Ankara itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Ankara, day by day: Kizilay, Kocatepe Mosque, Anitkabir, the Temple of Augustus and Rome, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Ankara Castle and Hacı Bayram Mosque first, then Atakule as you add a day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Ankara in 1 day
Day 1
Kizilay, Ankara
The central hub of modern Ankara around Kizilay Square, with shops, cafes, restaurants and the main metro interchange.
Kocatepe Mosque
Large 20th-century mosque in central Ankara in Ottoman style, with four tall minarets and a dome visible across the district.
Anitkabir
The mausoleum of Atatürk, founder of the Turkish Republic, in a monumental complex on a hill with a museum and ceremonies.
Temple of Augustus and Rome
Ruins of a Roman temple in Ulus, whose walls carry the Res Gestae, Augustus's own account of his reign, in Latin and Greek.
Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
Museum in two restored Ottoman buildings with Anatolian archaeology from the Palaeolithic to the Ottoman period, including Hittite treasures.
Ankara Castle
Hilltop fortress of the old town, with walls from the Byzantine era and lanes of houses, shops and restaurants inside.
Hacı Bayram Mosque
Historic mosque in Ulus beside the Temple of Augustus, built in the 15th century and still an active place of worship and pilgrimage.
Ankara in 2 days
Day 1
Kizilay, Ankara
The central hub of modern Ankara around Kizilay Square, with shops, cafes, restaurants and the main metro interchange.
Kocatepe Mosque
Large 20th-century mosque in central Ankara in Ottoman style, with four tall minarets and a dome visible across the district.
Anitkabir
The mausoleum of Atatürk, founder of the Turkish Republic, in a monumental complex on a hill with a museum and ceremonies.
Temple of Augustus and Rome
Ruins of a Roman temple in Ulus, whose walls carry the Res Gestae, Augustus's own account of his reign, in Latin and Greek.
Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
Museum in two restored Ottoman buildings with Anatolian archaeology from the Palaeolithic to the Ottoman period, including Hittite treasures.
Ankara Castle
Hilltop fortress of the old town, with walls from the Byzantine era and lanes of houses, shops and restaurants inside.
Hacı Bayram Mosque
Historic mosque in Ulus beside the Temple of Augustus, built in the 15th century and still an active place of worship and pilgrimage.
Day 2
Atakule
125 m communications tower with an observation deck, restaurant and shopping centre, offering views across Ankara.
Watch: Ankara
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Ankara
Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) are the most comfortable. Summers are hot and dry, and winters are cold with some snow, since Ankara lies on the Anatolian plateau. Anitkabir draws crowds on national days such as 29 October (Republic Day) and 10 November, the anniversary of Atatürk's death.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Ankara on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Ankara on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Ankara on GetYourGuide
- From the airport: a private transfer in Ankara with Kiwitaxi
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Turkey from Airalo
- Last day: leave your bags in Ankara with Radical Storage and keep sightseeing
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Tips for Ankara
- Anitkabir is free to enter and has security checks at the gate; dress respectfully and allow time for the museum below the mausoleum.
- The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations is among the best archaeology museums in Turkey and covers the Hittites, Phrygians and earlier cultures.
- Ankara Castle and the Ulus old town are steep and cobbled, so wear comfortable shoes.
- The metro links Kizilay, Ulus and the main districts; the AnkaraKart works across metro and buses.
- Many museums close on Mondays, so check opening days before planning a visit.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Anitkabir: Cano58, Public domain
- Ankara Castle: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Atakule: Ankara'dan, CC0
- Hacı Bayram Mosque: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kizilay, Ankara: Veritas-tr, Public domain
- Kocatepe Mosque: A.Savin, FAL
- Museum of Anatolian Civilizations: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Temple of Augustus and Rome: Klaus-Peter Simon, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
