About this part of the city
Ankara Castle
The crowning citadel of old Ankara, bearing architectural layers from Galatians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans with commanding 360° city vistas.
Watching over the city for millennia, Ankara Castle crowns the capital’s highest rocky outcrop in Ulus. While its origins trace back to the Galatians in the 2nd century BC, the citadel was continuously rebuilt, reinforced, and expanded under Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman rule.
The fortification consists of an inner citadel (İç Kale) and outer walls. Its highest promontory, the White Keep (Akkale Burcu), affords breathtaking panoramic views over Ankara. In 1921, by Atatürk’s decree, the initial Hittite (Eti) Museum was established within this keep, laying the groundwork for today’s world-renowned Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.
Today, the charming cobblestone lanes within the citadel walls are lined with restored wooden Ottoman residences, artisanal craft shops, antique merchants, and scenic cafes offering an authentic historic ambiance.
Key Highlights
- Akkale Keep with 360-degree panoramic views of Ankara
- Monumental fortress walls reusing Roman & Byzantine ashlar blocks
- Restored Ottoman Castle houses, cafes, and artisanal ateliers
- Site of the first Hittite Museum founded in 1921 by Atatürk
In the tourism master plan
Under the Old Town project, the Castle and Hamamönü axis forms the core historic zone slated for full pedestrianisation and craft revitalization.
