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Ankara

Panoramic View of Ankara. Buy plane tickets to Ankara
Panoramic View of Ankara
Country
Turkey
Currency
Turkish Lira (TRY)
Season
All Year Round
Languages
Turkish
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Ankara is the capital of Turkey and its second largest city. It sees far fewer tourists than the coast or Istanbul, and unjustly so; here you can see the real Turkey, in all its diversity of culture. What’s more, Ankara offers metropolitan entertainment: the best restaurants in the country, bars and nightclubs, shopping centres and markets, concert venues and even its own oceanarium.

Ankara is situated high above sea level, which affects its climate: summers are relatively cool, about +21°C on average, and winters are comfortable, around +1°C. You can visit at any time of year.

The easiest way to get to the capital of Turkey is by buying a Moscow-Ankara plane ticket. Aeroflot does not operate direct flights to Ankara. Moscow-Ankara flights are operated with a transfer. The plane arrives at Ankara Esenboğa International Airport, located 28 kilometers from the center of the Turkish capital.

The most affordable option is to buy round-trip tickets to Ankara. Please note that the most advantageous fares sell out first, so we recommend booking tickets in advance.

What to see

If you think Istanbul has a lot of mosques, you haven’t been to Ankara. There are even more of them here, both old and new, simple and exquisite. One of the most ancient, built on the site of a Roman temple, is Aslanhane Mosque. The largest is Kocatepe Mosque, and one of the most beautiful is Haci Bayram Mosque, with a magnificent mausoleum and an interior finished in wood with unique carvings.

The Ankara Citadel is one of the symbols of the city. Its fortifications are visible from afar. Every civilisation that left its mark on the territory of modern Turkey altered or added to the construction, so different parts of the fortress date back to different epochs. The top of the citadel offers a stunning panorama of the city.

There are many museums Ankara. For example, the Rahmi M. Koc Museum holds a huge collection of models of ships, trains, cars and toys from different eras and countries. This private museum, created by the famous Turkish businessman it was named after, is dedicated to the industrialisation of Turkey.

The city’s main history museum, the Museum of Ancient Anatolian Civilisations, offers a collection of art ifacts from every civilisation that ever left traces on this land, starting in the Stone Age: the Hittites, the Assyrians, the Romans, the Greeks and many others.

The modern history of Turkey can be thoroughly studied at Anitkabir, the mausoleum of the first president of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. This monumental building embodies the selfless love of Turkish citizens for the founder of the republic.

After spending time indoors, it’s nice to get some contrast by going out into nature. This you can do at the Altinköy Open Air Museum,a typical Turkish village recreated on the premises of the city, where you can enjoy a stroll, fresh air and typical rural Turkish houses.

To try the best meal the city can offer, go to Atatürk Boulevard. Here you will find an incredible concentration of restaurants and cafes that offer both Turkish cuisine and dishes from around the world. There’s no chance you’ll leave hungry.

Ankara is a metropolis with a unique history. The city can compete with Istanbul for the title of Turkey’s cultural capital; if you need proof, just take a look at one of its museums or walk along the streets of the old town, admiring the houses and mosques.