Visit Ankara

History & Heritage

Citadels, Roman remains, historic inns and monuments reveal Ankara’s many lives.

43 places and stories

Browse every entry in English or Turkish, then continue through related places and stories.

Anıtkabir

The monumental mausoleum of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Turkish Republic; an architectural masterpiece featuring Peace Park, symbolic towers, and the War of Independence Museum.History & Heritage · Çankaya

Ankara Castle

The crowning citadel of old Ankara, bearing architectural layers from Galatians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans with commanding 360° city vistas.History & Heritage · Altındağ

Roman Theatre

Ancient Roman Theatre in Ulus discovered in 1982, reflecting the monumental performing arts culture and sculpture of Roman Ancyra.History & Heritage

Roman Bath Open-Air Museum

Monumental 3rd-century AD bath complex built under Emperor Caracalla dedicated to Asclepius, featuring intact hypocaust heating and open-air lapidarium.History & Heritage

Temple of Augustus

Monumental 1st-century BC temple dedicated to Emperor Augustus and the Goddess Roma, preserving the world-famous 'Monumentum Ancyranum' inscription.History & Heritage

Column of Julian

A 15-meter fluted Corinthian column erected in 362 AD in Ulus to commemorate the imperial visit of Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate.History & Heritage

Kalecik Castle

A dramatic cliff-top fortress founded by Galatians in 275 BC overlooking the Kızılırmak River valley, later fortified by Romans and Seljuks.History & Heritage · Kalecik

Akköprü

Historic 7-arched stone bridge built across the Ankara Stream in 1222 during the Seljuk reign of Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad I along the Baghdad trade road.History & Heritage

Yumurtatepe Tumulus

Ancient burial tumulus located at Demetevler junction, yielding archaeological evidence from the Early Bronze Age and Phrygian periods.History & Heritage

Gavurkale

Sacred 2nd-millennium BC Hittite rock sanctuary in Haymana, featuring monumental carved reliefs of deities and an ancient processional tomb chamber.History & Heritage · Haymana

Gordion / Yassıhöyük

The UNESCO World Heritage capital of the ancient Phrygian Kingdom in Polatlı Yassıhöyük, home to King Midas and the legend of the Gordian Knot.History & Heritage · Polatlı

Midas Tumulus

A 53-meter-tall monumental tumulus sheltering the world's oldest intact standing wooden tomb chamber, constructed for King Midas in the 8th century BC.History & Heritage · Polatlı

Bitik Höyük

Prehistoric mound near Kahramankazan where the iconic painted Relief Cult Vase of the Hittite Old Kingdom ('Bitik Vase') was discovered.History & Heritage

Kayabaşı Mosaic

Late Roman/Early Byzantine floor mosaic discovered in Polatlı Kayabaşı, featuring intricate geometric and floral tesserae designs.History & Heritage

Juliopolis

Ancient Hellenistic and Roman city in Nallıhan Çayırhan, featuring hundreds of rock-cut sarcophagi, chambers, and chamber tombs.History & Heritage · Nallıhan

Çengelhan

Monumental 1522 Ottoman caravanserai built by Grand Vizier Damat Rüstem Pasha, now restored as the Çengelhan Rahmi M. Koç Museum.History & Heritage

Kurşunlu Han

15th-century Ottoman caravanserai built by Grand Vizier Mahmut Pasha, now housing the administrative and research wings of the Anatolian Civilizations Museum.History & Heritage

Suluhan

1685 Ottoman commercial inn in Ulus, famous for its central courtyard fountain and surviving two-story masonry trade shops.History & Heritage

Zağfiran / Safran Han

1511 Ottoman caravanserai in At Pazarı, once a trade post for saffron and mohair, now elegantly restored as a cultural boutique hotel.History & Heritage

Mahmut Paşa Bedesten

15th-century 10-domed monumental Ottoman covered bedesten; today serving as the main exhibition hall of the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.History & Heritage

Pirinç Han

18th-century timber-framed inn on the slopes of Ankara Castle, today a charming courtyard hub for antique dealers and artisan workshops.History & Heritage

