AnitkabirThe mausoleum of the founder of the Turkish Republic, Ataturk, is a revered monument in the city, accessed by a wide avenue lined with lion statues, drawing Turks from all over the country who come to pay their respects to their hero. It is also a fascinating attraction for visitors to Ankara, its stark, but imposing colonnaded aspect giving onto a courtyard, which contains a museum. The ceiling of the main hall is decorated with beautiful gold leaf mosaics, and there are plenty of reliefs and statuary to be admired.
Address: Entrance on Akdeniz Cad, Anitepe
Phone Number: (0)312 231 7975
Hours: 9am to 5pm Tuesday
to Sunday
Admission: Free
Museum of Anatolian CivilizationsThe museum which charts the history of Asia Minor is housed in a lovely 15th-century restored building (originally a market and caravanserai) close to the center of Ankara, and is the ideal place to visit for anyone intending to travel through Turkey, delving into the past. It is filled with fascinating collections of archaeological finds, from monolithic statues to delicate jewelry, including some from Catal Huyuk, believed to be the earliest known human social community in the world. From the Palaeolithic and Neolithic, and through all the great civilizations since, this museum is like a time machine for antiquity buffs.
Address: Old city (Ulus) near the entrance to the Citadel
Phone Number: (0)312 324 3160
Hours: Daily except Monday 8.45am to 5.15pm
Admission: 10 YTL
Temple of AugustusThe Roman Temple of Augustus was built by the Romans in the 2nd century AD, and contains the best-preserved copy of Emperor Augustus' last will and testament, inscribed on the vestibule walls. The temple itself is in ruins and not open to the public, but together with other Roman ruins in the vicinity (including the Roman baths and the column of Julian) it is an exciting port of call for classical history addicts.
Address: Ulus Square
Ethnographic MuseumWhen the founder of the Turkish Republic, Ataturk, died in 1938 he was buried in the internal courtyard of the building, which now houses the Ethnographic Museum, until he was moved to his final resting place at the imposing Mausoleum in Ankara in 1953. Today the Museum, guarded by an imposing bronze statue of Ataturk astride a horse, is well worth a visit. It contains a vast collection of folklore artifacts, including costumes, arts, crafts and art works.
Address: Talat Pasa Boulevard, Namazgah
Hours: Daily except Monday 8.30am to 12.30pm, and 1.30pm to 5.30pm
Natural History MuseumAnyone with an interest in the natural world will enjoy Ankara's Natural History Museum, which contains some fascinating exhibits and dioramas detailing the (often extinct) wildlife of Anatolia, as well as a large collection of fossils and minerals. Most interesting are the fossilized footprints of humans who walked the Anatolian steppes 25,000 years ago, and the skeleton of a Maras elephant which lived in the area 193 million years ago.
Address: Eskisehir Road
Phone Number: (0) 312 287 3430
Hours: Weekdays 9am to 5pm, weekends 10am to 3pm
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Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
