Things to Do in Altındağ: 11 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Altındağ

• 1 Historic
• 1 Ancient City
• 5 Religious
• 2 Museum
• 2 Attraction

🏛️ Historic Sites 1

i Photo: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) · Source

1 🏛️ Historic

Ankara Castle

A castle inhabited since Hittite times and a historic symbol of Ankara.

View on map

While you are in Altındağ, you can also see the highlights of Ankara province. These places are in other districts.

• Anıtkabir — The mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, designed by Emin Onat and Orhan Arda and built on Rasattepe between 1944 and 1953. The Lion Road leads to the ceremonial square; the Hall of Honour holds the symbolic sarcophagus, and Atatürk's body lies in the tomb chamber on the lower floor.
• Arslanhane (Ahi Şerafeddin) Mosque — A Seljuk mosque at the southern end of the castle, dating from the 13th century, with wooden columns and a wooden ceiling; it is one of the oldest and most important buildings in the city.
• Ankara Roman Bath — Also known as the Caracalla Bath, the building was constructed on a mound whose first layer goes back to the Phrygian period; it can be visited as an open-air archaeological site in Ulus.
• War of Independence Museum (First Grand National Assembly) — The building on Ulus Square served as the first home of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye until 1924, became a museum in 1961 and, as the War of Independence Museum since 1981, displays items relating to the War of Independence and the proclamation of the Republic.
• Republic Museum (Second Grand National Assembly) — Designed by the architect Vedat Tek in 1923, the building housed the Grand National Assembly from 1924 to 1960 and was converted into a museum in 1981.
• Çengelhan Rahmi M. Koç Museum — Opened in 2005 in the 16th-century Çengel Han and Safranhan opposite the castle gate, this is Ankara's first industrial and transport museum; it displays vintage cars, machines and scientific instruments.

Practical Information for Visiting Altındağ

Suggested time

1-2 days

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn

Places to visit

11 places

• 🍳

  Ankara Tava (lamb and pepper casserole)

  Ankara tava, lamb cooked with onions and peppers in a clay casserole, is the symbolic dish of the capital. The historic restaurants of Altındağ serve this flavour using traditional methods.

• 🥣

  İşkembe Çorbası (tripe soup)

  Served late into the night in the historic tripe restaurants around Ulus and the castle, this soup is flavoured with garlic vinegar and red pepper.

• 🥙

  Döner Kebap

  Ankara-style döner, prepared by cooking thinly sliced lamb on a vertical spit. The Samanpazarı area of Altındağ has been the centre of traditional döner-making culture.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Altındağ

• 🏪

  Ulus and Samanpazarı Historic Bazaar Culture

  Ulus and Samanpazarı, which were the commercial centre of Ankara in the early years of the Republic, still keep traditional tradesmen's culture alive. Coppersmiths, tinsmiths and carpet makers operate in this area.

• 🕌

  Hacı Bayram-ı Veli Tradition

  The tomb and mosque of Hacı Bayram-ı Veli, founder of the Bayrami order, have been the spiritual centre of Ankara for centuries. Thousands of visitors visit the tomb every year.

• 🏰

  Ankara Castle Culture Route

  Restored Ottoman houses inside the castle, art galleries, antique shops and traditional craft workshops create a lively culture and arts environment.

Local Products

• Coppersmithing Products — Copper vessels, ewers and decorative objects made by traditional methods are sold in the coppersmiths' bazaar around Ankara Castle. Copper products hammered by hand attract the interest of tourists.
• Sof Kumaşı (sof fabric) — Sof fabric, a world-famous export product of Ankara during the Ottoman period, was woven from the wool of the Ankara Angora goat. Traces of this tradition are still kept alive in the tradesmen's culture of Altındağ today.

Economy

Altındağ is the historic centre of Ankara, and trade, tourism and small-scale craft activities form the basis of its economy. Ulus continues to be the centre of traditional commerce, while the Siteler quarter is one of the largest furniture and woodworking production centres in Türkiye. Cultural tourism is an important source of income.

How to Get to Altındağ

Altındağ is a central district of Ankara. It is served by the Ankara Metro Kızılay–Batıkent line and the Ankaray. Ulus metro station is in the centre of the district. EGO buses run regularly to all neighbourhoods.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Ankara

Altındağ: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Altındağ Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Ankara The province's 21 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Ankara

• Akyurt 7 places İdris Mountain, Akyurt Castle and Karacaören Köyü Kaya Mezarları
• Ayaş 6 places Ayaş Hot Springs, Ayaş Castle and Ayaş Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami)
• Balâ 10 places Kesikköprü Dam, Afşar Höyüğü (Afşar Mound) and Yavaşlar Höyüğü (Yavaşlar Mound)
• Beypazarı 13 places Hırkatepe, Beypazarı Historic Houses and Taş Mektep (Stone School)
• Çamlıdere 13 places Şeyh Ali Semerkandi Tomb, Çamkoru Forest Camp and Çamlıdere Fossil Forest
• Çankaya 7 places Anıtkabir, Kocatepe Mosque and Cengelhan Rahmi M. Koç Museum
• Çubuk 10 places Karagöl Lake, 1402 Battle of Ankara Battlefield and Çubuk Dam (Çubuk-1 Dam)
• Elmadağ 4 places Vezir Pınarı Fountain, Elmadağ Ski Centre and Elmadağ Ammunition Factory Historic Site
• Etimesgut 5 places Eryaman Gölbaşı Park, Turkish Air Force Museum (Aviation Museum) and Etimesgut Atatürk Forest
• Evren 4 places Evren Castle Ruins, Evren Çayı Valley and Evren Central Mosque
• Gölbaşı 4 places Mogan Lake, Eymir Lake and Tulumtaş Cave
• Güdül 12 places Kirmir Stream Valley, Sorgun Pond and Güdül Canyon
• Haymana 7 places Haymana Thermal Baths, Gavurkale Ruins and Battle of Sakarya Historical National Park
• Kahramankazan 7 places Mürted Air Base, Kazan Museum and Saray Höyük
• Kalecik 5 places Kalecik Castle, Kızılırmak Valley and Hasbey Mosque
• Keçiören 5 places Estergon Castle (Keçiören), Keçiören Botanical Park and Kalaba Park and Pond
• Kızılcahamam 4 places Soğuksu National Park, Kızılcahamam Hot Springs and Martyrs' Tree
• Mamak 7 places Mount Hüseyin Gazi, Hatip River and Mamak Castle (Kayaş Castle)
• Nallıhan 9 places Sarıyar Dam, Nallıhan Bird Sanctuary (Davutoğlan Bird Sanctuary) and Rainbow Hills (Girl's Hill)
• Polatlı 10 places Gordion Ancient City, Battle of Sakarya and Gordion Ancient City (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
• Pursaklar 3 places Saray Köşkü Park, Pursaklar Municipality Culture Centre and Altınova Park
• Sincan 5 places Temelli, Sincan Tulip Festival Area and Temelli Mound
• Şereflikoçhisar 7 places Tuz Lake (Tuz Gölü), Koçhisar Castle and Şereflikoçhisar Castle
• Yenimahalle 5 places Atatürk Forest Farm (AOÇ), Ankara Zoo and 75th Year Ankara Hippodrome