Ankara is the capital of modern Turkey, and its list of things to do is built around the Republic’s history, the deep history of Anatolia, and the working life of the capital. Nearly everything on the list is about the story of the country and the city where it was made. This guide ranks the ten best things to do in Ankara, from the essential to the underrated, with practical notes on timing, effort, and cost so you can build the right trip.
1. Visit Anıtkabir
The essential Ankara experience, and the one that defines the capital: the mausoleum of Atatürk, the founder of the Republic, with its monumental architecture, its museums, and its ceremony. The memorial is the heart of the city’s meaning, and the visit is the pilgrimage of the capital.
Go early, before the crowds, and let the monument and the ceremony settle in.
Effort: easy. Time: two to three hours. Cost: free.
2. See the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
One of the great museums of the world — the deep history of Anatolia, from the Stone Age to the classical world, with its extraordinary collections: the Neolithic, the Hittite, and the classical. The museum is the second essential of the capital, and it deserves the hours.
Effort: easy. Time: two to three hours. Cost: an entrance fee.
3. Walk the Citadel and the Old City
The ancient heart of the city — the walls of the Citadel, the old quarter, and the views over the modern capital. The old city gives the deep layers of Ankara, and the walking is the experience.
Effort: easy to moderate (the climb). Time: one to two hours. Cost: free.
4. See the Roman Remains
The Roman layers of the city — the Temple of Augustus, the Column of Julian, and the Roman baths — the ancient city beneath the modern capital. The remains give the Roman Ankara, and the history of the city before the Republic.
Effort: easy. Time: one to two hours. Cost: small fees.
5. Visit the Republic Museums
The museums of the struggle and the founding — the War of Independence Museum and the sites of the founding era — tell the story of the Republic’s birth. The museums give the modern history of the capital.
Effort: easy. Time: two hours. Cost: small fees.
6. See the Kocatepe Mosque
The great modern mosque of the capital — the landmark of the skyline, with its grand architecture. The mosque gives the modern religious life of the city.
Effort: easy. Time: one hour. Cost: free.
7. Walk Gençlik Park and the Parks
The parks and the open spaces of the capital — Gençlik Park and the city’s green squares — give the city’s breathing room and its daily life. The parks are the free and easy side of the city.
Effort: easy. Time: one hour. Cost: free.
8. Eat the Döner and the Regional Food
Ankara is famous for its döner — the city’s great claim — and the regional cooking of central Anatolia is the capital’s table. The eating is part of the Ankara experience.
Effort: none. Time: a meal. Cost: moderate.
9. Explore the Modern City
The modern capital — Kızılay and the boulevards, the shops and the cafés — is the working city, and the exploration gives the life of the capital beyond the monuments. The modern city is the contrast to the history.
Effort: easy walking. Time: two hours. Cost: free.
10. Take a Day Trip Into the Region
The region around the capital — the ancient sites and the towns of central Anatolia — rewards the day trips, with the history of the land beyond the city. The region gives the wider story.
Effort: easy. Time: half to full day. Cost: fuel and food.
How to Fit the Top 10 Into a Short Visit
If you have only two days: day one is Anıtkabir and the great museum; day two is the old city, the Roman remains, and the modern capital. That is the core Ankara, and it is excellent. With three days or more, add the Republic museums, the parks, and the day trips.
The Seasons of the City
The city’s list changes with the season, and each season gives Ankara a different face. In the spring and the autumn — the comfortable seasons of the plateau — the city is at its best: the mild weather, the clear light, and the days made for the exploring. In the summer, the heat is real, and the list turns to the early mornings and the evenings, with the museums as the midday refuge. And in the winter, the city is cold and snowy — the memorial and the museums as the warmth, and the capital at its most atmospheric. Whatever the season, the same list holds: the Republic’s story, the deep history, and the working life — each given new life by the time of year.
The Practical Notes
A few realities make the list easier to work through. The city is spread out, so the public transport — the metro, the light rail, and the buses — is the way to move, and the AnkaraKart is the key. The great sites have their hours and arrangements, so the planning ahead matters, and the early mornings are the calmest. The city’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 city’s best experiences — the memorial, the museum, and the old city — are the ones that cost the time rather than the money. With those basics handled, every item on the list delivers the version of Ankara that its story promises.
Beyond the Ten
The ten items are the core, but the city and the region hold more for the traveler who lingers. The other museums of the city — the ethnography, the art, and the specialized collections — reward the deeper visits. The neighborhoods beyond the center — the older quarters and the modern districts — give the local life. And the region around the capital — the ancient sites, the towns, and the landscape of central Anatolia — extends the story beyond the city. Two or three days covers the list above; a week lets you reach beyond it, into the museums, the region, and the culture that make the capital more than a stopover.
The Meaning of Anıtkabir
The first item deserves its own section, because it is the meaning of the capital. Anıtkabir is not only a monument but the heart of modern Turkey: the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic, whose vision created the nation and chose Ankara as its capital. The memorial’s monumental architecture, its museums of the struggle and the founding, and its ceremony of the guard all tell the story of the Republic’s birth — and the Turkish visitors who come as pilgrims, in their thousands, carry the meaning of the place. For the traveler, the visit to Anıtkabir is the visit to the heart of the country’s modern history — the monument where the Republic’s story is told, and the essential experience of the capital.
The Deep History of the Museum
The second item also deserves its context: the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations is the deep history of the land that the Republic inherited. The collections — the Neolithic of Çatalhöyük, the Hittite of the ancient capital, and the classical of the Anatolian cities — tell the story of the land from the dawn of civilization to the ancient world, and the museum is one of the great institutions of the world. The traveler who visits the museum after Anıtkabir sees the full arc: the deep history of the land, and the modern state that was founded upon it. The two together — the memorial and the museum — are the capital’s double heart, and they give the visitor the country’s whole story.
The Takeaway
The top ten things to do in Ankara are the ways of experiencing the capital of modern Turkey: the Republic’s memorial, the deep history of Anatolia, and the working life of the city. The list is simple, the effort is moderate, and the story is extraordinary — which is exactly the character of the place. Work through it at the city’s pace, and you will leave having had the complete Ankara — and with the sense of the country’s story.
Frequently asked questions
What is the one thing I must not miss in Ankara?
Anıtkabir — the mausoleum of Atatürk, the essential experience of the capital.
Is the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations worth it?
Yes — it is one of the great museums of the world, and it deserves the hours.
Is the city good for walking?
Yes — the old city and the modern boulevards are walkable, with the public transport for the spread.
Is the city crowded?
The working capital is busy on the weekdays; the weekends and the early mornings are the calmest.
How long should I stay?
Two days covers the essentials; three to five days gives the deeper city and the region.
Is the city suitable for families?
Yes — the memorial, the museum, and the parks all suit families.
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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