13 Top Things to Do in Ankara – Museums and Historic Sites

Ankara is the capital of Turkey and a city that draws attention with its historical and cultural richness. It offers visitors many attractions. It is the capital of Turkey and a city rich in various cultural elements. Ankara’s culture has been shaped by its historical heritage, art and traditional values from past to present.

Most Visited Places in Ankara

Museums, art galleries and theaters in the city offer cultural experiences to visitors. In addition, the bazaars and markets in Ankara, which are full of handicrafts and handicraft products from various regions of Anatolia, give visitors the pleasure of shopping. Ankara also hosts various festivals, concerts and exhibitions, reflecting the city’s dynamic and vibrant cultural scene. Ankara is one of the beautiful cities to visit and offers tourists many places to visit. If you like museum trips, there are many museums in Ankara.

Altinkoy Open Air Museum

Altinköy Open Air Museum is a museum exhibiting traditional Turkish village life. There are various structures such as wooden houses, mosques, mills and handicraft workshops. Visitors can learn about handicrafts and traditional culture while witnessing the atmosphere of village life.

Altinkoy Open Air Museum (Altınköy Açık Hava Müzesi)
Altinkoy Open Air Museum (Altınköy Açık Hava Müzesi)

Ankara Castle

Ankara Castle is one of the symbolic structures of Altindag district. It is one of the historical buildings from the Roman period and is located in the center of the city. Ankara Castle has a magnificent panoramic view. The museums and restaurants inside the castle offer visitors a historical and cultural experience.

Ankara Castle (Ankara Kalesi)
Ankara Castle (Ankara Kalesi)

Hamamönü Historical Ankara Houses

Hamamonu is one of the oldest districts of Altindag district. Reflecting the past with its narrow streets and stone houses, this area is famous for its handicrafts, antique shops and restaurants. If you like historical baths, you can visit the Cengelhan bath, which was built in the 16th century. Altindag is one of the places where you can feel the historical and cultural heritage of Ankara most intensely.

Hamamonu (Hamamönü Ankara)
Hamamonu Historical Ankara Houses (Hamamönü Tarihi Ankara Evleri)

Anatolian Civilizations Museum

Anatolian Civilizations Museum, located in Altindag, is one of the most beautiful museums to visit in Ankara. Archaeological artifacts belonging to different civilizations of Anatolia are exhibited in the museum and it introduces visitors to this rich history.

Anatolian Civilizations Museum (Anadolu Medeniyetleri Müzesi)
Anatolian Civilizations Museum (Anadolu Medeniyetleri Müzesi)

Museum of the War of Independence

Museum of the War of Independence, this building, which played a major role in the founding process of the Republic of Turkey, is open to visitors as a museum. The Republic Museum is also located in the same building. The Republic Museum is a museum that tells about the foundation of the Republic of Turkey. Documents, photographs and other materials related to Ataturk and the Republican period are exhibited here. The museum gives visitors a deep understanding of the history of the Republic period.

Museum of the War of Independence (Kurtuluş Savaşı Müzesi)
Museum of the War of Independence (Kurtuluş Savaşı Müzesi)

Mehmet Akif Ersoy House Museum

Mehmet Akif Ersoy house museum is the house where Mehmet Akif Ersoy, Turkey’s most famous poet, lived. Here, the personal belongings, writings and memories of the poet are exhibited.

Mehmet Akif Ersoy House Museum
Mehmet Akif Ersoy House Museum

Roman Bath and Ancient City

The Roman Bath and Ancient City is one of the important historical ruins in Altindag. This Roman bath offers visitors the opportunity to explore ancient Roman life.

Roman Bath and Ancient City (Roma Hamamı ve Antik Kent)
Roman Bath and Ancient City (Roma Hamamı ve Antik Kent)

Ankara Painting and Sculpture Museum

Ankara Painting and Sculpture Museum houses an important collection of Turkish art. The building where the museum is located was built in 1927 and in 1980 the building was converted into a museum. The museum building attracts the attention of many people with its aesthetic structure and many works are exhibited in the museum.

Ankara Painting and Sculpture Museum (Ankara Resim ve Heykel Müzesi)
Ankara Painting and Sculpture Museum (Ankara Resim ve Heykel Müzesi)

Anitkabir

Anitkabir is the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the modern founder of Turkey. This monumental building in Altindag district attracts the attention of both locals and tourists.

Anitkabir
Anitkabir

Temple of Augustus

The Temple of Augustus is an ancient temple dedicated to the Roman Emperor Augustus. This temple is located in the center of Ankara (Ancyra) during the Roman period and is one of the most important structures of the city. The Temple of Augustus is an important part of Ankara’s historical and cultural heritage.

Temple of Augustus (Augustus Tapınağı)
Temple of Augustus (Augustus Tapınağı)

CerModern

CerModern is a place where modern and contemporary art is exhibited in Altindag. It offers an inspiring environment for art lovers with exhibitions, events and workshops.

Cermodern
Cermodern

Gordion Museum

Gordion was an important city and kingdom center in the Phrygian region in ancient times. Gordion Museum stands out with its rich archaeological finds. Sculptures, reliefs, ceramics and other ancient artifacts from the Phrygian period can be seen in the museum. Also, the original of the legendary knot known as the famous “Gordion Knot” is displayed here. This knot is the legendary knot that Alexander the Great failed to untie when he got here, and is known for his words “who untie the knot, conquers Asia”.

Gordion Museum (Gordion Müzesi)
Gordion Museum (Gordion Müzesi)

Living Museum

The Living Museum is located in one of the historical houses of Beypazarı and offers visitors a unique experience of the past. In the museum, you can observe traditional Turkish house life, handicrafts and traditional dresses. People living here perform their traditional professions and introduce visitors to historical crafts. You can witness handicrafts such as weaving, ceramic making, copper making and discover the intricacies of these arts.

Living Museum
Living Museum (Yaşayan Müze)

Try This Taste in Ankara

Altindag is a district famous not only for its historical and cultural heritage, but also for its delicious food. There are delicious and unique flavors here, but one of the most famous dishes is known as “meat bread”. Wandering through the streets of Altindag, you will see the meat bread ovens where the meat is deliciously cooked and complemented with spices sprinkled on a thin dough.

This bread, which is served fresh and hot, is generally preferred as minced meat or cubed. A rich aroma is obtained by adding tomatoes, peppers, onions and spices to it. meat bread is consumed as a snack or main course, which is frequently preferred by the local people and visitors of Altindag. This dish, which pleases everyone with its taste and satisfying feature, makes an important contribution to Altindag’s gastronomic identity.

Map of Places to Visit in Ankara

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