Sightseeing in Ankara - what to see. Complete travel guide

Ankara is not just a capital of Turkey, but also a popular resort city that attracts travellers by its unforgettable architectural sights, modern entertainment centers and well-developed infrastructure. This city was mentioned for the first time in the 7th century. Ankara was initially called Ansira and was quite a famous trading center located on the crossroads of important routes connecting Europe and Asia.

The city has retained numerous interesting historical sights created in different epochs. The times of the Roman Empire are represented by the Temple of Augustus. Nearby you will find Haci Bayram Mosque. Among ancient sacred places we should also underline Aladdin Mosque. These two places are the most beautiful Islamic temples in Ankara and, most probably, in whole Turkey as well, as it’s really hard to find another buildings with so refined and beautiful design. The local Citadel and Fortress, which stand on one of hills, are also definitely worth visiting. The buildings are surrounded by the double protective wall and the whole architectural complex has been built yet in the 6th century, and is considered one of the oldest sights of this city. A viewport is built on the hill and from it you can see a magnificent view of the city with its wonderful mosques, modern trading centers and squares.

One more building, from which you can enjoy the views of the city’s surroundings, is called Atakule Tower and is located on the central square. This tower is 125 m tall, and this is one of the most unforgettable modern buildings. When it's time to talk about entertainments of Ankara, the very first thing that comes to mind is Water City aqua park. This park serves several thousand of guests every day. Here you will find artificial waterfalls, slides, pools, sports areas, tennis courts, golf fields and many other entertainments that will fit any taste. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Ankara also features a number of unusual attractions, such as the locomotives museum, located in the Maltepe district. This open-air museum was founded back in 1924, and it is possible to see old portages of different eras, and even go inside of them. Part of the museum is an old two-storey building, with an overall area of 680 sq. meters. This building represented a diverse collection of artefacts, here you can see the old lights, antique documents, and portions of devices that were used by the railroad. 

Anyone interested in ancient history should visit the Museum of Ancient Anatolian Civilizations. It is considered to be one of the main cultural centres in Turkey, as this museum contains a fascinating collection of archaeological and historical artefacts. This museum is also a historical centre too, it was founded in 1921, and the museum reached its peak as a cultural centre during the reign of Kemal Ataturk. Today the museum holds thousands of unique exhibits brought in from different parts of the world. One of the most unusual and valuable exhibits of the museum is considered to be a fragment of the wall of the Neolithic period, the age of which dates back to more than 8000 years. The museum presents thematic collections of exhibits on the history of ancient Greece and Rome. 

Another unusual attraction - Yazılıkaya sanctuary, which is a complex of rock premises. It was founded back in the Hutt era, and today its main value for tourists and researchers are hundreds of images carved on the walls of the sanctuary. The researchers believe that once upon a time these sanctuaries were the property of the royal family, as well as the urn with the ashes of its deceased members. Today anyone can visit the ancient sanctuary and admire its well-preserved bas-reliefs. 

Those fond of nature show huge interest to the park Goksu, that was officially opened in 2003. The area of this vast park is more than 500 000 sq. meters, the park is ideal for a holiday with your family. On its territory are many playgrounds, cafés and attractions, and there are special places for a picnic. In the evening, many go for a walk on the pier, which is decorated with spectacular lighting.