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This article has all the information you need about things to do in Ankara. Ankara has been the capital of the Republic of Turkey since 1923. It is in the Central Anatolia Region and has about 6 million people, making it the second most populous city in our country after Istanbul.
Ankara is in a very important geographical and political spot. It is surrounded by the provinces of Konya, Eskişehir, Bolu, Ankara, Krşehir, Krkkale, and Aksaray. Continue reading our article about historical and natural things to do in Ankara, which is valuable as a tourist destination.
About Ankara
Used cards;
- By obtaining a Müzekart , you can advantageously visit many sightseeing points in the city.
- AnkaraKart, which you can use for urban transportation in Ankara , is valid in all vehicles connected to EGO.
City transportation: In the city where public transportation is highly developed, transportation convenience is easy. Ankara, Kızılay-Batikent (M1), Kızılay-Çayyolu (M2), Batıkent-Sincan/Törekent (M3) serving with bus, minibus, minibus, underground and overhead railway lines. Keçiören-Atatürk Cultural Center (M4) lines are available. In addition, municipal and public buses are also used. Another means of transportation is the cable car operating between Yenimahalle – Şentepe stations.
Iconic sightseeing spots: Undoubtedly, at the top of the list is to visit Anıtkabir, our ancestor’s tomb. Afterwards, Ankara Castle and Kızılay Square are among the iconic spots you can visit in the city.
Things to Do in Ankara
1- Visit Anıtkabir, Turkey’s Ancestor’s Grave!
This hill, known as the Rasathane in the past and Anıttepe today, is a mausoleum built for Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the first President of the Republic of Turkey. The hill, which was known as Observatory in the past because of the observation station, was later named Anıttepe. At the peak, BC. There are the tombs of the Phrygian Civilization of the 12th century. These remains, which were obtained after the excavation works, were sent to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and started to be exhibited here.
During a speech in 1923, Atatürk talked about his desire to be buried in Çankaya and then said these words; Let my people bury me wherever they want. But Çankaya will be the place where my memories will live. A competition was started before its construction, three projects were selected by the jury and the Government of the Republic of Turkey, who was given the right to choose among them, Prof. Emin Onat and Assoc. He chose Orhan Arda’s project.
However, since it cannot be concluded that the project can be done directly, it has been made ready for construction by making some changes by the government.
The construction of Anıtkabir, which started in 1944, was completed in 1953, which lasted nine years and in four stages. The graves of our Presidents Cemal Gürsel and İsmet İnönü are also located. Undoubtedly, it is one of the first things to be done when it comes to Ankara.
- Location: Yücetepe, Akdeniz Cd. No:31, 06570 Çankaya/Ankara
- Check-in Hours: 09:00 to 17:00
- Phone: 0312 231 18 61
- Website
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2- Explore the famous Kızılay Square!
Kızılay Square, named after the Kızılay Headquarters, which was built in 1929, in the heart of Ankara, is one of the places you can visit in Ankara. The square is located in the middle of all streets and there are many activities you can do here. The most lively street of the square, which is crowded especially in the evening, is Sakarya Street.
Your ears will be wiped with the lively music coming from the entertainment venues lined up along the street. You can turn your route to Karanfil Sokak to try the taste of Ankara’s famous doner kebab. At this point, you can eat very tasty doner kebabs at an affordable price. If you get tired after walking around the square, you can head towards Güvenpark.
If you come here during the daytime, you can first sit down at one of the breakfast places on Konur Sokak and have breakfast accompanied by the smell of hot tea or coffee. There are many big shopping malls, movie theaters, entertainment venues, cafes, restaurants, bars, arts and culture places, cinemas and many more places in the square.
3- In an Endless Whiteness; Walk on Salt Lake!
Salt Lake is a paradise for birds. It is in Aksaray and the area around it. It provides shelter, a place to spend the winter, and a place for eggs to hatch. It also has endemic plants that draw people’s attention. With birds living in the small lakes and marshes around it, it is one of the richest basins in our country.
In the middle of the steppe is Salt Lake, which is on a migration route for wild birds in the area. There aren’t many wetland areas around the lake, so the birds are drawn to it. Because it has a lot of salt, it doesn’t freeze in the winter and is a good place for birds that move around to live.
It makes the area around Salt Lake, where birds rest, eat, and spend the winter, a great place for birds to lay their eggs. Flamingos, cranes, wild geese, axillas, anguts, and other similar birds live in groups in the lake, as do plovers and wild ducks. Small lakes, ponds, and swamps nearby are home to swamp terns, suna, angut, and gull species. This Salt Lake, which is the gene bank for plants that can survive in dry conditions, has a unique and important habitat for wildlife.
Around the lake, there are many endemic plant species that can handle salt and drought and can’t be found anywhere else in the world. There are also many animal species that live here. The plant community that lives in the Tuz Golü basin’s salty basin is also found here. The Eskil and Eşmekaya saltpans have a lot of halophytes, which are plants that have adapted to living in salty areas.
