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Bucket List: Top 12 Best Things to See and Do in Ankara, Turkey
Ankara is the perfect destination offering modern to historical activities, from Roman bath ruins to modern museums. Aside from that, there are many best things to do in Ankara, Turkey, like exploring centuries of history to enjoying the beauty of nature.
So to know more about the Heart of Turkey, here are the top 12 best things to do in Ankara, Turkey.
1. Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
Museum of Anatolian Civilizations By Bjørn Christian Tørrissen – Own work by uploader, CC BY-SA 3.0, cc
The best thing to do to start your trip in Ankara, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations is the first museum in the capital, established in 1921. It has an Ottoman façade and exhibits Anatolian artifacts, dating from Paleolithic to the Ottoman era.
2. Ankara Castle
One of the top tourist attractions in Turkey’s capital, the Ankara Castle, is a historic structure that served as a fortification built by Phrygians in the 8th century BC. The castle was rebuilt from 278 BC up to the Ottoman period.
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3. Anitkabir
Aside from the capital’s castle, Anitkabir is another worth visiting attraction in Ankara. It was constructed from 1944 to 1953 as the memorial tomb of Turkey’s first Presidents and Turkish War of Independence head, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and Ismet Inönü, Turkey’s second President.
4. Atakule
Located at the city center, Atakule is a 125-meter tower for communication and observation built from 1987 to 1989. It is a four-story tower serving as the city’s landmark, featuring an open roof terrace and a restaurant that rotates every hour known as Sevilla.
5. Çengelhan Rahmi M. Koc Museum
Located at a former centuries-old inn founded in 1523, the Çengelhan Rahmi M. Koç Museum was established in 2005, featuring Turkish industrial collections. It exhibits a carpet, pharmaceutical, and agricultural gallery on the ground floor and railway and other technology collections on the upper floor.
6. Erimtan Archaeology & Art Museum
An educational and entertaining facility, the Erimtan Archeology and Arts Museum was established in 2015, featuring the personal collections of Yüksel Erimtan, the founder of the society of Cultural Heritage Collectors. It consists of a conference room, bookstore, a cafeteria and holds concerts on Tuesdays.
7. Genclik Park
For tourists coming to Ankara via train, Gençlik Park is the first spot you’ll see once you get off the station. It is a public area with 70 acres of green landscaping and water features and has Ferris wheels, amusement, park, swimming pool, miniature trains, and outdoor theatre.
8. Roman Bath Ruins
Discovered 1937 to 1944, the Roman Baths in Ankara were established in the 3rd century by the Roman Emperor Caracalla. The baths layout consists of a caldarium, tepidarium, and frigidarium, now an open-air museum to the public.
9. Ankara State Opera House
To learn more about the town’s culture, add the Ankara State Opera House to your to-do list. The theater features opera and ballet performances and hosts events and concerts, from contemporary to classic productions.
10. Haci Bayram i-Veli Cami
One of the oldest and most famous mosques in town, Haci Bayram i-Veli Cami, was built from 1427 to 1428 during the Ottoman era. It is also one of the top tourist attractions in Ankara, featuring the tomb of Haci Bayrami-Veli, a Turkish Sufi and poet.
11. Ankara Painting & Sculpture Museum
A must-visit place for art enthusiasts, the Ankara Painting & Sculpture Museum, constructed from 1927 to 1930, is a facility for Ankara’s sculptures and fine arts. The museum holds collections of Turkish artworks dating from the 19th century to the present and has galleries for special exhibitions.
12. Eymir Lake
If you’re into outdoor activities, head to Eymir Lake, located the southern Ankara is the perfect place to unwind and reconnect with nature. The site is one of Ankara’s top attractions for tourists looking for a place to escape from the city, filled with a forest of pine trees and walking trails.
References
- Lee, (2020), 12 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Ankara, Planetware
- Chan, (2021), The Top Things to See and Do in Ankara, Turkey, The Culture Trip
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