Daily Ankara Tour: What to Do in Ankara in One Day?

There are thousands of people who travel to Ankara, the capital of Turkey and the bright face of Central Anatolia, for various purposes every day, either for a day or for a few days. Even if you don't have a job, thanks to the high-speed train, you can come in the morning and return in the evening in Ankara, and we list the answer to the question of 'What can be done in a day?' In this article, you will find just how you can benefit from Ankara quickly in the simplest way.

If You Have Come to Ankara...

Everyone who comes to Ankara definitely passes through Hamamönü. This area, which has been made interesting with the restoration of 19th century houses, is a place where many activities such as engagements, henna parties, and circumcisions are held. The biggest reason for this is that taking photos in the sweet atmosphere created by the historical houses of Hamamönü has become popular. You will definitely want to take photos in front of the historical doors and flower potted walls of these cute houses while you are there. Here, you can find a breakfast place suitable for every interest and taste, from the Yeşilçam concept to the classic rock 'n' roll concept with The Blue Brothers or Amy Winehouse posters, from the Ottoman to a bohemian garden. You will understand how important it is for Ankara residents to have breakfast in Hamamönü from the crowds in the venues. Locals also come here for breakfast in groups on the weekends. Still, you don’t need to make a reservation, the best thing to do is to walk around the area and choose the place you want. Believe me, it gets even more exciting when you feel hungry. After breakfast, you can visit the shops selling souvenirs, drink coffee on embers, and visit the house where Mehmet Akif Ersoy wrote the National Anthem.

Ankara’s Must: Ankara Castle

If you had breakfast in Hamamönü, you can’t go without going to Ankara Castle. The roads you follow will probably take you there anyway.

Ankara Castle is one of the most suitable places to watch Ankara from a high hill. The history of the castle dates back to the 2nd century BC. Ankara Castle remained there while many states that owned Ankara came and went. After the castle, we recommend that you walk around the Samanpazarı district. Samanpazarı, which is also a historical district, is very interesting with its coppersmiths, jewelry shops, antique household items and shops selling various second-hand goods. It is noted in history that the last public execution in Turkey was carried out in this district. In other words, Ankara Castle and Samanpazarı are places that new people with old spirits who want to catch the spirit of the time should definitely go and breathe its air.

Visiting Atatürk: Anıtkabir

You can realize the most important and most spiritual part of your daily Ankara tour by going to Anıtkabir, a place that everyone who comes to Ankara definitely wants to go, at noon.

From Bahçeli to Kızılay, from Kızılay to Tunalı

Since Anıtkabir is close to the Bahçelievler district, you can visit the famous Bahçelievler streets while you are there. You can take the metro from Bahçelievler to Kızılay and tour Kızılay Square, which is again one of the most important places that comes to mind when Ankara is mentioned, and you can realize the action of “walking from Kızılay to Tunalı”, one of the greatest pleasures of Ankara residents. Bahçelievler, Kızılay and Tunalı are basically three places where you can do the same activities. You can eat, sit in cafes and pubs, and shop in their stores. The reason we listed these three places one after the other is that you can see all three famous districts of Ankara with simple steps in terms of location. If you want to see the people of this city, their socio-cultural distribution and what kind of activities they do, follow this advice. Also, they say that a city is best explored on foot, right?

What to Eat?

When Ankara is mentioned, Kızılay and Tunalı come to mind, but Ankara's folk hero Aspava is also quite famous. Aspava is a kebab house and its greatest importance is the abundance of treats brought to the table before the main meal. According to our observations, they bring salad, French fries, mushrooms with kashar cheese, appetizers, and raw meatballs. The advantage is that they bring the second plate free of charge when you finish one. Believe me, young people from Ankara have definitely gone to Aspava and tested the patience of the place to see how many treats they will bring. After the meal, there is tea, coffee and dessert. You can find Aspavas everywhere in Ankara. You don't have to sit at the first one you see. It will definitely appear at every step.

Farewell to the City

If you followed all our advice, we think you will be quite tired and we are ending the day. However, there are many activities you can do and many historical and natural beauties you can see other than those we have listed. For this reason, we look forward to seeing you again in Ankara when you have more time.

Written by: Selin Hızarcı