Ankara is the capital of modern Turkey, and the region around it is the deep history of the country — the land where ancient civilizations rose, and the towns and the sites that tell the story of Anatolia. The day trips that radiate from the capital reward the traveler who goes further: the ancient cities and the archaeological sites of the region, the historic towns, and the landscapes of the high plateau. Most of these are short drives from the city, and a day out comes home to the same capital that makes Ankara such a good base. This guide covers the best day trips from Ankara, ranked by the balance of effort and reward, with the practical details that turn a good idea into a good day.
The Day-Trip Landscape
Ankara sits in the heart of Anatolia, and the region around it is the historic core of the country. The day trips radiate in a few directions: to the ancient sites (the Hittite and the classical cities), to the historic towns, and into the landscapes of the plateau.
Getting around: a car is the best enabler — most of these places are one to two hours away by road, and the region’s roads are good. Without wheels, the buses and the trains cover some of the places. If you plan two or more day trips, a car for a few days usually pays for itself.
1. Göreme and Cappadocia
Why go: for the traveler with the time, the extraordinary landscape of Cappadocia — about three hours from the capital — is one of the great sights of Turkey: the fairy chimneys, the rock-cut churches, and the valleys of the volcanic plateau. It is a long day, and it is among the most rewarding in the country.
What it involves: a drive of about three hours to the region, then the day among its wonders — the valleys, the rock-cut churches, and the towns of Göreme and the region. Allow the full day, and consider whether Cappadocia deserves a night of its own.
Practical notes: the drive is long — allow the full day, and plan the return.
Effort: moderate. Time: full day, or longer. Cost: fuel, food, and small fees.
2. Beypazarı
Why go: the historic town of Beypazarı, about an hour and a half from the capital, is a gem of the region: the Ottoman houses, the old bazaar, and the town’s famous silver and its food. The town gives the historic Anatolian life.
What it involves: a drive to the town, then the day in its old quarter and its bazaar — the Ottoman houses, the crafts, and the local food. Beypazarı is an easy and charming day.
Practical notes: the town is walkable and the bazaar is the heart — the day is the wandering.
Effort: easy. Time: half to full day. Cost: fuel and food.
3. Gordion
Why go: the ancient city of Gordion, about an hour and a half from the capital, was the capital of the Phrygian kingdom — the city of King Midas, and the site of the famous Gordian knot. The site and its great tumuli give the deep history of the region.
What it involves: a drive to the site, then the exploration — the ruins, the great burial mounds, and the museum. The deep history of the Phrygians is the reward.
Practical notes: the site is open and the walking is real — the comfortable shoes and the water matter.
Effort: easy to moderate. Time: half to full day. Cost: fuel and a small fee.
4. Hattusa and the Hittite Capital
Why go: the ancient capital of the Hittites, about three hours from the capital — the great city of the Bronze Age empire, with its walls, its gates, and its temples. The site is one of the great archaeological places of the region.
What it involves: a drive to the site, then the day among the ruins — the walls and the gates, the temples, and the museum at the village. The Hittite capital is a long but extraordinary day.
Practical notes: the drive is long and the site is spread — allow the full day, and take the water and the shoes.
Effort: moderate. Time: full day. Cost: fuel and a small fee.
5. The Salt Lake (Tuz Gölü)
Why go: the great salt lake of central Anatolia, about an hour and a half from the capital — the vast white expanse of the salt flat, one of the largest in the world. The lake is the landscape of the plateau at its most extraordinary.
What it involves: a drive to the lake, then the day on its shores — the white expanse, the reflections, and the sense of the immense plateau. The lake is the landscape day.
Practical notes: the lake is best in the spring and the summer, and the sun protection and the water matter on the white expanse.
Effort: easy. Time: half to full day. Cost: fuel.
6. The Historic Towns of the Region
Why go: the towns of the region around the capital — the Ottoman towns, the old quarters, and the historic life — give the Anatolian character beyond the capital.
What it involves: a drive to the towns, the exploration of the old quarters and the bazaars, and the local food. The towns reward the traveler who goes further.
Practical notes: the towns are unpretentious — the wandering and the local life are the experience.
Effort: easy. Time: half to full day. Cost: fuel and food.
Building Your Day-Trip Plan
- One day: Beypazarı or the Salt Lake — the easy and the charming.
- Two days: add Gordion or the historic towns.
- Three days or more: the great sites — Hattusa and Cappadocia.
- No car: the buses and the trains cover some of the places, and a taxi or a shared arrangement covers the nearer ones.
- Best seasons: the spring and the autumn for everything; the summer for the lake; the winter for the towns.
The Seasons of the Day Trips
The day trips change with the season, and the timing shapes the rewards. In the spring and the autumn — the comfortable seasons of the plateau — the sites and the towns are at their best: the mild weather, the clear light, and the days made for the exploring. In the summer, the heat is real, and the day trips turn to the early mornings and the late afternoons, with the Salt Lake at its most extraordinary. And in the winter, the plateau is cold and snowy — the towns and the sites under the winter light, at their most atmospheric. Whatever the season, the region around the capital rewards the traveler who plans around it.
The Practical Notes for the Day Trips
A few realities make the day trips easier to plan. The region is spread out, so the distances are real — the full-day trips need the early starts and the sensible pacing, with the journeys as part of the day. The sites are largely open and self-guiding, so the visits need the comfortable shoes, the water, and the time rather than the bookings. The region’s weather is extreme — the winter’s cold and the summer’s heat call for the preparation, and the layers matter in every season. And the region’s food — the regional cooking of the plateau — is part of the day trips, with the towns’ restaurants the natural destinations. With those basics handled, the day trips deliver the deep history of the region at its best.
The Deep History of the Region
The deepest reward of the day trips from the capital is the deep history of the region. The land around Ankara is where the ancient civilizations of Anatolia rose — the Hittites of Hattusa, the Phrygians of Gordion, and the classical cities of the plateau — and the sites give the traveler the story of the land before the Republic. The capital tells the story of modern Turkey; the region tells the story of the millennia. The traveler who visits both connects the deep past of the land to the founding of the modern state — the ancient capitals and the modern one, the history of Anatolia whole. That connection is the reward of the day trips, and it is the reason the region around Ankara is worth the journeys.
The Takeaway
Ankara is the ideal base for the deep history of Anatolia. The day trips radiate in every direction — the historic towns, the salt lake, and the great ancient sites — and each one comes home to the same capital that makes Ankara such a good place to return to. Rent a car, pick your priorities, and let the plateau do the rest.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best day trips from Ankara?
Beypazarı, the Salt Lake, Gordion, and — for the traveler with time — Hattusa and Cappadocia.
Do I need a car for day trips from Ankara?
Not strictly — the buses and the trains cover some of the places — but a car unlocks the sites and the region.
How far is Cappadocia from Ankara?
About three hours by car — a long day, and worth considering for a night.
Which day trip is best for the history?
Gordion and Hattusa — the Phrygian and the Hittite capitals.
Is the Salt Lake worth the drive?
Yes — the vast white expanse is the landscape of the plateau at its most extraordinary.
What is the best day trip for families?
Beypazarı — the charming town, the bazaar, and the easy walking.
All Over Information
The All Over Information editorial team researches and writes practical English-language guides to Turkey. Facts are checked against official and local sources before publication, prices are published as dated ranges rather than quotes, and guides are revised when things change. We accept no sponsored posts, paid placements or paid links.
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