place at the Anitkabir, a mausoleum in Ankara. Standing tall on a hilltop, this mausoleum is elaborate and carved with intricate designs. The complex has many areas to explore, like the Hall of Honor, Peacock Park, Aslanlı Yol’, and Monument Block, among others. The mausoleum looks mesmerizing at night, with its well-lit walls and borders. The mausoleum shares an uncanny resemblance to the Parthenon in Athens, and you will find several statues with intricate detailing. In addition, there are ten symmetrical towers in the Anitkabir complex. Read More

Located in the Canakaya district, the Atakule Tower overlooks Ankara from a height of 125 meters above the sea level. The panoramic view of the city alongside good food is definitely a plus, with a revolving restaurant and a café, Atakule is a great place to enjoy a romantic dinner at. The bottom structure of this tower is home to a shopping complex.

Located in the Atpazarı area of Ankara, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations is based in two Ottoman buildings near the Ankara Castle. The museum houses artefacts, handicrafts, tools, and furniture, among more pieces of history from the Neolithic, Chalcolithic and Bronze ages. The Hittite collection at the museum comprises the renowned letter of friendship given by Naptera, wife of Pharaoh Ramses II, to Puduhepa, wife of Hittite king Hattusili III. In addition, the central hall exhibits reliefs and sculptures from the Iron Age's Phrygian and Urartian periods. It is known for composing distinct masterpieces of the Antonian era and was titled the eu Museum of the Year in 1997. Read More

One of the largest mosques in Turkey, the Ahmet Hamdi Akseki Mosque in Ankara is a mix of modern architecture, Arabic calligraphy and ancient Islamic features. Designed in a neoclassical style, it has a majestic moonlight effect on the dome, created by directed lights from its four 66 metre minarets. It can accommodate around 6,000 worshippers and has a dedicated praying area for women. Inaugurated in 2013, it is named after a religious scholar Ahmet Hamdi Akseki. The ceramic paintings inside the mosque reflect the history and culture of both Seljuk and Ottoman civilisations, adding to the mosque's beauty. It also has a bookstore at the lower ground level that predominantly sells religious books. Although it doesn't have a grand chandelier like most significant mosques in Turkey, its dome, which can be lighted by RBG fixtures in different colours, is a sight you don’t want to miss. Read More

The Altinkoy Open Air Museum is based on village architecture, traditions and culture of the 1930-1950s. A beautiful picnic spot, the innovative museum, located in Altındağ district of Ankara, has a breathtaking green landscape covering 500 acres. Apart from being a delight for nature lovers, there are also many small museums inside, including a laundry place, a weaving workshop, a toy museum and workshop, and a wildlife introduction museum. The experience in the museum is an informative one as you can also try out fun activities while enjoying the village coffee house, barns, gardens and traditional Turkish village houses. The village mosque, windmills, suspension bridge and the grocery store that sell homemade soap, pasta and jams are some of the other attractions at Altinköy that are captivating. The natural and organic products sold at the store are also produced inside the museum, also known as the Altınkoy Acik Hava Muzesi. Make sure to ask for an English map while buying the entry ticket. Read More

Altinpark is the largest public park in Ankara with beautiful green landscape and artificial pond arrangements. Inside the park are a science centre, buffets and restaurants, playgrounds, lakeside lecture halls, a fair and congress centre, and kindergarten and summer school. There are also rashing boats, skating rink, electric excursion cars and a mini excursion train. Located in Altindag district of Ankara, visitors can enjoy horse riding there and children can opt for a safer ride on pony horses. There is also a musical and colourful water exhibition at the park in the evening. An ideal picnic spot, you can also buy flowers and seedlings that are put up for sale at Altinpark Read More

The largest Opera house in Ankara, Ankara Opera House hosts Ballet and Opera performances. Based in the Atatürk Bulvarı area, the Opera House was originally constructed as an exhibition centre. Also known as Büyük Tiyatro, the building serves as a theatre for Turkish State movies. One can check and book shows on Ankara Opera House’s official website.

Aqua Vega Aquarium is Turkey's longest shopping mall aquarium that houses nearly 12,000 sea creatures in thematic salt and freshwater tanks. Most of the magical creatures here, including sharks, are brought from all over the world's rivers and oceans and are only seen in documentaries. In the contact pool section of the aquarium, one can feed the fish with a bottle. Aqua Vega boasts a wildlife section with more than 250 wild animals and a reptile house with poisonous and other exotic living creatures. Apart from offering a wonderful experience inside a 98-metre tunnel with a view of vibrant colours of marine life, the aquarium has a cafeteria, photography points and a souvenir shop inside. The Nata Vega shopping mall inside the premises is one of Ankara's most popular shopping centres. Other interesting zones inside the aquarium include a salt cave, a coral reef and seashell museum, and an old WWII plane. Read More