Places to Visit in Ankara

Established back in the year 1989, Atakule happens to be a 410-feet high observation tower. With its name derived from two independent terms, ‘Ata’ meaning ancestor and ‘Kule’ meaning tower, Atakule was founded by the country’s first president Ataturk. Situated in Cankaya, this lofty iconic structure offers its visitors a spellbinding panoramic view of the whole city from its open terrace.

The place is also facilitated with a unique-styled restaurant known as Sevilla, which moves 360 degrees every hour and also offers its guests panoramic sights of the whole city while they sit comfortably and relish their food.

Location: Cankaya, 06690 Cankaya/Ankara, Turkey

Price: The entry fee for visiting Atakule is 3 TRY

Timing: Atakule is open for visiting from 11:00 AM to 07:00 PM, throughout the week

Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year

Established nearly about a hundred years ago, the Ankara castle stands atop Ulus district. Standing in this age-old castle, you can catch a 360-degree view of the entire city of Ankara. The Ankara Castle happens to be a huge structure with four large walls and forty-two pentagonal pillars.

Multiple renovations done by various empires over many years, have incorporated a unique blended appearance in the monument, reflecting Roman, Ottoman, Seljuk, and Byzantine architectural styles.

Originally constructed for military purposes, this ancient castle is counted among the top 10 places to visit in Ankara and attracts history fanatics from across the globe, at the present day. In addition to several art galleries, one can find a plethora of cafes, restaurants, and shops selling souvenirs inside the castle. 

Location: Kale, 06240 Altındag/Ankara, Turkey

Price: There is no fee for visiting the Ankara Castle

Timing: Ankara Castle is open for visiting from 9 AM to 6 PM, on all days

Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year

Located at a distance of a few meters from the world-famous Ankara Castle, the Rahmi M. Koc Museum is home to a broad collection of interesting exhibits related to the transport and communication sector. A major part of this huge collection is believed to have been donated generously by the reputed Koc family.

The Rahmi M. Koc Museum shelters transportation exhibits such as full-size aircraft and ships. The building also houses ancient technology items and children's toys. In addition to the automotive display, the museum also offers many exciting activities and interactive exhibitions to its visitors. Children visiting the Rahmi M. Koc Museum can also get an opportunity to enjoy a fun train ride free of cost.

Location: Gozcu Sk., Altındag, Turkey

Price: The entry fee for visiting Rahmi M. Koc Museum is 18 Turkish Liras

Timings: Rahmi M. Koc Museum is open for visitors from 9.30 AM to 5 PM, throughout the week, except on Monday. The museum closes at 6 PM on weekends.

Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year

Spread across a vast area of 69 acres, the spectacular Genclik Park makes for one of the best places to visit in Ankara. Known popularly for its amazing water features and lush greenery, this beautiful park is home to a thrilling amusement park, a pristine swimming pool, two small trains, and a unique open-air theatre.

The park also has a plethora of kiosks selling all kinds of wares including the world-famous Turkish ice-cream. After offering the visitors a full day of fun, Genclik Park also gifts them a special night with its lively light show organized at its main pool.

Location: Genclik Parki, Doganbey Mh., 06060 Ankara, Turkey

Price: The entry fee for visiting Genclik Park is 0.25 TL

Timings: Genclik Park is open 24 hours, throughout the week

Best Time to Visit: March, April, and May

Bestowed with the title of 'Museum of the Year' in 1997 in Switzerland, the Anatolian Civilizations Museum shelters a broad collection of interesting Anatolian archaeology items. Arranged chronologically from the old Paleolithic age to the modern-day, these exhibits form the major attraction of this museum.

Housing a number of figures and artefacts from the 1st Millenium BC, the museum offers its visitors a sneak peek into the rich history of Ankara and Turkey. In addition to collections of the Palaeolithic civilization, the Anatolian Civilizations Museum is also home to exhibits from various other periods of history including the Neolithic, Urartian, Hittite, Lydian, Phrygian, Chalcolithic, and Assyrian era.

Location: Kale, Gozcu Sk. No:2, 06240 Ulus/Altındag/Ankara, Turkey

Price: The entry fee for the Anatolian Civilizations Museum is 15 TRY

Timings: Anatolian Civilizations Museum is open for visiting from 8.30 AM to 6.30 PM, on all days.

Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year

Known popularly as a paradise for the shopaholics, Old Quarter happens to be the best destination for buying amazing souvenirs. The place is home to a plethora of bustling and colourful shops, selling out enchanting décor items and utility products at a very cheap and bargainable price.

In addition to being a great shopping destination, Old Quarter is also known for its glorious and rich history of the times gone by. Tourists can catch a glimpse of a number of historical structures during their walk-in Old Quarter. On a popular note, Old Quarter is known to offer the real picture of the city of Ankara and is recognized for its cosy cafes, spice markets, and smiling people.

Location: Ankara, Turkey

Price: There is no fee for visiting the Old Quarter

Timings: Old Quarter can be visited at any time of the day

Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year

Forming the socializing spot of the city, Kizilay is a neighbouring town of Ankara. This pretty town has a plethora of benches and trees, making for a nice hub for meet-ups and hangouts. A nearby bus terminal and metro station connect this town to the other important areas of the city.

Kizilay Square is home to a myriad of bustling night clubs and departmental stores as well. Propelling the city’s youth and party lovers, Kizilay makes for one of the most recommended places to visit in Ankara for experiencing an amazing nightlife. Some of the major places of tourist interest here include Guven Park, Ataturk Boulevard, and Selanik Street.  

Location: Kızılay, Menekse-1 Sk. Balkanoglu Pasajı No:7 D:25, 06420 Cankaya/Ankara, Turkey

Price: There is no fee for visiting the town of Kizilay

Timings: The town of Kizilay can be visited at any time

Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year

As its name suggests, the Hamamonu Restored Area is a well-restored, properly maintained, and calm area of Ankara. Known as one of the most historical places of the city, this area is famous as a hang-out destination in the present day.

Flaunting beautifully designed houses and bustling shops, this amazing destination invites travellers to take a stroll in its lanes and get a sneak peek of the tradition of Ankara and the lifestyle of its residents. The Hamamonu Restored Area is also known to be the best place for relishing authentic Turkish cuisine.  

Location: Talatpasa Bulvari, near Hacettepe Hospital, Ankara Turkey

Price: There is no fee for visiting the Hamamonu Restored Area

Timings: The Hamamonu Restored Area is open 24 hours

Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year

Located at an approximate distance of around 20 kilometres from the Ankara city centre, Eymir Lake is a paradise for nature lovers. Offering a quiet and calm natural environment, this beautiful place attracts people who want an escape from the traffic, noise, tension, and chaos of the everyday city life.

Eymir Lake is sheltered inside a park, which is visited by people for a number of exciting activities such as jogging, cycling, and walking. There are many picnic areas along this serene lake, which are visited by families for a peaceful lunch. There is also a nice restaurant near the lake, which arranges bonfires during the winters and sets up tables to enjoy lakeside dining in the summers.

Location: Lake Eymir, Oran, 06450 Cankaya/Ankara, Turkey

Price: There is no fee for visiting Eymir Lake

Timings: Eymir Lake can be visited at any time

Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year

The MTA Sehit Cuma Dag Natural History Museum is one of the most remarkable in Ankara. The Museum exhibits a wide range of antique collectables starting from fossils, minerals, and rocks from various parts of the world.

The museum takes you through various themed exhibition halls like the solar system on the ground floor, fossil gallery on the first floor and mineral specimen gallery on the second floor. The museum is also known all over Turkey for hosting zillions of social events all throughout the year.

Location: Universiteler, Dumlupınar Blv. No:139, 06800 Cankaya/Ankara, Turkey

Price: There is no fee for visiting the MTA Sehit Cuma Dag Natural History Museum.

Timings: MTA Sehit Cuma Dag Natural History Museum is open for visiting from 9 AM to 5 PM, throughout the week, except on Monday

Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year

Considered to be the very first concept of its type in Turkey, the famous Ulucanlar Prison Museum is a real former prison of Ankara. Known to have sheltered a number of renowned political activists and journalists of the country for more than 81 years.

