POPULATION
5.782.285
CURRENCY
TURKISH LIRA (₺)
TIMEZONE
GMT +3:00
LANGUAGE
TURKISH
WEATHER
JULY 32ºC /
JANUARY 5ºC
AIRPORTS
Esenboğa International Airport.
HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE OF ANKARA
Ankara, the capital of the Galatian tribe Tektosag in the Hellenistic Period, became the capital of a provincial organisation in the Roman Period, an important city where emperors stayed in the Byzantine Period, and the centre of the Anatolian Province in the Ottoman Period. Researches show that there are traces of different civilisations such as Hittites, Phrygians, Lydians and Galatians in Ankara. The Phrygians conquered the region after the Hittites and excavations in Ulus, the city centre, yielded conclusive evidence of the presence of the Phrygians. After the Cimmerian invasion destroyed the Phrygian state, Ankara came under the control of the Lydians, but this situation ended when the Persian king Cyrus took over the government. Two centuries later, Alexander the Great put an end to the Persian rule. After Emperor Augustus captured Ankara, the city developed as a province and temples, marketplaces, roads and waterways were built. Ankara remained under the Byzantine Empire between 334-1073 and became an important centre of Christianity. Later, the Ottoman Empire captured the city in 1356. However, Timur defeated the Ottoman Empire in the Battle of Ankara and captured the city in 1402. In 1403, the city was once again captured by the Ottomans. Ankara became the capital of the Republic of Turkey with a law enacted on 13 October 1923.
Why is Ankara the capital of Türkiye?
Among the main reasons why Ankara was chosen as the capital of Turkey are the threats and occupation attempts that Istanbul, historically the capital of the Ottoman Empire for a long time, was exposed to during the First World War. Due to its geographical location, Istanbul is situated at a strategic point connecting Europe and Asia and has gained importance as a centre of trade throughout history. Since Istanbul is the main transit route to reach the Mediterranean Sea, it is in a critical position for many European countries. This strategic location of Istanbul has kept the city under constant threat, which has raised security concerns for Turkey. Therefore, Turkey decided to move its capital from Istanbul to Ankara. Ankara is centrally located, which facilitates the transport network throughout the country. Moreover, Ankara is surrounded by many cities, making it a more resilient capital city against unexpected threats. Given these strategic advantages, Ankara was designated as the capital of Turkey and has maintained this position ever since.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT ANKARA?
Ankara is generally preferred by tourists in the summer months. However, since there are no natural holiday opportunities such as beaches or sea in the city, the summer season is considered as a suitable period especially for enjoying the sun and exploring ancient ruins and symbolic structures.
TRANSPORTATION TO ANKARA
There are various options for getting from Esenboğa International Airport to the city centre. The most comfortable choice among these alternatives may be BelkoAir buses and this service costs 37 TL. Another option is to use the bus numbered 442; this bus leaves every 30 minutes and costs only 25 TL. The most common public transport option is HAVAŞ buses, which cost 37 TL and depart every 30 minutes. It is entirely up to you to determine your travel preference. You can also reach the city centre by individual options such as taxi or car rental.
ANITKABIR
Anıtkabir is the main factor in Ankara's high visitor attraction. Respect for Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, and the desire of Turkish society to express this respect are the main motivations for visiting Anıtkabir. Turkish and international visitors choose Ankara to pay deep respect to Atatürk's legacy through this important memorial site.
THINGS TO DO AND PLACES TO VISIT
WHAT TO EAT IN ANKARA
BAZLAMA KEBAB
Bazlama kebab is a dish prepared with bazlama, a special type of bread. The meat is placed in this bread and served. The bread adds a special taste by absorbing the flavour of the meat. The softness of the delicious meat will satisfy your palate.
ŞİBİT DESSERT
Şibit dessert is an interesting dessert that is similar to baklava, a traditional dessert, but does not contain peanuts or walnuts. This dessert contains only thin layers of sweet dough. Recommended for baklava lovers, this dessert can be an alternative to baklava for individuals with walnut or pistachio allergies.
BEYPAZARI STEW
Beypazarı stew is a traditional dish prepared with lamb and based on a 500-year-old recipe. This recipe was specially made for the Ottoman sultans. What makes the dish special is that the meat used comes from naturally fed animals. The recipe is cooked in a stone oven for five hours, which makes it a challenging dish to make.
BEYPAZARI KURUSU
Beypazarı kurusu is basically a dessert made from a hard dough with plenty of butter and cinnamon. It is then cooked and consumed by dipping it in a glass of tea. It can also be served with some cheese or Nutella. This snack is a delicious option that can be preferred instead of chips, especially when watching a film.
ANKARA BAGEL (SİMİT)
Compared to bagels produced in other regions of Turkey, the Ankara bagel is thinner, smaller in size, contains more molasses and has a darker colour. The dark colour of the Ankara bagel comes from the browning caused by the molasses process expertly applied on the dough, and is related to the fact that it is not burnt. Ankara bagel has been registered by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office and received a geographical indication. Bagel is simit in Turkish. It is pronounced like Smith.
HOW MANY DAYS SHOULD YOU SPEND IN ANKARA?
The number of days to spend in Ankara may vary depending on the preferences of the visitor and the places to visit. In general, since many of Ankara's major landmarks are located close to each other, it is possible to explore many of them in one or two days.
