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Ancara · Çorum · Turkey
Anıtkabir and the Anatolian collections open the way to Phrygian and Hittite sites.
In the photo: Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Ankara
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Get to know the place
Ankara brings together Atatürk’s mausoleum, the citadel and collections that help understand Anatolia’s history.
The Turkish capital lies in the country’s Asian interior. Visits combine the monumental spaces of Anıtkabir with the old quarter around the citadel and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. It’s a city of urban movements, which works best by walking through sectors and using transport between them.
The itinerary also reaches the pre-modern history. Gordion, in the Polatlı area, is linked to the Phrygian civilization. Boğazkale is a base to visit Hattusa, the ancient Hittite capital, and the Yazılıkaya sanctuary. Do not treat these places as a single short excursion.
The plateau usually has dry summers and cold winters, with possible snow.
This destination brings together 2 cities: Ancara, Boğazkale.
One destination, many paths
Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.
Limites: Natural Earth (domínio público). Ilhas do Mármara e dos Príncipes: geoBoundaries / © colaboradores do OpenStreetMap (CC BY-SA). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.
✈ Ankara Esenboğa Havalimanı (ESB), in Ancara · 30 km to Ancara
Ankara has Esenboğa Airport (ESB), a high-speed train station and the AŞTİ bus terminal. Organize arrival according to the chosen connection. Boğazkale requires onward road travel and specific logistics for the Hittite sites.
Suggested arrival point: Ancara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey. Anıtkabir presents a 20th-century monumental complex; alongside the citadel, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations gathers objects from different cultures of the Turkish territory. Gordion extends the trip into the Phrygian past.
Boğazkale is the access base for Hattusa, the ancient capital of the Hittite Empire. The terrain contains walls, gateways and temple areas; the Yazılıkaya sanctuary, outside the core of the ancient city, adds rock-carved reliefs.
The local experience
Atatürk’s mausoleum with courtyards, gardens and monumental architecture on a hill of the Turkish capital.
Gates, walls and temple foundations allow one to tour the ancient capital of the Hittite Empire, near Boğazkale.
Collection of Anatolian cultures in historic buildings beside the citadel, with emphasis on Prehistory and the Hittite world.
Reliefs of Hittite deities were carved into natural rock walls near the ancient city of Hattusa.
Fortifications and streets of the old core occupy an elevation, with traditional houses on the slopes of the citadel.
Remains of the Phrygian capital, monumental tombs and a museum form an archaeological circuit in the Polatlı area.
Columns and wooden beams distinguish this medieval Ankara mosque, part of a World Heritage property.
Before you go
A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.
For the open areas of Ankara, Gordion and Hattusa, prefer April, May, June, September or October. July and August can make walks hotter; between December and March, cold and possible snow change the sites’ logistics.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Two days cover the urban core; add one for Gordion and another for Hattusa. Staying near Boğazkale reduces the need to cram travel, visit and return into a single day.
Ulus brings the citadel and the museum closer; Kızılay has urban connections and services. Çankaya offers other accommodation areas, with travel to the monuments. For Hattusa, consider an overnight in Boğazkale.
Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.
Get your questions answered
No. Ankara is the Turkish capital in the interior of Anatolia. Istanbul lies by the Bosphorus, between Europe and Asia, and has a different set of sights.
Two for the mausoleum, the museum and the old core. Gordion and Hattusa require additional time due to road travel.
Yes, the city is part of the high-speed train network. Check the route, the station and availability for your travel day.
It is possible by road, but the excursion is long. Boğazkale allows you to dedicate more time to the site and Yazılıkaya without an immediate return to the capital.
