Before you go

Your trip to Ancara.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Ancara – Ancara Destination Ankara Capital

How to get there

Ankara Esenboğa Havalimanı (ESB) Ancara · 30 km
Ankara Yüksek Hızlı Tren Garı 3 km
AŞTİ 6 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Arrive via Esenboğa Airport, the high-speed train station or the AŞTİ terminal. Urban transport and taxis complete the journey to your accommodation.

How many days

Two days in the city and a third for Gordion, if you are interested in archaeology.

When to go

April, May, June, September and October usually make visits to Ankara easier. July and August bring dry heat; from December to March, cold and possible snow require better distribution of outdoor visits.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

In Ankara, combine urban transport with walking by neighborhood. For Gordion, a car, driver or tour simplifies the transfer to Yassıhöyük.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Ancara

Morning
Anıtkabir
Walk through the approach areas and Anıtkabir’s mausoleum before heading to Ankara’s old quarter.
Afternoon
Anadolu Medeniyetleri Müzesi
Reserve the afternoon for the Anadolu Medeniyetleri Müzesi. Two to three hours for a visit to the collection.
Late afternoon
Ankara streets and landscape
Return to Ankara’s core with time to observe the streets and landscape, without adding a long transfer at the end of the outing.
Evening
Overnight in Ankara
Dine in the area where you are staying in Ankara and confirm transport for the next leg.

2 days in Ancara

Day 1

Morning
Anıtkabir
On a two-day itinerary, dedicate the first morning to Anıtkabir’s monumental setting and the walk between its spaces.
Afternoon
Anadolu Medeniyetleri Müzesi
Proceed to Ulus and observe the collections that present Anatolian cultures before the Phrygian departure planned for the next day.
Late afternoon
Ankara streets and landscape
If you still have energy and daylight, walk around the citadel to relate the collection to the old core’s architecture.
Evening
Overnight in Ankara
When finishing the first stage in Ankara, confirm the vehicle and sequence of sectors you plan to visit in Gordion.

Day 2

Morning
Gordion
On the second day, set out for the Gordion complex in the Polatlı area. Reserve travel and time between the archaeological sectors.
Afternoon
Conclusion of the visit and return to Ankara
Complete the planned visits for this leg and return to your base in Ankara with organized transport, avoiding another long outing at the end of the day.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

Where to start visiting Ankara in two days?

Dedicate one day to Anıtkabir and another to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and the citadel. This split avoids repeatedly crossing the city between the monumental complex and Ulus’s old quarter.

Ulus or Kızılay: where to stay in Ankara?

Ulus brings the museum and the citadel streets closer. Kızılay favors transport connections and services; the choice depends on how much you intend to walk the historic core or move around the modern city.

Do Gordion and Hattusa fit into a single day trip?

Gordion is in the Polatlı sector and Hattusa near Boğazkale, in different directions. They are independent outings; combining both in one day compromises the visit and greatly increases road travel.

Is it possible to reach Ankara by train and sightsee without a car?

The city has rail connections and urban transport for central sectors. Taxis or public transport can link Anıtkabir to Ulus; archaeological sites outside the capital require different logistics.

Back to Ancara