Historic Eynebey Bath

Historic early 15th-century Ottoman bathhouse built by Eyne Bey, reflecting classical dome and hypocaust engineering.History & Heritage

Karacabey Bath

Monumental 1440 double bathhouse built by Ottoman commander Celalettin Karacabey, operating continuously in Hacettepe.History & Heritage

Şengül Bath

Late 15th-century historic double bathhouse situated at the entrance of the restored Hamamönü quarter.History & Heritage

Ulus Republic Monument

Iconic 1927 bronze equestrian monument in Ulus Square sculpted by Heinrich Krippel, commemorating the heroes and solidarity of the War of Independence.History & Heritage

Güven Monument

Monumental 1935 sculpture in Kızılay Güvenpark designed by Anton Hanak and Josef Thorak, celebrating the strength and security of the young Republic.History & Heritage

Victory Monument

1927 bronze statue by Italian master Pietro Canonica in Sıhhiye, depicting Atatürk in military coat leaning decisively on his sword.History & Heritage

Hittite Monument

Monumental bronze replica of the 4,500-year-old Hittite Sun Disk of Alacahöyük, erected in Sıhhiye Square in 1978 as the capital's civic symbol.History & Heritage

Kızılcagün Monument

Monument in Dikmen commemorating the momentous welcome of Atatürk by Ankara's Seğmen riders on December 27, 1919.History & Heritage

Duatepe Monument

Victory monument crowning Duatepe in Polatlı, the first strategic summit recaptured by the Turkish Army during the Battle of Sakarya.History & Heritage · Polatlı

Mehmetçik Monument

A 32-meter-tall monumental sculpture atop Kartaltepe in Polatlı, honoring the heroism of Turkish soldiers during the Battle of Sakarya.History & Heritage · Polatlı

Mithat Paşa Monument

Statue in Ulus honoring Mithat Pasha, founder of the Agricultural Credit Funds ('Memleket Sandıkları') that gave birth to Ziraat Bank.History & Heritage

Korean Monument

Monument erected in 1973 in Ulus in partnership with South Korea, commemorating Turkish soldiers who served and fell in the Korean War.History & Heritage

Mimar Sinan Monument

1956 marble and bronze statue by Hüseyin Anka Özkan at Ankara University DTCF faculty, honoring grand imperial architect Mimar Sinan.History & Heritage

Houses of Ayaş

Traditional 19th-century timber-framed Ottoman residences with cantilevered bay windows (cumba) lining the historic streets of Ayaş.History & Heritage · Ayaş

Houses of Güdül

Well-preserved urban conservation quarter of Güdül, featuring centuries-old timber Ottoman mansions and carved wood ceilings.History & Heritage · Güdül

Houses of Beypazarı

Over 3,500 historic Ottoman mansions terraced into Beypazarı's steep hillsides, celebrated for their 'guşgana' attics and timber craftsmanship.History & Heritage · Beypazarı

VEKAM Ankara Research Centre

Koç University Vehbi Koç Ankara Studies Research Centre (VEKAM), housed in a restored historic Keçiören vineyard mansion.History & Heritage

Beynam Atatürk House

Historic residence in Bala Beynam Village where Mustafa Kemal Pasha stayed and strategized on the eve of the Battle of Sakarya.History & Heritage

Birthplace of Hacı Bayram Veli

The historic birthplace in Altındağ Solfasol where 14th-century Turkish Sufi philosopher Hacı Bayram Veli was born and spent his early years.History & Heritage

Ankara Through the Ages

The epic chronicle of Ankara across millennia—from Hittite strongholds and Phrygian kings to Roman metropolis, Ahi republic, and capital of modern Turkey.History & Heritage

Traditional Houses of Ankara

Traditional vernacular architecture of Ankara, featuring timber framing, mudbrick infill, wide eaves, and projecting oriels (cumba).History & Heritage

The Historic Silk Road

The historic Silk Road route passing through Ankara, Ayaş, Beypazarı, Güdül, and Nallıhan, lined with caravanserais, bridges, and guild traditions.History & Heritage