ankara, turkey: free guide and sample itinerary

Important Locations

Ankara, like many cities, is divided into different districts. These are all pretty easily accessible by public transportation, even with the city's spread-out layout. The following districts are definitely places to visit while in Ankara, and knowledge of them will help you plan your time and get around successfully.

Ulus

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This is the Old Town part of Ankara. Here you can find the old Ottoman style houses, shopping, the castle, and the Melike Hatun Mosque.

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Kızılay

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This is the modern city center. There are lots of streets to walk around and things you can do here. Just hop on the metro and get off at the Kizilay metro stop!

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Koru

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This area of Ankara is quite residential, but this metro stop will get you to many of the restaurants I've recommended.

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Bahçelievler

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Get off at the "Millikutuphane" metro stop to explore this part of Ankara. Bahçelievler is known for its restaurants and bars.

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Çayyolu

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Literally meaning "Tea Way", Çayyolu is home to many delicious restaurants and coffee shops, as well as home to me! I have lived in this part of Ankara for 5 years.

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Places to Stay

Airbnb is a great option for staying in Ankara, although few things can beat a hotel breakfast in Turkey. When looking for a place to stay, consider the proximity to public transportation. 

JW Marriott Hotel Ankara

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Very near to the convenient metro stop of Söğütözü, you can't go wrong with the comfort of the JW Marriott. An option for the higher budget, this hotel boasts fancy restaurant options and an excellent spa. I highly recommend trying the hamam (Turkish bath) for a foam scrub. This is definitely one of the more expensive hotels in Ankara.

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Hotel Excellence Inn

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This hotel is for the middle of the road budget, significantly less expensive than the Marriott but not the cheapest option you could find. Located in the Çayyolu area, you'll be walking distance from many restaurants and great places to eat, as well as not far from the Koru metro stop.

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CPAnkara Hotel

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The cheapest of my recommendations, this hotel is a great deal. The best part of this hotel is definitely the easy access to the city center via public transportation!

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Places to Eat

Turkish food is pretty much amazing. Turkish food also rarely makes foreigners sick-- so that means you can indulge without worry! You'll want to try as much as you can while you're in the country. I'm linking all of my favorite places to go for culinary escapades. 

Note: While in Turkey, you'll want to only drink purified water. The easiest way to do this is to purchase water bottles in grocery stores during your travels. The water is safe for moderate consumption-- brushing teeth, washing dishes, showering, etc. Water is also not free in restaurants, like it is in places like America and parts of Europe.

Turkish Breakfast

Kirit Cafe

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This is an excellent addition to your trip to the castle in the old town Ankara, also known as Ulus. I recommend coming here for kahvaltı in the morning--- get the serpme always-- and then exploring the castle and the old town for some shopping and photo ops!

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Saklikoy Calgan

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One of my favorite kahvaltı places in all of Ankara. Be sure to try to kaymak and honey on a fresh pişi!

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Avena Fırın & Kahve

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This is a great place for a quick lunch or breakfast, or even to try the illustrious "serpme kahvaltı" (Turkish breakfast). A "fırın" is a bakery.

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BABKA FIRIN

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This is my personal favorite bakery in Ankara! Go in to try some tasty pastries-- or to have a great Turkish breakfast!

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Lunch or Dinner

Aspava

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You'll find many of these Aspava restaurants throughout the city. Go to an Aspava restaurant for traditional Turkish cuisine, as well as a wide variety of "ikram" (free) appetizers! My favorites are "beyti" and "iskender".

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Sarnıç Döner

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An excellent place to try the traditional döner! I recommend getting either the "Tavuk Döner Durum" (a chicken wrap) or the "Humuslu Tavuk Döner Servis" (a plate served with humus, chicken and bread) with an Ayran to drink!

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IF Sokak Çayyolu

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We frequent IF Sokak almost weekly. If you're looking for something with street food and beer, this is the place to go. You can get a variety of food and drinks for a good price! I recommend the Mogul Chicken. Head up to the counter to order and look for your number on the screens to go get your food once it's ready.