According to historical facts, the country's former Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit was also one of the inmates of this prison in the bygone times. Established in the year 2011, the Ulucanlar Prison Museum displays many interesting exhibits including the personal belongings and pictures of the past prisoners.

One can also witness the original graffiti made on the prison walls by the former inmates. During their visit, tourists can also see the wax statues of the prisoners in their everyday prison life. The museum even has a small library where one can find the books penned down by the ex-inmates of the Ulucanlar Prison Museum. 

Location: Sukriye Mahallesi, Ulucanlar Cd. No:63, 06030 Altındag/Ankara, Turkey

Price: There is no entry fee for visiting the Ulucanlar Prison Museum

Timings: Ulucanlar Prison Museum is open for visiting from 10 AM to 4 PM, throughout the week, except on Monday. The museum closes at 5 PM on weekends.

Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year

AltInkoy AcikHava Muzesi is one of its kind museums that is known for its rural exhibits and culture. The special attractions of this place are Anatolian houses, craft & agriculture exhibits & farm animals.

One can come over to this place to get an insight of the times gone by. Tourists love to spend time in the serene and sublime atmosphere of this place in the middle of the crowded metropolis. It is one of the must-visit places in Ankara and you should not miss out on this amazing place.

Location: Besikkaya, 2044/1. Sk., 06230 Altındag/Ankara, Turkey

Price: The entry fee for visiting AltInkoy AcikHava Muzesi is 5 TL for adults and 2 TL for students

Timings: AltInkoy AcikHava Muzesi is open for visiting from 10 AM to 7 PM, on all days, except on Monday

Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year

Constructed back in the fifteenth century, the Haci Bayram Mosque is a token of dedication to Haji Bayram Wali, the preacher and founder of the Baryam Sufi order. Inviting a heavy influx of Muslim devotees from all over the world, this iconic mosque is counted among the historically significant places to visit in Ankara.

Known for its spellbinding architecture and intricate designs, the mosque flaunts Arabic calligraphy on its walls. Although most of the visitors flock to the Haci Bayram Mosque for a spiritual experience, the place also gets a huge number of history buffs and architecture lovers each day.

Location: 13 Sarıbag Sokak, Ankara, 6050, Turkey

Price: There is no fee for visiting the Haci Bayram Mosque

Timings: The Haci Bayram Mosque is open 24 hours for visitors

Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year

Built with the aim of showcasing the Turkish aviation's rich and glorious history to the world, the Ankara Air Force Museum is home to more than 700 photographs, artefacts, and documents related to the Turkish Air Agency and Turkish Civil Aviation Authority.  Important exhibits displayed in the halls of this popular museum include medals, certificates, and uniforms of the Turkish Air Force.

The museum also has a beautiful garden, where the real and imitation models of the Turkish aircraft are displayed. The garden also shelters the ancient Parachute Tower that was constructed by a group of Russian and Turkish engineers and architects in 1937. Tourists visiting the Ankara Air Force Museum can enjoy the parachuting experience at the Parachute Tower.

Location: Doganbey Mh., 06250 Altindag/Ankara, Turkey

Price: There is no fee for visiting the Ankara Air Force Museum

Timings: The Ankara Air Force Museum is open for visiting from 8.30 AM to 5.30 PM, throughout the week, except on Monday

Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year

Established in the year 2010, the world-famous CerModern Museum showcases impressive arts of the modern age and hosts a plethora of interesting events for tourists to enjoy. Built inside an old railway workshop, this amazing museum speaks about the essence of art in today’s dynamic environment. Some of the important past exhibits of the museum include Istanbul Photo Awards and the works of Diego Rivera, Fernando Franco I Oaxaca, and Frida Kahlo.

Apart from excellent exhibitions, CerModern also organizes concerts, movie screenings, and workshops for people of all age groups. Thanks to the rotating exhibits, no visit to the CerModern museum offers the same kind of experience.

Location: Anafartalar, Altınsoy Cd. No:3, 06101 Sıhhıye / Altındag/Altındag/Ankara, Turkey

Price: The entry fee for visiting CerModern is 30 TL per head. The entry is free for children aged under 7 and for people with disabilities.

Timings: Cermodern is open for visiting from 10 AM to 8 PM, on all days of the week, except on Monday.

Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year