Ankara

Modern capital with ancient roots

Ankara stands as Turkey’s political heart and a major city in central Anatolia. It hosts government offices, foreign embassies and key national institutions. The city also preserves layers of history through ancient ruins like the Temple of Augustus and the Roman-era Ankara Castle. Modern life thrives alongside museums, markets and universities that attract students from across Turkey. Its location makes it a transport hub connecting east and west regions by rail and road. Visitors experience both traditional bazaars and contemporary cafes while exploring its cultural heritage.

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City in Turkey

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 7.8

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	7
Tap water:	7

Read details

3/5

English is spoken in most hotels, major museums, and some restaurants, but less so in markets or with taxi drivers. A translation app or a few Turkish phrases are helpful for smooth travel.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Ankara Summary

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‘Best for’ scores:
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Strong in history and museums. Visit Atatürk’s mausoleum, explore ancient citadels, tour national museums and enjoy modern Turkish cafés.

Place score

6.9

Best at:

Museums

Historic sites

Luxury

Walkable

Local cuisine

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

👩 7

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Turkey – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Turkish Lira (TRY) £1 ≈ TRY 66.29
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cashless payment is common in urban areas, but smaller vendors in rural regions may only accept cash. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary but not mandatory in Turkey. In restaurants, leaving 5-10% is typical. Tips for taxi drivers, hotel staff, and guides are also appreciated.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is not widely accepted, though it is allowed in some urban areas and tourist zones.
Public smoking:	Smoking is banned in indoor public areas and transport, with designated outdoor smoking zones available.

Republic Day (October)	Expect parades and national celebrations.
Eid al-Fitr (Varies)	Closures and family gatherings are common.
Eid al-Adha (Varies)	Similar closures and festive activities across the country.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	BiTaksi, Uber
Other:	Turkey offers a rich blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. Bargaining is common in markets, and modest dress is appreciated in religious sites.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Ankara, Turkey

❄️

Jan

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Feb

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Mar

🌤️

Apr

☀️

May

☀️

Jun

🔥

Jul

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Aug

☀️

Sep

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Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	May - June, Sep. - Oct.
Shoulder season:	April, July - Aug.
Crowdedness:	8 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Most visitors come for business or government; museums, including the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, are closed on Mondays

Ramadan: daytime food options limited, many restaurants closed until sunset

Republic Day on 29 October and Victory Day on 30 August bring parades, closures and crowds at Anıtkabir

Don't miss

🇹🇷 Visit Anıtkabir, the grand mausoleum of Atatürk
🏰 Explore the ancient citadel of Ankara and its fortress walls
🖼️ Browse local crafts and antiques at the Rahmi M. Koç Museum
🚶‍♀️ Walk through the old streets of Hamamönü’s restored houses
🏺 See Anatolian artifacts at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
☕ Enjoy Turkish coffee in a traditional café overlooking the city

You've been here?

Why travel to Ankara?

Ankara is a must for history buffs and culture lovers. The city’s crown jewel is the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, packed with treasures from Turkey’s deep past. The hilltop Ankara Castle offers panoramic views and a stroll through cobbled alleys lined with cafés and art galleries. Anıtkabir, the monumental mausoleum of Atatürk, is both moving and architecturally stunning. The city’s food scene is vibrant, from street simit to gourmet restaurants and neighborhoods like Kızılay and Tunalı are alive with nightlife and shopping. Downsides? Ankara can feel businesslike and sprawling and English isn’t as widely spoken as in tourist hotspots – so a few Turkish phrases help. Pickpocketing and scams can happen in busy areas and summers are hot while winters can be icy. Still, Ankara’s blend of old and new and its welcoming locals, make it a rewarding stop.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Ankara Kalesi
2 Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
3 Kocatepe Camii
4 Ethnography Museum of Ankara
5 Hacı Bayram Mosque
6 Anıtkabir

