A Holiday in Ankara City

Ankara is not only in the centre of Turkey, it is also the centre for the country’s artistic talent. The National Opera, National, Ballet, National Theatre and the Presidential Symphony Orchestra are based here. But there is just as much talent outdoors on the streets. 60% of the city’s population is under 30 years old.

The energy and drive that comes with youth means that Ankara is now experiencing a mini-cultural revolution. The city was designed with Europe in mind, and the Middle East in spirit. Its structure is like a modern European city with parks and wide boulevards. It still looks the same, but it sounds, smells and bustles like a Middle East city.

To visit ancient on your Ankara holidays head to Ulus, narrow and winding streets are filled with stalls and shops selling antiques and Kilims.

To taste Ankara today while on holiday head to the fashionable city centre, Kizilay, for a mix of modern food and clothing. Ankara gave us Angora wool and the secular politics of Ataturk. Today it will give you a taste of two worlds rolled into one.

Things to do and see while on holiday in Ankara

Ankara Kalesi The castle overlooks the city from Ulus, the historic district, within its walls there’s a small village of shops and restaurants in wooden beamed houses and the Old Turkish House Museum.

Museum Of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara
Houses a huge collection of Paleolithic, Neolithic, Hatti, Hittite, Phrygian, Urartian, Roman and Lydian treasures. Won European Museum of the Year, 1997.

Museum Of Painting And Sculpture in Ankara
A major permanent collection of modern Turkish painting, featuring works by Osman Handi and Hikmet Onat. Space is also reserved for temporary exhibitions of international works.

Museum Of Ethnography in Ankara
Specialises in the Ottoman period especially, textiles, metalwork and carved wooden doors.

Kocatepe Mosque in Ankara
Constructed in the late 20th century this huge, white mosque in Ankara has four minarets making it visible from almost anywhere in the city.

Ataturk Mausoleum in Ankara
Honours the founder of Turkey, Ataturk. The mausoleum hall is a colonnaded temple with huge bronze doors. Loyal turks still make pilgrimages to the site today.

Karagol in Ataturk
One of the favorite places for picnics in Ankara with beautiful scenery in Winter and Autumn. Trekking routes cross the mountains.

Ataturk Farm And Zoo in Ankara
A recreational farming area with a zoo, greenhouses, restaurants, a brewery, hiking and biking.

Atakule (tower) in Ankara
This skyscraper doubles as a shopping mall so before you are laden with bags travel to the top to get a view of the city.

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