Ankara
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By Air
Esenboga Airport, Ankaras international airport, is about 35 kms from the city centre. The airport handles domestic and international flights and caters to many passengers arriving from all across the world. Many passengers, especially those travelling from the USA, New Zealand and Australia fly directly into Istanbul and then take a domestic flight up to Ankara. The flying time is approximately one hour from Istanbul. Passengers may also choose to fly to Antalya and then continue their journey to Ankara.
There are airport buses travelling into the city centre every half hour, from 04:30 through until midnight and taxis are available 24 hours a day, but can be quite expensive. Some hotels will arrange to meet you at the airport for an extra charge.
Although the airport is fairly small, it does offer limited facilities such as an information desk, left luggage, ATMs, bureaux de change and baby changing rooms. There are also bars, cafs and restaurants serving both international and local cuisine.
The airport also caters to disabled passengers and is wheelchair accessible throughout. Passengers who require help at the airport should inform the airlines at the time of booking.
By Rail
Almost all of the major cities in Turkey are linked by a railway network that is extremely efficient as well as being comfortable and reliable. Trains run regularly from Istanbul, which takes about five hours, and also from several other places in Turkey to Ankara. There are trains from many major European cities into Istanbul. Here passengers will have to transfer on to the Turkish railways to get to Ankara.
Some of the routes currently being used are London-Paris-Vienna-Budapest-BucharestIstanbul, London-Paris-Vienna-Belgrade-Sofia-Istanbul and London-Paris-Ancona which continues to Istanbul by ferry.
By Bus
Buses from many major European cities travel to Istanbul, where you will find connecting buses to Ankara. The Turkish coach lines run services to Frankfurt, Vienna and Athens but there are also several other coach companies that depart from Paris, Budapest and other cities in Europe.
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Ataturk Farm and Zoo
This is a large recreational area that houses a zoo, greenhouses, farms, a diary farm, a brewery and several restaurants. There are many pleasant shaded picnic spots as well as hiking and biking paths which are all pleasantly tree lined and shady. A replica of the house in which Ataturk was born in 1881 has been reconstructed here and is well worth a visit. The highlight of a trip here would be to try some old fashioned ice-crea and home brewed beer. There are also many restaurants and cafs around the park.
Haci Bayram Mosque
The mosque was built in the 15th century in honour of Haci Bayram, who was the founder of a religious sect. Haci Bayram died in 1429 and his tomb lies next to the mosque. The temple is beautifully decorated with flower motives, tiles form Kutahya and carved wooden celings.
The Roman Baths
The baths were built during the reign of Emperor Caracalla in 3 AD to honour the God of Medicine, Asclepios. It consists of a firgidarium (cold section), tepidarium (cool section) and calidarium (hot section). Visitors will notice that the hot and warm sections of the bath are wider and bigger than the cold section, this was to accommodate cold winters of Ankara when people used to flock to these sections to keep warm with a bath. Today, only parts of the basement and the first floor remain.
Mausoleum of Ataturk
The mausoleum is a tribute to Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic. The architecture of the building is a mixture of old and new ideas and is quite outstanding. Writings, letters, photographs and several other items that belonged to Ataturk are on display at the mausoleum along with an exhibition on the War of Liberation. Every summer evening, a light and sound show is held here.
The Roman Theatre
The Romans are well known for their construction of palatial theatres and the one that once stood tall and proud here was no exception. Today however only parts of what were once the stage and the backstage remain. Parts of the side are still being painstakingly excavated and tourists are only allowed to visit certain areas.
April - October
July - August -> 30(°C) - Summer
January - February -> 0(°C) - Spring
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