Visitors, who go to Ankara by flight, are first at Esenboga Airport, 28 km away from city center. In order to get to city center from there, there is a bus service (Bus number 442) in front of exit door of the airport (the door is in front of the door you close after passport control). The bus service can take visitors to ASTI and Kizilay. Another choice could be taxi service but it will be expensive.
However, if visitors use bus to get Ankara from anywhere in Turkey, they first are in ASTI (the name of Ankara terminal). In order to get to city center, visitors could get an underground ticket to Kizilay in which most hotels are located. Tickets can be taken in ticket office next to underground entrance in ASTI.
Travel options vary. My advice to visitors is to leave at least 2-3 days for travel in Ankara. There are many places to visit in Ankara but according to what i experienced of traveling to Ankara, i will give the breath-taking places in Ankara. These are:
1. Hittite Sculpture
It is the symbol of Ankara. This sculpture symbolizes a historic country,Hittite, which lived in Ankara. It is in Sihhiye, near to Kizilay. I recommend that your trip should start off here. In this article, my trip route starts here.
2. Genclik Park
It is near to Hittite Sculpture, just 5 minutes walk-away. This park has many entrance. In this park, there is a lunapark to which i strongly advice visitors to pay a visit. Lunapark is near to Kizilay entrance.
If you have time at night, you can go to this park and take a seat to watch water show with fantastic music. This show usually starts after 8 p.m. But before deciding when to go to there, be advised to ask when the show become.
Here are some photos i took there;
If you exit Genclik Park from the door near to train station, getting to this museum by foot takes just 3 minutes. It is an open-air museum. In this museum, you can see old-model planes used in Turkey and visitors here can see how airplane technology has developed in Turkey.
P.s.; Entrance is free and this museum is closed on Mondays.
4. Kore Bahcesi
It is a fantastic place constructed to remember those who lost their life in Korean War. At
the bottom of the building, (718 Turkish troops lost their lives in that war) The aim of the building shows the peace between Turkish society and Korean society.Entrance is free and it is located next to Turk Hava Kurumu Museum.
5. Old Parliament Buildings
(Independent War Museum)
Until current parliament building, Turkish parliament used 2 different buildings. They are of historical documents and guns used in Independent War of Turks.
In first building, you can have a chance to see dais the founder of modern Turkey (Ataturk) used for his speeches during Turkey"s foundation period.
It opens at 8:45 and closes at 19;00. Entrance to each building costs 5 Turkish lira. Going to there from Kore Bahcesi by foot takes around 10 minutes.
6. Victory Monument
It is located at Ulus Square, next to Old Parliament building. The sculpture represents the founder of modern Turkey and his soldiers.
At the rear of the sculpture, you can pay a visit to Ulus Bazaar. There is a saying "if you can find the product you are looking for in Ulus Bazaar, either there is nothing like that or ypu can find the right shop there".
7. Hacibayram-i Veli Bazaar and Mosque
Hacibayram-i Veli is near to Ulus square. There is nothing except reading books and islamic books in Hacibayram-i Veli Bazaar.
The mosque is open to all. not for tourism purpose but for praying. The rear of the mosque, there is a shrine of Haci Bayram-i. It is an important place for Muslims.
In Hacibayram-i Veli, you can also have a look at renovated old-type Ankara homes shown below;
8. Temple of Augustus and Roma
9. Ankara Castle
It is near to Hacibayram-i Veli. Overall, not recommendation because getting there requests climbing too much and when at the top, you would leave no energy at all to get down.
But, if you look for an adventure, getting there looks great for you.
10. PTT Stamp Museum
It is located near to Ulus square. From Hacibayram0i Veli to there takes 10 minutes by foot. What
you can find there is the history of telecommunication system in Turkey and all the stamps used.
Here are the photos i took there;
In the museum, you can have your special stamps produced. For that, dont forget to bring your passport or ID and photo you want to see in the stamp. The price vary dependent on how many and what type of stamp you want.
Etnografya museum was the home of funeral of Ataturk till Anitkabir constructed. In this museum, you can see historic clothes from the start of Ottoman empire to today`s Turkey, guns and some historical artifacts.
Entrance is 10 Turkish lira and the museum located near to PTT Stamp Museum. Getting there from PTT museum takes 5 minutes by foot.
Next to Etnografya Museum, there is an art museum. Inside of the museum, you can see portrays and art products.
12. Guven Park
Guven Park is located in the center of Kizilay and Ankara. The Dolmus in Ankara depart here. I think Dolmus is a new term to visitors. Dolmus is like a bus colored blue in Ankara. Every Dolmus has its own route and you take Dolmus up to where you wish to go. It is very common in Turkey and every city has dolmus service.
In front of the Park, there is a big shopping center whose name is Kizilay AVM. Also, In Sakarya Street near to Kizilay, you can find lots of shops.
In the park, what you can do is to sit, but be advised in advance that there is a very noisy place.
13. Dikmen Valley
If you don"t have your own car in Ankara or didn"t rent a car, you then could take Dolmus in Guven Park To get to Dikmen Valley, you should take dolmus going to Dikmen.
P.s. :My recommendation is to take a night walk around the Valley.
14. Atakule and Botanic Park
It is situated at Cankaya and in order to get there, take dolmus going to Oran in Guven Park. Or if you follow my list, i recommend you to first get back to Guven Park and then from there, take dolmus going to Oran.
In addition to Atakule, what you can do there is you can walk inside botanic park next to Atakule. But, if you think a REAL botanic park, i don"t suggest you to go to there. What you can do there is just to take a sit and to get relax in silence.
15. Kugulu Park
Kugulu Park is a fantastic place with nice atmosphere and animals (especially swan). However, even at night, here can not be in silent due to traffic and people sitting at restaurants around the Park. Nevertheless, getting over there at night is relaxing and elating. After getting relaxed, you can walk through Tunali Hilmi Street in where there are many shops.
The park is located near to Kizilay, if you follow the row here, after Atakule, just walk down through Cinnah Street. It takes just 7 min. by foot.
16. Kocatepe Mosque
Coming to its location, you can get there by walk from Kugulu Park,just 5 min away by foot. It is also near to Kizilay.
P.s. : When you get there, you may see big crowd in Mosque and they prey in front of coffin rest. Don"t get afraid from that. It could be for a martyr.
17. Anitkabir
What you can find there are moselenium, items Ataturk used, lion way and independent war museum. Also, for rest, there is a restaurant.
Entrance time can be found in the photo below:
Here are the photos i took below:
18. Golbasi
Golbasi is far away from Kizilay and you can"t get there by foot and there is no underground station there. Golbasi has a nice lake; you can walk through the lake, sit next to the lake and if you bring barbecue with you, you can make good time with friends or family.
You can take a bus, its number is 105, to get over there. The bus departs in Guven Park and from Guvenpark to Golbasi by bus takes around a half hour.
P.s.: There is also ship transportation taking passengers along the river in there.
Enjoy your visit to ANKARA...
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