WESTERN ASIA · REGION GUIDE

Ankara

Ankara is where Roman Ancyra, Ottoman lanes and Atatürk’s republic meet on the Central Anatolian plateau.

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Understand Ankara

The Story of Ankara

Turkey’s capital rewards attention rather than haste: Augustus left his imperial record here, the first Grand National Assembly convened in Ulus, and Atatürk’s mausoleum now crowns Anıttepe.

Chapter 01 · ORIGIN

From Ancyra to Ankara

Phrygian settlement preceded the Galatian Tectosages, who made Ancyra their centre in the 3rd century BCE. Rome absorbed it into Galatia in 25 BCE, and the city’s position on Anatolian routes later drew Seljuks and Ottomans. Mustafa Kemal chose Ankara as the nationalist headquarters in 1919; it became Turkey’s capital on 13 October 1923.

Fact The Temple of Augustus preserves the Monumentum Ancyranum, a copy of Emperor Augustus’s account of his reign.

Chapter 02 · PEOPLE

A Capital Remade by Migration

Ankara changed rapidly after becoming the capital in 1923. Civil servants, diplomats, students and workers arrived from across Turkey as ministries and universities expanded around Ulus, Kızılay and Çankaya. Hacı Bayram Veli, the 15th-century Sufi teacher buried beside his mosque, remains an older civic presence within a city now shaped by parliament, universities and state institutions.

Fact Ankara University, founded in 1946, was the first university established by the Turkish Republic.

Chapter 03 · FOOD

Plateau Food and Capital Habits

Central Anatolia’s wheat fields and pastoral economy shaped Ankara tava, usually lamb cooked with rice or orzo, while dark Ankara simidi gains its crust from grape molasses. Beypazarı, west of Ankara on an old caravan route, contributes dried pastries, carrots and stuffed vine leaves. The capital later developed ASPAVA restaurants, known for generous accompaniments served with döner and grilled meat.

Fact Ankara tava takes its name from Ankara and traditionally combines lamb with rice or arpa şehriye.

Chapter 04 · ARCHITECTURE

Power Written in Stone

Ankara’s buildings track successive governments. Roman columns survive near Ulus; Seljuk and Ottoman builders reshaped Ankara Citadel and the Hacı Bayram quarter. After 1923, architects created a planned capital of ministries, boulevards and institutions. Emin Onat and Orhan Arda designed Anıtkabir, completed in 1953, using monumental symmetry and stone drawn from several Turkish regions.

Fact Anıtkabir was built between 1944 and 1953 for Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Turkish Republic.

Chapter 05 · NATURE

Steppe, Lakes and Sharp Seasons

At roughly 938 metres above sea level, Ankara has a dry continental climate shaped by the Central Anatolian plateau. Summers are hot and dry; winter snow can settle across the city. Lake Eymir and Lake Mogan create waterside habitats south of the centre, while the surrounding steppe supports grasses, crocuses and the long-haired Angora goat associated with the province.

Fact Lake Eymir lies within Middle East Technical University land and is used for walking, cycling and rowing.

Turning points

  1. 8th century BCE

    Phrygian Ankara

    Phrygian communities occupy the citadel hill and surrounding settlement.

  2. 278 BCE

    Galatians Arrive

    The Tectosages establish Ancyra as their principal Central Anatolian centre.

  3. 25 BCE

    Roman Galatia

    Rome makes Ancyra the capital of the province of Galatia.

  4. 1073

    Seljuk Control

    Turkish forces take Ankara during the Seljuk expansion across Anatolia.

  5. 1402

    Battle of Ankara

    Timur defeats Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I near Ankara.

  6. 1923

    National Capital

    The Turkish Republic declares Ankara its capital on 13 October.

  7. 1953

    Anıtkabir Completed

    Atatürk’s remains are transferred to the completed mausoleum on 10 November.

Discover

Experience Ankara

A first stay moves between archaeological collections, republican monuments, restored Ottoman streets, neighbourhood restaurants and the open shores of Lake Eymir.

Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

Ulus

Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

Housed in the 15th-century Mahmut Paşa Bedesteni, the museum displays Hittite, Phrygian and Urartian artefacts.

Ankara Castle

Ulus

Ankara Castle

The hilltop citadel incorporates Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman masonry above Ankara’s oldest quarters.

Hacı Bayram Veli Mosque

Ulus

Hacı Bayram Veli Mosque

The 15th-century mosque stands beside the Roman Temple of Augustus and Rome.

Anıtkabir

Anıttepe

Anıtkabir

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s monumental mausoleum was completed in 1953 and includes the War of Independence Museum.

Ethnography Museum of Ankara

Hamamönü

Ethnography Museum of Ankara

Opened in 1930, the museum occupies an Arif Hikmet Koyunoğlu building overlooking Namazgâh Hill.

Kocatepe Mosque

Kocatepe

Kocatepe Mosque

Completed in 1987, Ankara’s landmark mosque has four minarets and an Ottoman-inspired central dome.

Atakule

Çankaya

Atakule

The 125-metre observation tower opened in 1989 and overlooks central Ankara from Çankaya.

Erimtan Archaeology and Arts Museum

Ulus

Erimtan Archaeology and Arts Museum

A private collection presents Anatolian jewellery, coins, ceramics and Roman-period domestic objects.

Lake Eymir

Gölbaşı

Lake Eymir

Middle East Technical University manages this elongated lake, whose circuit is used for cycling and walking.

On the table

Food & culture

Ankara tava

Ankara

A local casserole combines lamb with rice or arpa şehriye, a small toasted pasta.