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KORELEE

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Korean food is starting to become more popular in Turkey. Stop by Korelee for some yummy Korean food :)

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Double Zero Pizzeria Ümitköy

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As a Chicagoan, I'm very picky about my pizza. Double Zero hits the mark for me! Expect fancy, different pizzas that are incredibly good. I recommend making a reservation if possible, especially if you're going on a weekend. The cocktails at Double Zero are also some of the best in Ankara, in my opinion!

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Last Penny Bahçelievler

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The Last Penny is a great place for cocktails or appetizers. They also serve a buffet style breakfast on Saturday mornings for a great price!

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Gramofon kafe

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This is a great little stop for lunch while you're exploring Ulus!

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Coffee

No29 DÜKKAN

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An excellent craft coffee stop. My regular order is a flat white. Don't forget to grab a little sweet treat while you're at it-- the San Sebastian cheesecake is so good! They get their desserts from the neighboring chef's academy.

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Kronotrop Ümitköy

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Really fantastic coffee! Try their flat white if you like coffee flavors, or a vanilla latte for something sweeter! This is near a lot of restaurants and a small mall.

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Paper Roasting Coffee & Chocolate - Ümitköy

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Another great stop for coffee!

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KANTA Coffee Shop

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If you're exploring Bahçelievler, I highly recommend stopping for some coffee at Kanta! This is one of my favorites in Ankara.

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Dessert

Turta Home Cafe

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The best cheesecake in Ankara. Hands down. Grab dinner at a place nearby and then head to Turta for some cheesecake and çay!

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Kakule Fırın

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A great spot for some dessert or even breakfast! I highly recommend their cinnamon rolls.

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Çayyolu Hacıbaba - Baklavacı Hacıbaba Ümitköy

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You can't leave Turkey without some baklava, and Hacibaba is one of the best places to get it. Get a kilo to enjoy with your friends with a variety of different kinds.

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Roko Dondurma & Kahve

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There is almost always a line out the door at Roko! Go here for some Turkish ice cream. It'll take you a minute to decide on the flavors you'll want. I recommend getting three "top" or scoops with three different flavors of your choice.

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Nacaroğlu Baklava Künefe Katmer Kahvaltı Yaş Pasta Çayyolu

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Katmer is a Turkish dessert you'll definitely want to try. Be sure to try the chocolate version at this restaurant for a delicious twist on the Turkish classic! Künefe is another traditional dessert you'll want to be sure to try. Why not get both to share?

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Grocery Stores and Pharmacies

M Migros

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A very common grocery store in Turkey is Migros. You'll recognize it by the orange letters! The number of "M"s in a Migros sign indicate how big the store is. The larger the store, the more "M"s in the sign!

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MMM Migros

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A very common grocery store in Turkey is Migros. You'll recognize it by the orange letters! The number of "M"s in a Migros sign indicate how big the store is. The larger the store, the more "M"s in the sign!

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Cadde Çayyolu Eczanesi

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The Turkish word for pharmacy is "Eczane". You'll recognize them from the large, red "E" sign. You can find many items here if you forgot things or get sick during your visit.

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Çağdaş

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Another grocery store that is common in Turkey!

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Things to Do

Ankara is definitely not known for its tourist attractions, but there are definitely enough things to keep you busy! Don't miss these things to do in the country's capital city. 

Ankara Castle

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If you have limited time in Ankara, definitely take an afternoon to visit the city's castle and old town. This is a great place to shop for souvenirs. If you're visiting other places in Turkey, I recommend saving the majority of your souvenir shopping for your trip to Ulus in Ankara for great prices and great items. Climb up to the top of the castle for panoramic views of the city and then wind your way down the twisting streets of the old city for some shopping!

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Anıtkabir

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Anıtkabir includes the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, a revered and celebrated figure in Turkey. You'll see Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's picture in every building you go in. Anıtkabir is an important piece of history, and an interesting place to visit in Ankara!

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Atakule

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Atakule is a prominent feature in the Ankara skyline. Come enjoy some Italian food with a view at Luigi's in the Atakule mall! You can also pay a little money to go to the top of the structure.

