One day in central Ankara: Anıtkabir, Ulus and the castle

This route covers central Ankara in one day by rail and on foot. It starts at Anıtkabir, Atatürk's mausoleum, and ends on the castle hill above Ulus. The Ankaray light rail and the M1 metro link the two halves of the day, with one change at Kızılay.

Morning: Anıtkabir

Take the Ankaray to Anadolu/Anıtkabir station and walk uphill to the Tandoğan gate. From this side you enter by the Road of Lions. It is 262 m long and lined with 24 lion statues. The road ends at the Ceremonial Square and the Hall of Honour, which holds Atatürk's symbolic sarcophagus.

The Atatürk and War of Independence Museum lies beneath the Hall of Honour and covers about 3,000 m². It shows Atatürk's personal belongings, panoramas of the Çanakkale battles and the War of Independence, and his private library. Entry to Anıtkabir is free. Plan two to three hours, with long walks on stone paving.

By rail to Ulus

Walk back to Anadolu/Anıtkabir and ride the Ankaray east to Kızılay, three stops away. Change there to the M1 metro towards Batıkent. Ulus is the second stop, after Sıhhiye. Leave by the Ulus Çarşısı exit. The castle is about 15 minutes' walk uphill from the station, and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations sits on the slope below it.

Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

The museum occupies two Ottoman buildings: the Mahmut Paşa Bedesten, a domed covered market, and the Kurşunlu Han. Ankara's first museum opened in 1921 in Akkale, at the top of the castle. The two buildings were restored between 1938 and 1968 to house the collection. In 1997 the museum was named European Museum of the Year. The main hall follows a time line from the Palaeolithic through the Hittite, Phrygian and Urartian periods.

According to the museum's page on muze.gov.tr, the Ankara Hall and the Classical Hall are closed for maintenance from 14 September 2026 to 2 March 2027.

Afternoon: up to Ankara Castle

Ankara Castle stands on the hill above Ulus, in the Altındağ district. The outer walls ring the south, west and north of the hill, and the inner castle sits on the summit. Inside the walls are narrow streets with old houses. Stairs lead up to Akkale and the Şark Kulesi (Eastern Tower), with views over the city. The paths are steep and uneven, so wear firm shoes.

Practical notes

Before you set off, check museum hours on muze.gov.tr and Anıtkabir notices on anitkabir.tsk.tr. Ankaray and metro lines are run by EGO, the transport authority of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality.