Things to Do in Ankara
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Ankara, Turkey, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Right, Ankara. The other Turkish capital, and Istanbul is still not entirely over losing that title. Layers of empires stacked on one hill, a solemn national mausoleum, and considerably less tourist attention than it probably deserves. This is the proper, no-nonsense guide to things to do in Ankara: what things actually cost, when to go, what to skip, and which bits are worth the metro ride. Six main stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site to see if you were paying attention.
Anitkabir (Ataturk's Mausoleum)
The mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the modern Turkish republic, and an enormous, solemn monument treated with deep national reverence. The changing of the guard ceremony and the scale of the surrounding complex, including a museum covering Ataturk's life and Turkey's War of Independence, make this one of the more moving stops in the country.
Dress and behave respectfully, this is treated as sacred ground by most Turkish visitors, and it's worth understanding the weight of the place before you go rather than treating it as a quick photo stop.
Hours Daily, roughly 9am–5pm, museum closes slightly earlier
Address Anittepe, Ankara
Ankara Citadel
Ankara's old citadel, overlooking the modern capital, dates back through layered Hittite, Roman, and Byzantine periods, empires stacked one on top of the next across centuries. The old town within and around the citadel walls, narrow streets, Ottoman-era houses, and small workshops, is properly atmospheric and worth wandering without a fixed itinerary.
Views from the citadel walls stretch across the whole city, a good spot to get your bearings and see how Ankara has grown around this ancient core.
Best time Late afternoon, for views as the light softens
Address Ulus district, central Ankara
Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
Widely regarded as one of the finest archaeological museums anywhere, covering Anatolian history from the Paleolithic era through the Hittites, Phrygians, Urartians, and beyond, significant finds housed in a converted 15th-century covered bazaar near the Citadel.
It's a proper deep dive into a part of ancient history most visitors know surprisingly little about, worth a couple of hours minimum, and a good pairing with the Citadel given how close they sit together.
Hours Daily, roughly 8.30am–7pm in summer, shorter in winter
Address Near the Citadel, Ulus district
Republic Museum & the Story of the New Capital
Ankara became Turkey's capital in 1923, replacing Istanbul, a deliberate move by the country's founders symbolising a fresh start away from the old Ottoman seat of power. The Republic Museum (housed in the former Grand National Assembly building) covers this transition in real depth, worth a visit if you want to understand why Ankara, rather than the far more famous Istanbul, ended up running the country.
It's a smaller, quieter museum than the big-name attractions elsewhere in the city, worth the detour for the history alone.
Hours Daily except Mondays, check current times
Address Ulus, central Ankara
Kizilay & Kocatepe Mosque
Kizilay is Ankara's modern central district, wide boulevards, shopping, and a properly different feel from the older Ulus area around the Citadel, a good place to see how the city functions as an actual working capital beyond its historical sites. Kocatepe Mosque, one of the largest in Turkey, dominates the skyline nearby with its Ottoman-revival architecture.
It's a good area for a proper meal or coffee break between the more history-heavy stops elsewhere on this list.
Address Kizilay Square, central Ankara
Ulus Bazaar & Old Town Streets
The old commercial heart of the city around Ulus, narrow streets, small workshops, and markets selling everything from spices to textiles, worth a wander for a sense of everyday Ankara beyond the government buildings and museums elsewhere.
It's considerably less polished than the newer parts of the city, and that's exactly the appeal, a proper working district rather than a curated tourist experience.
Hours Daily, busiest mornings through early afternoon
Address Ulus district, central Ankara
Best time to visit Ankara
April through June and September through October give the most comfortable weather, mild temperatures well suited to walking between the Citadel, the museums, and Anitkabir without summer's heat or winter's cold.
Ankara sits at a higher elevation than Istanbul and gets noticeably colder winters, snow isn't unusual between December and February, pack accordingly if travelling then.
Getting around Ankara
Ankara's metro system covers the city well and is properly cheap, the easiest way to move between the more spread-out sights like Anitkabir and the older Ulus district. Central Ulus itself, the Citadel, and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations are close enough together to walk between comfortably.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Ankara worth visiting?
- Yes, particularly if you want a deeper, less touristed side of Turkey, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and Anitkabir are both world-class and see a fraction of Istanbul's crowds.
- How many days do you need in Ankara?
- Two days covers the main sights comfortably, the Citadel, the archaeology museum, and Anitkabir.
- Is Ankara expensive?
- No, generally cheaper than Istanbul across the board, museum entry, food, and transport are all genuinely affordable.
- What is Ankara famous for?
- Being Turkey's capital since 1923, replacing Istanbul, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, one of the finest archaeological museums anywhere.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
