Best Things To Do in Ankara, Turkey

Are you looking for what to do in Ankara?

WHAT TO SEE

  • AnitKabir: Located on top of a commanding hill in the Anittepe quarter of Ankara is the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Mustafa’s claim to fame is being the founder of the Republic of Turkey so it is worth visiting.
  • Atakule Tower: Atakule Tower is the tallest structure in the city and has a shopping centre underneath it. This is a great place to see the city from.
  • Museum of Anatolian Civilizations: This museum houses a display of artefacts which date back to the Anatolian and Asia Minor civilizations. The oldest artefacts are from the Palaeolithic period making this museum a must see.  
  • War of Independence Museum: The building which houses the War of Independence Museum used to be home to the Turkish Republican Parliament. The museum is dedicated to the War of Independence which was fought between 1921 and 1922 and there’s some fantastic memorabilia.  
  • Cengelhan Rahmi Koc Museum: This museum chronicles the technological progress of Turkey and has a wide variety of curios on display. The collection of children’s toys is also impressive so don’t miss out.

WHAT TO DO

  • Witness the colourful festivals and events in Ankara.
  • Go shopping crazy at the malls or the local markets like Ankara Castle.
  • State art and sculpture museum, Ankara Ethnography museum, Cer Modern, Salt Ulus, TCDD Open Air Steam Locomotive Museum, METU Science and Technology Museum, MTA Museum of Natural History.

Below we have a list of things to do in Ankara and the places where you want to spend the best moments of your trip. At the same time, the city offers you the best neighborhoods to explore and new foods to try.

This list should help you in deciding and prioritizing what you should plan on your Ankara getaway. Find a mix of must-see tourist spots, underrated local hangouts, and maybe even a few new experiences you can try out.

Make the most of your trip to Ankara with confidence.

Tourist Attractions in Ankara

Here is the list of things to do in Ankara and tourist attractions in city.

  1. Ataturk Mausoleum Or AnitKabir

    Museum, Park, Plaza, Tower

    Located strategically on a prominent hill called as the Observation Hill in Ankara, the site was chosen because it could be seen from the entire city. Also known as AnitKabir, this is the mausoleum of Ataturk Kemal Pasha- the founder of the Turkish republic and the first president of Turkey. The architect for this structure was chosen from an international competition hosting 48 countries and i...Read more
  2. Museum Of Anatolian Civilizations

    Art And Culture, Museum, History Museum, Architecture

    Also known Anadolu Medeniyetleri Muzesi, this museum is located within the Ankara castle or Ankara citadel and holds a prominent position in the Museums of Turkey. The museum houses collection and artefacts from various prominent archaeological sites of Turkey. The museum itself is housed in a 15th century market in Ankara Citadel. Collections dating to various periods like Palaeolithic, Neolit...Read more
  3. Ankara Castle Or Citadel

    Art And Culture, Art Museum, Art Gallery, Museum

    Dating back to Celtic period, Ankara castle or Ankara Citadel Hisar is one of the landmarks of the city. Several renovations by different empires have left a blended look on the Castle which reflects the style of Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman architecture. The famous Museum of Anatolian Civilisations is located at the entrance of the Castle. Hike to the top of the castle and enjoy the ma...Read more
  4. Cengelhan Rahmi M Koc Museum

    Museum, Specialty Museum

    This is a museum dedicated to technology and is located in a historical inn called Cengelhan. The place was then used as a warehouse for Mohair and hence has a legacy behind it. Later it was rented to Turkish industrialist Rahmi M. Koc to serve as a museum. The museum is spread over three floors: Lower Floor: Carpet Gallery, Agricultural Machinery and Pharmaceutical exhibits. Ground Floor: Var...Read more
  5. Kocatepe Mosque

