Ankara

Turkey's capital, home to Anıtkabir and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, the old streets of the citadel and Hamamönü, with day trips to Beypazarı, Gordion and Hattusa.

Ankara is Turkey's capital and second-largest city, set in the middle of the Anatolian plateau at about 900 m above sea level. After Atatürk founded the Republic in 1923, it grew from a small town into a modern capital. The climate is continental and semi-arid: summers are hot and dry but cool in the mornings and evenings, while winters are cold with frequent snow. April–June and September–October are the best times to visit. The city breaks down into three areas: the old Ulus district in the north, where Ankara Castle, lanes of Ottoman timber houses, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, the Arslanhane Mosque (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Temple of Augustus and the Roman Baths are clustered, together with the old streets of Hamamönü just to the south — all walkable in a day; Anıtkabir, Atatürk's mausoleum to the west, the country's most important memorial, which deserves its own half day; and the modern commercial districts of Kızılay and Çankaya in the south, with Kocatepe Mosque, Atakule Tower and the cafés of Tunalı Hilmi Street. The top day trips are the Ottoman town of Beypazarı, about 100 km west, and Gordion, the ancient Phrygian capital to the southwest (UNESCO World Heritage Site); with more time, hire a car and driver to reach Hattusa, the Hittite capital about 150 km east. Getting around: Esenboğa Airport is about 30 km from the city, with airport buses; Ankara is a high-speed rail hub, about 4.5 hours from Istanbul and about 2 hours from Konya; the metro and city buses use the Ankarakart card. Plan on 2 days in the city, or 3–4 days including day trips. Note: most museums close on Mondays; dress modestly in mosques and avoid prayer times; security at the mausoleum and in the government district is strict, and photographing military sites is prohibited.

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