General information about Ankara:

• Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second-largest city. Centrally located in Anatolia, Ankara is an important commercial and industrial city. Ankara is a very old city with various Hittite, Phrygian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman archaeological sites. 

• Click here to see the introductory video for Ankara.

Transportation:

• Esenboga International Airport, located in the north-east of the city, is Ankara's main airport.

• Ankara Intercity Bus Terminal (shortly, ASTI) is an important part of the bus network, which covers every neighborhood in the city.

• The Ankara Central Railway Station is a major rail hub in Turkey. The Turkish State Railways operates passenger train service from Ankara to other major cities. There are two high-speed rail services: Ankara-Eskisehir and Ankara-Konya.

• The Ankara Metro is the rapid transit system serving Ankara. At present, Ankara's rapid transit system consists of 4 metro lines and 1 light rail, which are called Ankara Metro (M1-M2-M3-M4) and Ankaray (A1). An additional metro line A2 is currently under construction, and several other lines are planned for the next phase of expansion.

Shopping/Traveling:

• Foreign visitors to Ankara usually like to visit the old shops in Çıkrıkçılar Yokuşu (Weavers' Road) near Ulus, where myriad things ranging from traditional fabrics, hand-woven carpets and leather products can be found at bargain prices. Bakırcılar Çarşısı (Bazaar of Coppersmiths) is particularly popular, and many interesting items, not just of copper, can be found here like jewelry, carpets, costumes, antiques and embroidery. Up the hill to the castle gate, there are many shops selling a huge and fresh collection of spices, dried fruits, nuts, and other produce.

• Anıtkabir is a complex located in the Cankaya District of Ankara that includes the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

• Museums: Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Ethnography Museum of Ankara, Cengelhan Rahmi Koc Museum, Ankara Castle.

• There are many well-preserved remains of Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine architecture, the most remarkable being the Temple of Augustus and Rome (20 BC) which is also known as the Monumentum Ancyranum.

• Modern shopping areas, restaurants, amusement centers are mostly found in Kızılay, Çankaya, Tunalı Hilmi Avenue, Çukurambar.

• Some of the big shopping malls are Armada, Cepa, Kentpark, Ankamall.

• Kocatepe Mosque and Hacı Bayram Mosque are among the most famous mosques in the city.

• Atakule Tower commands a magnificent view over Ankara, where the city's panorama can be enjoyed in a leisurely fashion.

Universities in the city:

• Ankara has a total of 21 universities, both state and private. Some of them are TOBB ETU, Bilkent University, Middle East Technical University, Ankara University, Gazi University, Hacettepe University, TED University, Cankaya University, and Atilim University.

Library:

• Presidential National Library (Cumhurbaskanligi Millet Kutuphanesi)

Turkish cuisine:

Some famous dishes of Turkish cuisine (in Turkish: Türk mutfağı):

• Simit, borek, acma, bazlama, gozleme, pisi, yufka

• Otlu cheese, kasar, cokelek, tulum cheese, lor cheese.

• Manti, sarma, eriste, keskek, kuskus, mucver, tursu, pilav, kisir, piyaz, cacik.

• Yayla soup, dugun soup, ezogelin soup, iskembe soup, mercimek soup, tarhana soup, arabasi soup, anali kizli soup.

• Adana kebab, cag kebab, lahmacun, pide, doner kebab, iskender, kofte.

• Turkish cafe, Turkish meze, Turkish tea, yogurt, ayran.

• Hamsi, istavrit, levrek.

• Karniyarik, imambayildi, alinazik.

• Turkish delight, baklava, sobiyet, sutlac, kazandibi, sekerpare, kunefe.