Ankara simidi

Ankara

Darker and crisper than many regional simits, it is coated with grape molasses and sesame.

Yaprak döner

Ankara

Thinly layered beef or lamb is cooked vertically and commonly served with flatbread, tomato and peppers.

ASPAVA dürüm

Kızılay

Ankara’s ASPAVA restaurants serve sauced döner wraps with complimentary salads, potatoes and semolina dessert.

Beypazarı güveci

Beypazarı

Lamb and rice cook slowly in a clay casserole associated with Ankara Province’s Beypazarı district.

Beypazarı kurusu

Beypazarı

This hard, buttery twice-baked biscuit keeps well and is traditionally served beside Turkish tea.
  • Dress modestly and remove shoes before entering Hacı Bayram Veli or Kocatepe Mosque.
  • Keep voices low and avoid crossing directly before worshippers during prayer.
  • Carry identification because Turkish authorities may request a passport or recognised copy.
  • Offer seats on public transport to older passengers, pregnant women and adults with children.

Plan

Plan Your Journey

Things to do

  • Walk Ankara Castle’s lanes before visiting the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
  • Trace Roman Ankara from the Temple of Augustus to the Column of Julian
  • Attend the changing of the guard and explore Anıtkabir’s museum
  • Cycle the traffic-controlled circuit around Lake Eymir
  • Browse bookshops and cafés along Tunali Hilmi Avenue
  • Drink Turkish coffee inside a restored Hamamönü courtyard

Getting there and how long to stay

three or four nights is what the place is worth — not how long our trips happen to run.

Ankara Esenboğa Airport handles domestic and international flights northeast of the centre; Havaş coaches, EGO buses and taxis connect it with central Ankara. Ankara YHT station receives high-speed trains from Istanbul, Eskişehir and Konya. Intercity buses arrive at AŞTİ, beside the Ankaray line, while the O-4 motorway approaches from Istanbul.

Getting around

Ankara Metro and Ankaray connect Kızılay with Ulus, AŞTİ and outer districts. EGO buses fill the gaps, while metered taxis are useful for Ankara Citadel, Anıtkabir and Atakule. Gölbaşı and Lake Eymir require a bus, taxi or hired car; central Kızılay and Kavaklıdere are readily walkable.

Who it suits

  • Travellers interested in modern Turkey The First Assembly, Anıtkabir and Çankaya explain how the Turkish Republic was constructed after 1923.
  • Archaeology enthusiasts The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations connects Hittite, Phrygian, Galatian and Roman Ankara in one focused collection.
  • Museum-focused city breakers Ulus concentrates major collections, Roman remains and republican landmarks within a compact historic district.
  • Food travellers Ankara simidi, Ankara tava and the city’s distinctive ASPAVA restaurants reflect Central Anatolian ingredients and urban habits.
Currency
TRY
Dialling code
+90

Emergency numbers

112 Police, ambulance and fire

Your trip manager confirms embassy contacts and local numbers for your own route before you travel — these change by state and city.

Visa and entry rules depend on your passport. Ask us what you'll need.

Questions, answered

When is the best time to visit Ankara?
March to November suits city sightseeing. April to June and September to October offer the mildest walking weather.
Do Indian passport holders need a visa for Turkey?
Yes. Some qualify for a conditional e-Visa; others need a sticker visa. Eligibility depends on supporting visas and passport circumstances.
Which languages are useful in Ankara?
Turkish is standard. English is common in major hotels and museums but less reliable in taxis, markets and neighbourhood restaurants.
Is Ankara safe for travellers?
Central visitor districts are generally manageable with normal precautions. Avoid demonstrations, watch belongings in crowded transport and follow official security advice.
What clothing should be packed for Ankara?
Pack layers outside summer, comfortable walking shoes and modest clothing for mosques. Winter requires a warm coat; spring can be rainy.
What should travellers do in an emergency?
Call 112 for police, ambulance or fire. YİMER 157 assists foreigners with migration-related questions and multilingual guidance.

Get ready

Take this

  • Comfortable shoes for Ankara's hills and museum visits
  • Layered clothing for large temperature changes
  • Prescription medicines in original packaging
  • Passport, visa and travel-insurance documents
  • Phone charger and Type C or F adapter

You may need this

  • Warm coat, gloves and waterproof boots in winter
  • Light rain jacket during spring and autumn
  • Sun hat and sunscreen from June through September
  • Modest shoulder and knee covering for mosque visits

Don't forget

  • Printed e-Visa and supporting visa, if applicable
  • Offline Turkish translation and Ankara transport maps
  • Portable battery carried only in cabin baggage
  • Copies of prescriptions and essential medical records

Check before flying

Baggage allowances, liquids, power banks and battery rules differ by airline and by route, and they change. We publish them here only once we have checked them against the airline's own page — until then, check your airline directly, and your trip manager will confirm anything unusual on your route.

Practical reference

Your time

7:11 PM

Asia/Kolkata

In Ankara

4:41 PM

Europe/Istanbul

Currency
TRY (₺)

ISO 3166 / 4217

Worth in rupees
₺1 ≈ ₹1.96

our live FX feed · updated about 16 hours ago

Official languages
Turkish

ISO 3166 / 4217

Time zone
Europe/Istanbul

IANA time zone database

Ahead of India
2h 30m behind

IANA time zone database

Plugs, SIM cards, tipping and embassy contacts are not here yet — we will not publish those until each one is verified against an official source. Your trip manager has them for your route in the meantime.

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