Information
City: AnkaraCountry: Turkey
Continent: Asia
Ankara, Turkey, Asia
Overview
Ankara, Turkey’s capital, hums with sleek new buildings and the echo of centuries-old stone streets.Right in the country’s heart, Ankara serves as Turkey’s political hub and brims with culture, history, and striking stone facades.It’s the administrative capital, home to government headquarters and the embassies, where flags ripple in the afternoon breeze.Let’s take a closer look at Ankara’s geography and location: it sits in the heart of Central Anatolia, spread across a broad plain, and stands higher above sea level than most other cities in Turkey.The city sits roughly 50 miles (80 km) from the Black Sea, where gulls wheel over the water, and about 180 miles (290 km) east of the Mediterranean coast.Because it sits far from the coast, the area has a continental climate-blazing hot summers and winters that bring deep snow and biting cold.Perched roughly 850 meters-about 2,790 feet-above sea level, the city enjoys a distinct climate shaped by its height, where mornings often start with a crisp, cool breeze.Ankara stretches wide across the hills, split into districts, each with its own distinct charm-from lively markets to quiet tree-lined streets.The old town, known as Ulus, holds most of the city’s history-narrow stone alleys, faded shop signs-while the newer districts hum with glass office towers, busy government halls, and gleaming shopping centers.Ankara’s roots stretch deep into the past, with people living there as far back as the Hittite era, when stone walls baked in the sun marked early settlements.For centuries, the city passed from one ruler to another-Phrygians, Lydians, Romans, Byzantines, and finally the Ottomans-each leaving its mark in stone and shadow.Its importance soared after the Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923, when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk-modern Turkey’s founder-chose it as the capital, a city then marked by dusty streets and fresh ambition.Ancient History: In and around Ankara, archaeologists have uncovered traces of the Hittites, Phrygians, and Romans, including the Temple of Augustus, its weathered stone columns standing since the Roman era.During the Ottoman era, Ankara belonged to the empire but stayed in the shadow of bustling cities like Istanbul and Izmir, where crowded markets and the scent of spices filled the air.For the most part, it functioned as a small provincial town, with a market square at its center and dusty roads leading in from the countryside.In 1923, Atatürk made Ankara the capital of the newly founded Republic of Turkey, a modest city of dusty streets and low stone houses at the time.They chose it partly for its central location, partly for how easily it could be defended, and partly for the way it stood apart-symbolically and physically-from the Ottoman past embodied by Istanbul’s domes and minarets.In Ankara, ancient stones stand beside sleek glass towers, creating a city where cultural heritage meets modern life.You’ll find museums, lively theaters, and bustling arts scenes all within a short walk.The city’s cultural heritage reflects its past as the Republic’s capital and the blend of people who’ve called it home, from merchants in bustling markets to artists sketching in sunlit squares.Ankara boasts some of Turkey’s most important museums, from the Ankara Ethnography Museum to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, where you might see intricate Hittite carvings, and the solemn Atatürk Mausoleum, Anıtkabir.Art and Music: The city brims with culture, from the bright halls of CerModern-Turkey’s largest contemporary art museum-to lively gatherings like the Ankara International Film Festival and the Ankara Music Festival.The State Opera and Ballet takes the stage often at the State Opera House, filling its grand hall with music and the rustle of velvet curtains.Must-see landmarks include Ankara Castle, with its weathered stone walls, the Roman Temple of Augustus, and the serene Haci Bayram Mosque.The Atatürk Mausoleum, resting place of the nation’s founder, draws more visitors than almost anywhere else in Ankara, its stark stone columns standing as a powerful symbol of Turkey’s leap into modernity.Ankara’s economy thrives as a center of government, industry, and trade, with office towers buzzing from dawn to dusk.It’s not the commercial or industrial powerhouse that Istanbul is, but it still holds a key place in Turkey’s economy, with bustling markets and steady trade.Government and Public Sector: As Turkey’s capital, Ankara beats as the nation’s political heart, home to ministries, parliament, and embassies tucked along its busy streets.Among the key government sites are the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Presidential Complex, where white stone walls gleam in the midday sun.Ankara’s industrial sector is on the rise, with factories turning out defense equipment, sleek electronics, textiles, and automobiles.It’s also a hub for engineering and technology, home to universities and research centers where lab lights glow late into the night.Tourism: Ankara may not draw the crowds of Istanbul or Antalya, but visitors still come for its centuries-old citadel, bustling museums, and lively cultural festivals.The Kocatepe Mosque, with its striking modern design, and Gençlik Park, where wide paths wind past quiet ponds, both capture the city’s charm.In Ankara, centuries-old stone mosques stand just down the street from sleek glass towers.You can see the early Republican era’s modernist architecture everywhere, its clean lines and bold shapes mirroring Atatürk’s vision of a new, secular Turkey.Republican Architecture: In the early Republican years, builders raised structures that embodied the new nation’s modern identity, their clean lines catching the bright morning light.You’ll find sights like Atatürk’s Mausoleum (Anıtkabir) with its towering columns, the Presidential Complex, and the Grand National Assembly.These buildings capture the young Republic’s ambitions, their clean lines and unadorned facades speaking of simplicity and purpose.Ottoman and Byzantine Influence: Ankara never rivaled Istanbul’s importance during the Ottoman era, but it still holds striking Ottoman-style mosques, such as the warm stone Haci Bayram and the towering Kocatepe, each reflecting the Islamic architecture of their time.The city embraces modern architecture, from sleek glass office towers and bustling shopping centers to cultural landmarks like CerModern, a vibrant museum of contemporary art, and the Atakule Tower, where you can see the whole skyline spread out beneath you.Ankara boasts a well-developed transportation network, making it easy to zip across the city or catch a train to another corner of Turkey.Public transportation in Ankara revolves around the metro-it’s the city’s main artery, carrying thousands each day through its cool, echoing tunnels.It links the city’s key spots-bustling business districts, quiet neighborhoods, even the airport where jet engines hum.Buses and trams run smoothly through the city, and you can hop in a bright yellow Ankara taxi for one of the cheapest fares in Turkey.Esenboğa Airport, about 28 kilometers northeast of Ankara, serves as the city’s main international gateway, where the scent of fresh coffee often drifts through the busy departure hall.It handles both domestic and international flights, linking travelers to major cities across Europe and the Middle East, from Paris’s busy terminals to Dubai’s towering skyline.Rail: Ankara sits at the heart of Turkey’s rail network, where sleek trains pull in and out all day.Ankara’s railway station links the capital to major hubs across Turkey, from bustling Istanbul to the quiet streets of Konya.High-speed trains like the Ankara–Istanbul line whisk you across the country in hours, the scenery blurring past the window.Ankara’s road network is modern and efficient, with wide highways stretching out like ribbons to link the city to towns and regions across Turkey.Because it sits in the heart of the region, the city’s a natural hub-buses, trains, and cars all pass through on their way between towns.In Ankara, education thrives-it's one of Turkey’s key academic hubs, with universities and research institutes buzzing from morning lectures to late-night lab work.Middle East Technical University, known as METU,
Landmarks in ankara