Even though the area is rich in both wildlife and plants, it doesn’t have any endemic species. However, the lake has a lot of endemic species, which is a very interesting fact. There are 38 different kinds of plants in the area, but almost 20 of them can only be found in Tuz Golü and the nearby Eskil and Eşmekaya. At sunset, Tuz Golü turns red, which makes it a great place for a photo safari.
Starting from Eskil, you can take pictures of the swamp, small ponds, birds, and endemic plants in Salt Lake. At sunset, when the redness of the Salt Lake shows up on the surface of the lake, it makes a reverse light that makes a unique frame for photographers.
Also read: Where to Eat in Ankara .. Your Full Guide
4- Spend Time on Tunalı Hilmi Street!
Tunal Street, which has been written about in poems, is a place where you can have fun with your friends and family. You can buy gifts for yourself and your friends and family at the shops and places to have fun that line the street. If you want to relax on the street, which is always busy, you can buy some bagels and take them to Kuğulu Park to feed the birds while you eat.
Especially on the weekends, you can walk around the entertainment spots and brightly lit storefronts or have breakfast on a Sunday.
5- Visit the Painting and Sculpture Museum!
Ankara State Painting and Sculpture Museum building located on Namazgah Hill, II. It was established after the Second Constitutional Monarchy and was built between 1927-1930 to be used as a headquarters by the Turkish Hearths. The project of this historical building was opened in 1926 and belongs to Architect Arif Hikmet Koyunoğlu, who also made the drawings of the Ethnography Museum building upon the request of Atatürk, who came first in the competition.
It is among the important works of the I. National Architectural Period, and motifs reflecting Turkish traditions were used in all of the ornaments that add to the splendor. While the marbles used during its construction were brought from Marmara Island, Hikmet Koyunoğlu had to seek help from the tombstone masters he could find, after most of the Turkish stonemasons died while fighting at the front.
It has a very large collection, with 1289 pieces by 399 artists from different times spread out over 6 exhibition halls. A large part of the collection is made up of oil paintings and sculptures, but visitors can also see ceramic pieces, photographs, Turkish decorative arts, and ethnographic works.
The paintings called “Thanksgiving to Gazi” were added to the collection for the first time at the tomb of the gun dealer Timur. Then, 26 oil paintings by Fikret Mualla were bought in Paris and brought to Ankara. Even though it was bought with small payments, people also gave a lot of money to help the collection grow.
- Location: Hacettepe, Türkocağı Sk., 06230 Altındağ/Ankara
- Check-in Time: 09:00-17:30
- Phone: 0312 310 20 94
- Get directions >
6- Go to the Presidential National Library!
The Presidential National Library opened in 2020. It is the biggest library in our country. The building of this very large library began in 2016, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoan opened it in 2020, after four years of building. Every great library has a round hall with 16 columns in the middle. These columns represent the 16 great Turkish empires in history.
It is quite impressive, both in terms of its architecture and what it has to offer today. It has over 4 million books and printed materials, 45 million documents from state archives, 120 million articles and reports, 550 thousand e-books, 60 thousand e-journals, 6.5 million electronic theses, 300 thousand manuscripts from the Turkish Manuscripts Institution, 50,000 manuscripts and rare collectibles, and 1.2 million TRT archive sound files.
Recep Tayyip Erdoan, the embassies of countries like Uzbekistan, France, India, and China, and many documents from llber Ortayli’s personal collection were given to the library.
You can join e-Government and sign in with your ID card to become a member. If you have an old ID, you can use the temporary card you get at the door to get in. Foreigners, on the other hand, will be able to get temporary entry cards with their passports that will let them in.
- Location: Beştepe, Presidency of the Republic of Turkey, 06560 Yenimahalle/Ankara
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7- Have a Pleasant Tour at Rahmi Koç Museum!
The Rahmi M. Koç Museum, which opened in 2005, is another enjoyable activity in the Atpazar district. This cultural facility is Ankara’s first and only industrial museum. The museum, which also houses Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s belongings, continues its activities in engelhan and Safranhan, which are as fascinating as its collections. engelhan, which remained from Kanuni’s time, was restored to its former glory as a result of work done between 2003 and 2005.
From 2012 to 2016, a similar project for Safrahan, which was built in 1511, was continued. The Vehbi Koç shop is widely regarded as the museum’s most notable feature. Following the shop where the deceased industrialist worked as a child, you can visit Uncle Ismail Atelier, which is filled with ship and train models.
Don’t pass up this opportunity! Since 2010, the Weekend Training Workshop has provided a training area for young people to develop their imaginations and creativity within this facility. In fact, shootings, exhibitions, and birthday parties are held within the museum’s boundaries if requested.
Aside from that, it has a cafe, two restaurants, and a boutique hotel with 19 rooms. The Museum Café allows visitors to take a short break while admiring the view of Ankara Castle.
- Location: Depo Sokak No:1, 06230 Altindag/Ankara
- Check-in Hours: 10:00-17:00
- Phone: 0312 309 68 00
- Get directions >