Ankara Castle
Ankara Kalesi
A Byzantine-to-Seljuk fortress crowning the hilltop of the old city. Ottoman wooden houses and alleyways survive within the walls, with panoramic views over Ankara.
The castle was first built in Roman times. Its surviving double walls were mainly constructed in the Byzantine and Seljuk periods, and many fragments of Roman stone carvings are embedded in them. Inside the outer gate is a well-preserved Ottoman old quarter, where wooden houses have been converted into carpet shops, spice stalls, and viewpoint cafés. At the eastern end of the inner citadel, the Akkale Tower and the top of the walls are good spots for watching the sunset and the city skyline. The 12th-century Alaeddin Mosque is also inside the castle. Entry is free. The sloping stone-paved paths can be slippery, so wear non-slip shoes. It can be explored on foot together with the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and Hamamönü.
Opening hours
All day (tower area open during daytime)
Nearby sights
- Erimtan Archaeology and Arts Museum
- Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
- Rahmi M. Koç Museum Ankara
- Aslanhane Mosque (Ahi Şerafeddin Mosque)
- Temple of Augustus and Rome
- Hacı Bayram Veli Mosque
- Hamamönü
- Museum of the War of Independence