Ankara – Turkey

Ankara – Turkey is the 2nd biggest city in the country, coming in next after Istanbul. It is also the capital city of the country as well as the capital of city of the Province of Ankara.

Location

Ankara – Turkey is located at the heart of the country and the central section of Anatolia. It is approximately four hundred and fifty kilometers off the south-east section of Istanbul.

Getting There

Flying in to Ankara – Turkey is via the international airport located here, about twenty-eight kilometers off the northeastern section of the city. International flights here however are rather limited.

Your next best option is to fly into Istanbul and then take a domestic flight from the airport here to get to Ankara.

If you will be coming in from other parts of the country, your best option is to take a train ride going to Ankara. Since this city is the centre of the railway network of the country, you will find that trains from all over Turkey pass through Ankara.

The most affordable means however is via a bus ride. You will find that there are bus routes coming from different cities in the country that go to Ankara.

What to See and Do

Ankara – Turkey is rich in historical buildings and structures as well as museums, mosques and archeological sites.

Of notable historical relevance is Anitkabir, which translates to “memorial tomb.” This already gives you an idea of what it is. This is where the mausoleum of the Turkish War Independence hero, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is located.

He is also the 1st President of the Republic of Turkey. Facing his mausoleum is the tomb of Ismet Inönü, the 2nd president of the country.

This site alone is visited by millions of people every year.

For Ottoman artifacts and other local historical relics, visit the Ankara Ethnography Museum; and to learn more about the Anatolian people and culture, visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilization.

Incidentally, the Ethnography Museum also served as a temporary resting place for Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Other notable museums include the War of Independence Museum, the Ankara Aviation Museum and the Open-Air Steam Locomotive Museum.

Archeological sites on the other hand include the Temple of Augustus and Rome, the Ankara Citadel and the Roman Bath.

Brief History

In ancient times, Ankara – Turkey was known as Ankyra in the Greek language and Ancyra in the Latin language. When it was annexed by the Seljuq Turks in the year 1073, Ankara became known as Angora.

It was later on officially changed into Ankara as mandated by the 1930 Turkish Postal Service Law.

Today, the city is the seat of government of the country and as such, this is also where you will find all the embassies of various countries around the world.

The city is mostly known for the Angora goat because of its mohair wool, Muscat grapes and a distinct breed of felines known simply as Angora cats.

Cost

A good meal consisting of popular local foods like the kebaps and South Anatolian-inspired dishes costs about 40 Turkish Lira.

Budget accommodations on the other hand, range from 40 up to 80 Turkish Lira per room, per night.

Train rides from different parts of the country can cost anywhere from 20 up to 32 Turkish Lira.

Other Information

Ankara – Turkey has several shopping malls where you can find global fashion brands but for Turkish carpets and novelty items, head down to the Castle district of the city where you can get good deals on carpets and leather-made items.