Ankara, Turkey

Ankara, Turkey, Ankara Travel Guide

The old heart of Ankara at Ulus is centred on an ancient citadel on a rocky promontory which rises about 150m above the plain on the left bank of the Enguri Su River, in the middle of the city built in the dry, and almost barren region of Anatolia, Ankara is the 'anchor' and capital of Turkey but not the largest city, nevertheless she attracts over 17 million business and pleasure visitors each year from around the world.

East meets west and melds together in perfect harmony here in Ankara formerly known as Angora. Shades of a once mystical east, together with evidence of ancient civilisations lie to be found hidden between 20th and 21st-century properties. shopping malls and offices. Ankara is alive with a spirit of youth and advancement, as it is of course Turkey's main university city, topped up with language schools, colleges and military institutions. Ankara also has a vast global ex-pat community, mostly of the diplomatic corps as Ankara is home to all foreign embassies in Turkey, but slowly, since becoming a European Union member other nationalities are coming in to make business and take advantage of comparatively low property prices, adding to the truly cosmopolitan atmosphere.

For the visitor there are plenty of things to Do in Ankara, with a history dating back to the bronze age and home to top-rated attractions like the Anatolian Civilizations Museum (Anadolu Medeniyetleri Muzesi), the Ankara Citadel or Hisar, the Aslanhane Mosque (Aslanhane Camii), the Anitkabir or Ataturk Mausoleum - in the green 'peace' park, the Haci Bayram Mosque (Haci Bayram Camii), Hattussas, the Karagol or Black Lake, the Kocatepe Mosque (Kocatepe Camii), the Temple of Augustus and the Turkish Hamam. And there's more..... Much more! Try the the Genclik Park with its rowingboat lake and botanical garden for starters. Try to find time to sample other museums and galleries, archeological sites, modern monuments, mosques, parks, shopping and culture. Visit the Synod of Ancyra, the Turkish State Art and Sculpture Museum, Ankara Ethnography Museum and seek out the real Turkish Angora.

Ankara has a, dry continental climate with cold and sometimes snowy winters, with very hot, dry summers. Spring and autumn are when most rainfall occurs.

Please forgive us for Anglicising many if not all of the Turkish counrty place names on this page. The reason we have done this is to give a Search Engine result for anyone without a Turkish keyboard.