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Eymir Lake

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If you like being outside, I recommend renting a bike to ride around Eymir lake! There are bikes for rent at the location.

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Shopping

Çayyolu Pazar

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*Only open on Saturdays!* The open air markets where fresh produce is sold (and occasionally household items as well) is called a "Pazar". These are always a cultural experience-- and a great place to try delicious produce! Expect free samples to be thrown at you as you walk through. Use Google Translate to help communicate-- or your phone calculator to help communicate numbers! Note that you will need cash to purchase things from the pazar.

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Yöre

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My favorite place to stop for some typical Turkish ceramics, textiles, and even Turkish lamps! They are high quality. Be sure to bring some cash for a discount!

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Kibele Kale

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Are you wanting some postcards from your trip? Stop in Kibele Kale for some adorable post cards made by local artists.

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Torun Ticaret

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If you're looking to buy a Turkish carpet, this is a great shop. Sit and watch as they spread carpets across the floor for you to pick from, explaining the history of each one and the different features displayed. Worried about luggage space? Often they will ship carpets to wherever you need them to go for an extra cost.

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Nihat Renda Zeytinhane Çengelhan

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Turkey is known for its olives. This shop is a great place to get some olive wood items to take back as gifts for others or a treat for yourself!

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Ankara Tişörtleri

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If you want a unique souvenir, stop by the Ankara Tshirt Shop for some fun, different Ankara tshirts! This shop is right across the street from Kanta Coffee Shop.

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Kentpark AVM

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If you're in need of a mall, you can find pretty much anything you need at Kentpark or the next door mall, Cepa!

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Cheap Charlie's Güven Hediyelik

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Your one stop shop for all things Turkish gifts.

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Getting Around

 There are 4 major modes of public transportation in Ankara: the metro (subway system), the public buses, the mini-buses, and taxis. Below you'll find important metro stops. The metro is marked by large, red cubes with big, white "M"s on them. 

Ulus Metro Duragi

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Stop here to get to the old town of Ankara. I recommend finding a taxi after exiting the metro to take you up to the castle!

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Koru Metro İstasyonu

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Stop here for any of the recommendations in Çayyolu!

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Bahçelievler

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Get off at the "Millikutuphane" stop to explore Bahçelievler!

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Kizilay

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Get off at the Kizilay metro stop to explore the more modern city center!

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Sample Itinerary

I recommend spending 1-2 days in Ankara to enjoy the city and the things it has to offer. Below are my recommendations for what to do each day: 

Day 1: 

- Enjoy kahvaltı (Turkish breakfast) in the morning. This is a must for your stay in Turkey! You probably won't need lunch after kahvaltı. Most Turks don't eat until around 11:00am-- so I recommend going around 10:00am. 

- Ride the metro to the Ulus metro stop. Hire a taxi to take you to the castle. 

- Take photos at the top of the castle. 

- Make your way back down to the metro through the Old Town, shopping as you go! Be sure to see my recommendations for shops to stop at as you walk down the hill. 

- Freshen up for dinner and go enjoy some traditional Turkish food at Sarnıç Döner. I recommend the durum (wraps)! 

Day 2: 

- Go to Babka Fırın for some pastries for breakfast. Enjoy them with some Turkish coffee or tea. 

- Make your way to Anıtkabir. You can either taxi, which will be more time efficient, but more money, or you can take the metro to the Necatibey stop. Google maps is an excellent way to map your route! 

- Take in the history of Anıtkabir. 

- Either walk 25 minutes to Kanta for a coffee break or take a taxi. 

- Grab a tshirt at the Ankara Tshirt Shop (Ankara Tişörtleri) for a souvenir! Hint: the 06 that you see on many of the tshirts in this shop is because of the license plate numbers assigned to cars in Ankara-- all starting with 06.

- Make your way to an Aspava for dinner to try some traditional Turkish food. My favorites are İskender and Beyti. 

So what are you waiting for? Go travel! 

Need something more? Check out my Custom Travel Services!

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