🎡Places for activities

1 CerModern
2 Dormitories Sports Hall
3 Rahmi M. Koç Museum

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Seğmenler Parkı
2 Lake Mogan
3 Kuğulu Park
4 Lake Eymir
5 Çubuk I Barajı
6 Gençlik Parkı

🛍️Shopping

1 ANKAmall
2 Panora AVM

🎈Events

Ankara International Film Festival
Flying Broom Women’s Film Festival
Ankara International Cartoon Festival
Spring Festival at Atatürk Forest Farm
Ankara Music Festival
CerModern Contemporary Art Exhibitions
Republic Day (Oct 29) at Anıtkabir
Ankara Book Fair
Jazz Festival
Autumn Culture Days

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Start at Anıtkabir early; it’s calmer and cooler.
Use the metro for fast hops; taxis vary, confirm price beforehand.
Head to Ankara Castle late afternoon for panoramic golden-hour views.
Spend an evening in Hamamönü: restored Ottoman houses, tea cafés and artisan shops feel local.

How to travel to Ankara

Esenboğa Airport is about 30 km from the city center, with shuttle buses, taxis and ride-hailing options available. High-speed trains connect Ankara to Istanbul, Eskişehir and Konya and intercity buses run to all major Turkish cities. The main train and bus stations are centrally located and well connected by metro.

Access summary

From Esenboğa Airport (ESB): shuttle bus or taxi, about 40–60 min.
From Istanbul: frequent flights (around 1 hour) or intercity bus 6–8 hours.
From Cappadocia (Nevşehir/Kayseri): intercity buses, typically around 4–5 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Ankara

Ankara offers everything from luxury hotels and boutique stays in Çankaya to budget hostels and business hotels in Kızılay and Ulus. Most accommodations are near metro lines or in lively neighborhoods. Book ahead during festivals or government events. Some historic guesthouses can be found in Hamamönü and Beypazarı for a more traditional vibe.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

The Green Park Hotel Ankara

Radisson Blu Hotel Ankara

Movenpick Hotel Ankara

9.0

Gordion Hotel - Special Class

8.7

Sheraton Ankara Hotel & Convention Center

8.7

Holiday Inn Ankara - Cukurambar By IHG

9.4

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Ankara

Ankara’s metro, buses and trams make it easy to get around, with most major sights connected by public transport. The city center is walkable, but distances can be long – use taxis or ride-hailing apps for convenience. Traffic can be heavy at rush hour and parking is limited downtown. For a local experience, try the dolmuş (shared minibus) system. Ankara Card is used for public transport and can be topped up at kiosks.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-48 %

Daily expenses in Ankara are around 48% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-62 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to TRY) is 62% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is a lot cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£36	£79	£199
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£16	£36	£74
🍝 Food per day	£17	£39	£115
🚕 Transportation per day	£3	£4	£10

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£15
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£7
🍟 Fast food combo	£6
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£5.50
☕ Cappuccino	£2.40
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£2.70

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.50
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£6
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.95

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£4.30
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£100
🤧 Cold medication	£2
💇 Basic haircut	£4.80

Safety information overview

General safety

Ankara is generally safe, but pickpocketing and scams can occur in busy areas — keep an eye on your valuables. Avoid isolated areas at night and be cautious with taxis and unsolicited offers. Terrorism risk exists, so stay aware of local news and avoid demonstrations.

Health & Medical

Medical care is good, with modern hospitals and pharmacies in the city. Tap water is generally safe, but bottled water is recommended. Air quality can be poor during winter due to heating — bring any needed medications.

Accessibility

Most main attractions, hotels and public transport are accessible, but some historic sites have steps or uneven ground. The city is hilly in parts, so plan routes accordingly. Metro stations and malls are generally well-equipped for accessibility.

Tap water

Tap water is generally safe in Ankara, but most locals and visitors prefer bottled water for drinking. Public fountains are rare — refill your bottle at hotels and restaurants.