    4.7 (922 Votes)
    Kocatepe Mosque

    Art And Culture, Mosque, Religious Site, Monument

    This is an important mosque in Ankara which can hold 24,000 worshippers at one time. It has magnificent minarets standing 88 metres high and is constructed in neo-classical ottoman style of architecture. It has stunning marble interiors, tinted windows and resplendent artwork of its central dome enchants the visitors. It is visible from the entire city and is one of the largest Islamic religiou...Read more
  6. Hamamonu Restored Area

    Art And Culture, Estate, Restaurant, Leisure

    A great place to take a stroll, observe the beautiful houses, shop and eat the traditional Turkish food- Hamamonu is an ancient area on Ankara. Serving as a popular tourist hub and hang-out, this is a calm and well-restored area and a break from Ankara’s crowd.
  7. Hattusha Or Bogazkale

    Art And Culture, Estate, Walking Area, Ancient Ruin

    This capital of the Hittite Empire presents its 2300 years old ruins that will fascinate the visitors and intrigue the history buffs. Located 200 kilometres away from Ankara, these ruins are a must visit on your trip to the city.   There are very few standing structure left but the layout that stands even today will enthral you. The Hittites have a mention in the Holy Bible as conquer...Read more
  8. Atakule Tower

    View Point, Cafe, Restaurant, Observation Deck

    Be here to get a panoramic view of Ankara. Atakule Tower is 125 meters in height and houses an open terrace which enables visitors to observe the city from top. There is also a revolving restaurant located in the tower which makes a 360 degree rotation in an hour. There is also a cafe within the tower.
  9. Ankamall Alisveris Merkezi

    4.3 (1088 Votes)
    Ankamall Alisveris Merkezi

    Art And Culture, Entertainment, Leisure, Market

    This is the second largest mall in Turkey and the largest mall in Ankara, this shopping centre covering an area of about 1890,000 square feet. Restaurants, cafes and variety of shops make it a popular hang-out.
  10. War Of Independence And Republic Museum

    Art And Culture, Museum, History Museum, Educational Site

    Also known as Kurtulus Savasi Muzesi, it is located in the former building of Turkish republican parliament. The museum is broadly divided into two sections. The War of Independence Museum has display of military photographs and documents from the independence war which was fought between 1921 and 1922. The Republic section has exhibits depicting the beginnings of Republic. 
  11. Haci Bayram Mosque And Temple Of Augustus

    Art And Culture, Mosque, Religious Site, Architecture

    This is considered as one of the most sacred Mosque in Ankara. The name of the Mosque is dedicated to a prominent Islamic saint Haci Bayram Camii. He was the founder of Bayramiye dervish order around 1400. Ankara was the centre of this order and Haci Bayram Veli is respected by Muslims all over the world. The mosque was constructed in 15th century and has renovations again in 18th century. The ...Read more
  12. Panora Alisveris Ve Yasam Merkezi

    Aquarium, Restaurant, Entertainment, Play

    A shopping complex with lots of shops and international brands; this mall is also a popular hang-out. There is a panorama terrace from where you can enjoy the view of the Ankara city. Aquarium, game centre, restaurants and tons of other entertaining activities are available!
  13. Roman Baths

    Art And Culture, Estate, Ancient Ruin

    Built in 3rd century AD, the ruins of Roman bath have a story to tell. Constructed in the time of Emperor Caracalla, these baths were dedicated to Asclepios- the god of medicine. Only the basement and the first floor of the structure stand today. The layout of these roman baths is still visible and has classifications like Roman apoditerium (dressing room), frigidarium (cold room), tepidarium (...Read more
  14. Esenboga International Airport Image
    ©
    Esenboga International Airport (IATA: ESB, ICAO: LTAC) is an international airport located in the capital city of Ankara, Turkey. It is the second busiest airport in the country, after Istanbul Ataturk Airport, and the largest airport in Central Anatolia. The airport is located 28 km northeast of Ankara city center and serves as a hub for Turkish Airlines, AnadoluJet, and SunExpress.The airport...Read more
  15. Zenger Pasakonagi
    This restaurant is extremely popular with Ankara’s wealthy and elite. The views of the city are incredible so take it all in while you savour some of the best meze and grills in the city.