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Things to Do in Ankara (2026)
Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, is a must-visit for its grand architecture and historical significance. Located on Anıttepe, it is open daily from 9:00 AM… 🏛️ Start at Anıtkabir
Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, is a must-visit for its grand architecture and historical significance. Located on Anıttepe, it is open daily from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM in winter and until 5:00 PM in summer. Arrive early to avoid crowds and take time to explore the museum inside.
🏺 Explore the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
Housed in a restored 15th-century caravanserai, this museum showcases artifacts from the Paleolithic era to the Ottoman period. It is located at Gözcü Sokak No:2 in Ulus and costs 60 TL for entry. Plan at least two hours to see the Hittite and Phrygian exhibits.
🏘️ Wander Hamamönü District
This restored Ottoman neighborhood offers narrow streets, historic houses, and artisan shops. It is located near the Hacı Bayram Mosque and is free to explore. Stop by the traditional coffeehouse for a Turkish coffee and watch craftsmen at work.
🛍️ Shop at Atakule Tower
Atakule is a 125-meter tower in Çankaya with a revolving restaurant and shopping mall. The observation deck costs 30 TL and offers panoramic views of the city. Visit in the late afternoon to see the sunset over Ankara.
🌳 Relax in Gençlik Park
This large urban park features a lake, walking paths, and amusement rides. It is located near Ulus and is open 24 hours, with the amusement park operating from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM. It is a great spot for a picnic or a leisurely stroll in the evening.
🍽️ Try Local Flavors in Çıkrıkçılar Yokuşu
This historic street in Ulus is lined with restaurants serving traditional Ankara dishes like Ankara tava (lamb and rice casserole). Meals average 80-120 TL per person. For dessert, try the famous ankara helvası at a local pastry shop.
🎭 Catch a Show at the State Opera and Ballet
The Ankara State Opera and Ballet, located at Atatürk Boulevard, offers affordable performances starting at 50 TL. Check the schedule online for operas, ballets, and concerts. Dress smartly and arrive 30 minutes early for the best seats.
🚌 Getting Around Ankara
Ankara has a modern metro system with two lines (M1 and M2) that connect major districts. A single ride costs 7 TL using an AnkaraKart, which can be purchased at kiosks. Buses and dolmuş (shared taxis) also cover areas not served by the metro.
I'd add that the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations is worth the 60 TL even just for the Hittite gallery alone. Those sphinxes and the bronze religious standards are incredible up close, and the audio guide is only 15 TL extra if you want more context.
For a quieter alternative to Genclik Park, try the Botanical Garden in Cankaya. It's smaller but has a nice rose collection and fewer crowds, especially on weekday afternoons. The entry is free and it's a short walk from Atakule if you want to combine the two.
One thing the guide doesn't mention is that Ankara has a surprisingly good street food scene around Kizilay. The simit stalls near Guvenpark are always fresh, and you can get a proper doner wrap for around 40 TL from the shops on Sakarya Caddesi. Much better than the tourist spots in Ulus.
The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations really is the highlight of Ankara for me. If you go, don't skip the basement level where they keep the Neolithic wall paintings from Çatalhöyük, they're faded but still striking after all these years.
For a proper lunch near Ulus, skip the main square and walk two blocks to the small restaurants on Hisar Parkı Caddesi. The Ankara tava there runs about 90 TL and comes with a side of yogurt and rice that's much better than what you'd get on the tourist strip.
The sunset from the Atakule observation deck is worth the 30 TL, but check the weather first. On a hazy day you can barely see past the next block, and the revolving restaurant upstairs is overpriced for what it is. I'd rather grab a beer at the ground floor cafe and watch the lights come on from outside.
Honestly the Hamamönü district is my favorite spot in Ankara, especially if you go on a weekend morning. There's a little antique market that pops up near the Hacı Bayram Mosque around 10am where you can find old coins and vintage postcards for like 10-20 TL each. The coffeehouse they mention is called Şengül Hamamı Cafe and their Turkish coffee comes with a side of lokum, which is a nice touch.
One thing that caught me off guard my first visit is how spread out Ankara is, so don't try to walk between Ulus and Çankaya unless you're really up for it. The metro is fine but the bus system can be confusing if you don't read Turkish, so I'd recommend using the dolmuş for shorter trips since the drivers usually know some English and can point you in the right direction. The AnkaraKart works on all of them though, which saves a lot of hassle.
3 Days in Ankara: Itinerary 2026
Start your morning at Ankara Castle (Hisar Cd., Ulus) around 9:00 AM to explore the ancient citadel and enjoy panoramic views. Walk downhill to the Museum of Anatol… 🗺️ Day 1: Ulus and the Old City
Start your morning at Ankara Castle (Hisar Cd., Ulus) around 9:00 AM to explore the ancient citadel and enjoy panoramic views. Walk downhill to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations (Gözcü Sk. No.2, open 8:30-19:00, 150 TL) for a deep dive into Turkey's prehistoric artifacts. For lunch, head to Zenger Paşa Konağı (Doyran Sk. No.13) for traditional Anatolian dishes in a restored Ottoman mansion; mains average 200-300 TL.
