Don’t venture across Turkey without this much-needed culture stop.

As the upper-case letter of Turkey , Ankara does n’t usually get as much touristy passion asIstanbulorCappadocia . In fact , many people probably believe of Ankara in telling to external politics and business , host serious professional who have journeyed to the Anatolian area for a specific purpose .

But Ankara has so much more to offer than group discussion room and regime buildings . And the outer space in between those other well - traversed Turkish city is dissipate with precious gems . Ankara is not only the area ’s Das Kapital , it ’s also a cultural capital , full of artistic creation , medicine , and ancient history .

From contemporaneous artistry from youthful Turkish people to artefact of some of Earth ’s most ancient civilisation , here ’s everything you demand to have in Ankara for those plotting their journey through Turkey .

Ankara, Turkey

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See how the Ottomans lived—as well as the Byzantines, Hittites, etc.

Thanks to so many keep ancient trinkets and record , Turkey ’s chronicle sense peculiarly honest-to-god . you could see tapestries , swords , jewelry , and more from the last era of the Ottoman Empire all the way to present twenty-four hour period at theAnkara Ethnography Museumand theAnkara Painting and Sculpture Museum . Both are chockfull of Turkish art , admit paintings , sculptures , ceramic , clothing , and 100 - one-time religious texts . Both museum are situated on a mound overlook nearly all of Ankara , with stunning views in every direction . The buildings where the art is house are stately , exciting deterrent example of Turkish architecture designed by Arif Hikmet Koyunoğlu .

TheErimtan Archaeology and Arts Museumis home to works from the Roman , Urartu , Hittite , and convoluted ages . Some of the art dates back to as far as 3,000 B.C. , and walk through the place feel as close to metre traveling as we might ever get . For an entry fee of just over $ 2 , or 40 Turkish Lira , it ’s a small price to devote to see some of humanity ’s oldest rings , perfume bottles , crown , and more .

If you ’ve always been enchant by archaeology , theMuseum of Anatolian Civilizationsis another must - sojourn museum . The infinite is home to an all-encompassing aggregation , including the first ever minted money on record , pieces from an Apollo synagogue , virtual tours , and animated tantrum . The museum is organise in chronological order starting with the Paleolithic era , and continuing through the Neolithic , Early Bronze , Assyrian trading colony , Hittite , Phrygian , Urartian , Greek , Hellenistic , Roman , Byzantine , Seljuks and Ottoman menstruum . It ’s locate on the south side of the Ankara Castle , and is therefore an easygoing walk of life .

Erimtan Archaeology and Arts Museum

Erimtan Archaeology and Arts Museum

Relax how the Romans did… in Turkey

When you travel to Turkiye , the first thing you ’re credibly looking to do is to steer to the Hammam , the Turkish bath houses that were adapted from Ancient Rome and date back toroughly the seventh hundred . These baths , which bear multiple room for treating the body to scurf , detoxification , and luxury , are rich in Ankara .

While overcharge under a heap of bubble is an easy natural action to find , more unique to the capital metropolis are theRoman bathhouse ruinsthat are at least 2,000 years sometime . Like their modern counterparts , these no - long - functioning baths contained multiple rooms , some for steam and some for soak . A tour of the site admit up close looks at the ruining themselves , as well as carving and gravestone of the Roman conglomerate . The near part ? incoming to this open air museum will be you less than $ 5 .

Find out what the current artists are up to

While the ancient reality is pretty darn cool in our baseborn opinion , the city ’s mod offers should n’t be overleap . One of the most pleasurable experiences in Ankara can be get atCerModern , an indoor / out-of-door space display pieces from today ’s artists . Constructed in 2010 , the building was create from an older railway factory . In improver to the present-day artistic production , the site also features space for a craft grocery , out-of-door screening outer space , a cafe , and residential district art classes .

On a weekend , the museum is fill with families and young people , and is as much of a space to cling out as it is one to contemplate shapes and colors . entrance to the exhibits cost about $ 2 . The programming also include performances , yoga and wellness classes , and even has an artist in residence platform .

Set your trip to music and watch the notes come alive IRL

If you ’re looking to have a night dressed to the nines or want to hear some first-class music , depend no further than theCSO Ada Ankara . The venue has a vinery - manner main concert hall and is dwelling house to the Presidential Symphony Orchestra . The orchestra is one of the world ’s oldest and the venue regularly boniface concerts . There are also tour artists and guest performer from all over the world , so it ’s idealistic for withdraw in not only Turkish medicine , but sounds from across the globe .

At theAnkara State Opera , you’re able to see classics do from Puccini and Chavoski , as well as euphony you might not discover elsewhere . One such performance isGöbeklitepe , named after one of the former and most mysterious temples to ever be find on Earth . With lovely phase options , performances , and costumery , the product is worth it for the stage magic trick alone . ticket for shows can vary by price , but it will cost you far less than a alike experience in Europe or the US .

Amble through historic neighborhoods

In theHamamönü neighborhoodand Historical Ankara , there are dozens of erstwhile buildings now filled with eating place , workshop , and artisan , where you ’ll be capable to clean up some of the more traditional Turkish giving . The area is also dwelling to mosque and a few other historical building . Though you ’ll observe more tourist in this area than other parts of the metropolis , it ’s a beautiful part of townsfolk deserving a visit to get a sense of what “ old ” Ankara was like .

Visit the Ankara Castle

High up on the list of place to visit in the metropolis is theAnkara Castle , which has been used by multiple civilizations throughout history . The wall of the social system were built with Lucy Stone from every era . It ’s believe that the original castle was built by the Hittites , and later was used by Roman , Byzantine , and Seljuk civilizations . you’re able to see this story in the castle ’s very wall , which were often repaired with the junk of buildings from the occupy people .

If you mount the castle towers , you may see 360 - degree views of Ankara . The surround field is full of beautiful twist trails , restaurants , museums , and other historical edifice .

Hammam, the Turkish bath houses

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CerModern

CerModern

CSO Ada Ankara

CSO Ada Ankara

Hamamonu neighborhood in Ankara, Turkey

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ankara castle, turkey

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