Travel to Ankara

Travel to Ankara

Ankara is the capital of Turkey and also the second largest city in the country. The city has a rich history which is reflected in the architectural styles of the buildings. There are several ruins to visit here and exploring the Old Town is a remarkable experience with its narrow lanes and restored ancient buildings that have been converted into restaurants and lodges. The newer part of the city is modern, efficient and busy. It has wide avenues for pedestrians and many hotels, trendy restaurants and bars to enjoy. The more modern shops are also located here although shops are plentiful in the Old Town.

Transportation to Ankara

Although Ankaras international airport is quite small, it is an efficient airport that has good facilities. Travellers who prefer to fly, but are unable to get a direct flight to Ankara usually choose to fly to Istanbul and catch a connecting flight onwards. There are several flights per day from Istanbul and the flight time is less than one hour. Istanbuls airport handles international flights from all over the world. Other options for travelling from Europe include rail and bus services. Today, there are many rail and bus services between major cities in Europe and Turkey. Most international buses and trains stop at Istanbul and from here, travellers can choose to travel by train, bus or plane to get to Ankara. Travellers may also wish to hire a car and drive to Ankara, which takes about five hours.

The city has a good internal transportation system that includes bus, taxi, a light rail system and the underground. The underground system is still under construction and so does not offer many stops, while buses are frequent and mostly reliable. Another option is the Dolmus, a large van that runs specific routes very much like a bus. It does not have a fixed schedule but it does have a fixed rate so tourists will not be overpriced. Despite the many transportation options, tourists generally prefer to use taxis as these can be stopped anywhere and provide door-to-door service. Always make sure the taxi driver uses his meter.

What to see

This is a city that has been ruled by many different races including the Galatians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks and Ottomans. Thus the city is very rich and diverse in its culture and history. This can be experienced by visiting the ancient sites and mingling with the locals, who are always happy to tell a story or two about the founder of Turkey. Some of the more interesting sites to visit in the city include the Ataturk Mausoleum, the Old Town and its ancient ruins and ancient architectural sites. There are also mosques and churches that have been built on top of other buildings that make for fascinating day trips. Tourists will also enjoy exploring the shops in Cikricilar Yokusu, near the Old Town, which are very picturesque and quaint.

Day trips

There is plenty to see around Ankara including the two areas that are full of myth and legend, Amasya and Gordion. Amasya was once ruled by the legendary Queen of the Amazons and Gordion was the site of the fabled Gordion knot. Other places to visit include Hattusas-Yazilikaya, once home to the Hittitles who worshipped a thousand gods and drank the blood of bulls; Cappadocia, with its many ancient ruins and underground cities and Ilara with its spectacular views of the gorge.

Activities and leisure

There are all sorts of activities for the traveller to enjoy at Ankara including golfing at the Erkeksu Ciftligi, a 9 hole country golf course; visiting the Ataturk Farm and Zoo, where visitors can see a replica of the house in which the founder of Turkey, Ataturk, was born and spending a day at the Genclik Park, which is crowded with shady trees, flowering plants and picnic sites. Genclik Park also has an amusement park within its grounds which makes it a particularly nice place for the younger visitors. The several forests, in particular the Benyam Forest, around the city also offer good walking paths.

Ankara has three dams which are fairly close to the city and here tourists can enjoy swimming and limited water sports. Bayindir has many good camping facilities for those who enjoy outdoor activities and for fans of winter sports, the Elmadag Mountain has ski slopes open to everyone. Finally, tourists may wish to visit one of the six thermal baths to soak away their troubles and enjoy the healing properties of the water. These can be found at: Kizilcahamam, Haymana Kaplica, Ayas Kaplica, Dutlu Kaplica, Meliksah or Malikoy.

Safety issues

Ankara is a fairly safe place for tourists to visit. It has its fair share of petty criminals such as pickpockets and bag snatching, but this is common to all major cities and tourists destinations around the world. Single women need to be a little more careful than men when they venture out at night as the men may take this as meaning that the women are being provocative and start leering at them. We recommend that all tourists obtain a comprehensive insurance policy, including medical cover, when travelling to Ankara.