🏛️ Day 1 Afternoon: Roman Ankara
After lunch, stroll to the Temple of Augustus and Rome (Hacı Bayram Mah., Ulus) and the nearby Column of Julian, both free to view and within a 5-minute walk. Next, visit the Roman Baths (Çankırı Cd., open 8:30-17:30, 50 TL) to see the well-preserved frigidarium and tepidarium. End your afternoon at Hacı Bayram Mosque, an active 15th-century mosque adjacent to the temple, where you can observe daily prayers.
🌃 Day 1 Evening: Kızılay Dining
Take a 15-minute bus (route 202 or 204) from Ulus to Kızılay Square for dinner. Try Dönerci Hacıbaba (Karanfil Sk. No.1) for Ankara-style döner wraps starting at 80 TL. Afterward, walk to Sakarya Street for a lively nightlife scene with bars like The Wall Pub (Sakarya Cd. No.24) offering local beers for 60 TL.
🏞️ Day 2: Anıtkabir and Çankaya
Begin at 9:00 AM at Anıtkabir (Anıttepe, free entry) to visit Atatürk's mausoleum and the War of Independence Museum; allow 2 hours. Take a 10-minute taxi (approx. 50 TL) or bus 103 to Kuğulu Park in Çankaya for a peaceful stroll around the pond. For lunch, walk to Trilye Restaurant (Tunalı Hilmi Cd. No.92) for seafood mezes and grilled fish; set lunch menu 250 TL.
🎨 Day 2 Afternoon: Art and Shopping
Head to the CerModern (Altınsoy Sk. No.3, open 10:00-18:00, 100 TL) for contemporary art exhibitions in a former train repair shop. From there, walk 5 minutes to the Atatürk Forest Farm (Atatürk Orman Çiftliği) to see the historic farm and buy fresh dairy products at the farm shop. End your afternoon at the Tunalı Hilmi Street shopping area, where you can browse local boutiques and pick up souvenirs.
🍽️ Day 2 Evening: Kavaklıdere Dinner
Take a 10-minute walk from Tunalı to Kavaklıdere, Ankara's upscale district. Reserve a table at Kalbur Restaurant (Bestekar Sk. No.15) for modern Turkish cuisine; tasting menu starts at 400 TL. After dinner, enjoy a cocktail at The Marmara Esma Sultan Bar (Esat Cd. No.1) with views of the city skyline.
🌳 Day 3: Gençlik Park and Hamamönü
Spend the morning at Gençlik Park (Ulus), a large green space with a lake and amusement rides; entry is free, rides cost 20-50 TL each. Take a 15-minute walk to Hamamönü, a restored Ottoman neighborhood with cobblestone streets and historic houses. Visit the 15th-century Karacabey Hamamı (Hamamönü Sk.) for a traditional Turkish bath experience; entry 150 TL, scrub and foam massage extra.
🚌 Day 3 Afternoon: Departure Tips
For your last lunch, try the pide at Pideci Mehmet Usta (Hamamönü Cd. No.22) for around 100 TL. If flying out, take the metro from Kızılay to Ankara Esenboğa Airport (line M1, 35 minutes, 15 TL). For bus departures, the Ankara Intercity Bus Terminal (AŞTİ) is accessible via metro line M1 from Kızılay (20 minutes). Allow at least 2 hours for airport check-in or bus boarding.
ngl this is a really well thought out plan, the pacing is spot on for three days. one thing i'd tweak is day 2 afternoon, instead of the ataturk forest farm i'd check out the state art and sculpture museum across from the opera house in ulus, it's free on weekends and has a killer collection of turkish modernists like abidin dino and bedri rahmi eyüboglu, way more interesting than buying yogurt at the farm shop imo. the building itself is an old wine warehouse from 1927 with these massive wooden beams, really atmospheric.
for day 3 if you end up near genclik park around noon, there's a guy selling simit from a cart by the lake entrance, get one fresh with some cheese from the little grocer next to him, it's like 15 tl total and beats any sit-down breakfast. also the karacabey hamami is good but the attendants there can be pushy about extra services, just say sadece yikama if you only want the wash, they'll respect it.
solid itinerary, covers the big stuff without feeling rushed. for day 1 dinner i'd actually walk a bit further from kizilay to the araptarlasi area, there's a place called cigkofteci osman that does incredible raw meatballs and lahmacun for like 50 tl each, proper ankara street food vibe. the ulus bus can be crowded at rush hour so if you're leaving around 6pm just grab a dolmus from the stop near the castle, same price and they run more frequently.
on day 2 the cer modern is a nice choice but their cafe terrace is where it's at, good coffee and a view of the old train yard that's pretty unique. if you're at the forest farm definitely try the ice cream from the shop, it's made with their own milk and way better than the mass produced stuff around town. for the airport taxi advice i'd agree with the other comment, the m1 metro is fine if you're just carrying a backpack but with a suitcase the walk from the platform to the terminal is longer than you'd expect.
honestly this is a really solid itinerary, you covered the main sights well. one thing i'd add is that the museum of anatolian civilizations is absolutely worth the 150 tl, but try to go right when it opens at 8:30 to beat the crowds, it gets packed by 10. also for day 2 instead of trilye for lunch id recommend Kosebasi just around the corner on tuna cd, their iskender is like 180 tl and way more filling than the seafood menu.
for day 3 if you have time after hamamonu, the Ankara Citadel at sunset is unreal, its free and you get a killer view of the whole city without the tourist rush. and honestly skip the metro to the airport if you have luggage, take a taxi from kizilay it's like 250-300 tl and saves u the hassle of transfers, the m1 line can be a pain with bags