Ankara, Turkey Travel Guide - Sightseeing, Hotel, Restaurant & Shopping Highlights (Illustrated)

Ankara is the “heart” of Turkey and is the perfect mix of the modern and the historical. It is one of the emerging tourist destinations in Turkey and there has been a recent surge in popularity of the city. But you will find prices here are generally lower than in Istanbul and the coastal resorts and your Turkish Lira (TL) will go much further.

Ankara is the capital of Turkey and is located near the centre of Turkey in Anatolia province. It is the second largest city in Turkey, after Istanbul, and is a commercial hub and an interesting yet less-traveled place to visit. The city has a population of 4.3 million and foreign embassies, government institutions and military bases are located here.

Ankara receives many visitors in its own right and many tourists who stopover on their way to other parts of Anatolia like Cappadocia or the Black Sea coast.

Ankara is a major university city and students dominate the streets of shopping areas like Kizilay and Sakaya during most of the year. Consequently, Ankara has a lively nightlife.

The city has many recreational green areas like Genclik Park, the oldest park in the city yet only dating from 1943. But don’t let that fool you. Ankara has had a long and diverse history and the city retains many aspects of its magical past. Great civilizations such as Roman, Ottoman, Hellenistic, Byzantine, Phrygian and Hittite have left their mark on the city in the form of grand castles and well-preserved ruins.

Table of Contents:

Introduction to Ankara
Overview
Culture
Location & Orientation
Climate & When to Visit
Sightseeing Highlights
Atatürk's Tomb & Museum (Anitkabir)
Road of Lions
Ceremonial Plaza
Hall of Honor
Peace Park
Anitkabir Atatürk Museum
Ankara Opera House
Kocatepe Mosque
Roman Baths of Ankara
Ankara Citadel (Hisar)
Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
Hattusha Ancient Ruins
Hamamönü Restored Area
Recommendations for the Budget Traveler
Places to Stay
Yeni Yavuz Hoteli
Han Hostel Ankara
Deniz Atlanta Hotel
Divan Cukurhan
Places to Eat & Drink
Cankaya Lokantasi
Ozge Piknik
Aba Piknik & Hosta Piknik
Simit Cafes
Trilye Seafood Restaurant
Places to Shop
Çikrikçilar Yokuşu
Bakircilar Çarsisi
Karum Is Merkezi
Cheap Charlies
Bilkent Plaza