Things to Do in Ayaş: 6 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Ayaş

• 2 Historic
• 2 Religious
• 1 Nature
• 1 Attraction

While you are in Ayaş, you can also see the highlights of Ankara province. These places are in other districts; Ayaş is about 80 km from the provincial centre.

• 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.
• Museum of Anatolian Civilisations — Housed in the Mahmud Paşa Bedesten and Kurşunlu Han, the museum began at Atatürk's wish as a 'Hittite Museum' and today displays Anatolia's civilisations in chronological order.
• Ankara Castle — The exact date the castle in Altındağ was built is unknown; it is known that the Roman emperor Caracalla had its walls repaired in AD 217. Repaired in the Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman periods, it is the historic core of Ankara, with narrow streets inside and views of the city from the walls.
• 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.
• Hamamönü — This district takes its name from the Karacabey Hammam in the complex of Karaca Bey, the Beylerbey of Anatolia, in the 1430s.
• Temple of Augustus — The temple beside the Hacı Bayram Mosque was built in the name of the emperor Augustus in about 25–20 BC. Its walls bear the Res Gestae inscription, known as the Monumentum Ancyranum, which recounts Augustus's deeds; it has been protected with the support of the World Monuments Fund.

Practical Information for Visiting Ayaş

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn

Places to visit

6 places

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  Ayaş Mantısı (baked Ayaş dumplings)

  Ayaş's own mantı, small pieces of dough filled with minced meat, sealed and baked in an oven. Garlic yoghurt and a butter sauce are drizzled on top.

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  Keşkek (wheat and meat dish)

  Keşkek is prepared by boiling and pounding cracked wheat and meat for hours. In Ayaş it is the traditional dish for weddings and special occasions.

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  Bazlama (griddle flatbread)

  Bazlama, a flatbread cooked on a griddle, is one of the basic elements of Ayaş's rural cuisine. It is served with fresh butter and cheese.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Ayaş

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  Spa Culture

  The tradition of thermal bathing, which has continued since the Roman period, is an integral part of Ayaş's identity. Thermal tourism is one of the district's most important cultural and economic assets.

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  Traditional Village Weddings

  At traditional weddings held in Ayaş and the surrounding villages, people dance the halay to the accompaniment of drum and zurna, and keşkek is served. This tradition is passed down from generation to generation.

Local Products

• Ayaş Domatesi (Ayaş tomatoes) — Ayaş Domatesi was registered as a protected designation of origin on 5 October 2022 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1236). Product group: processed and unprocessed fruit and vegetables and mushrooms. Registered by: Ayaş Chamber of Agriculture.
• Ayaş Dutu (Ayaş mulberries) — Ayaş Dutu was registered as a protected designation of origin on 22 September 2021 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 900). Product group: processed and unprocessed fruit and vegetables and mushrooms. Registered by: Ayaş Chamber of Agriculture.

Economy

Ayaş's economy consists of agriculture and thermal tourism. Tomatoes, peppers, melons and watermelons are the main agricultural products. The thermal facilities attract visitors throughout the year. Small livestock farming also contributes to the district's economy.

How to Get to Ayaş

Ayaş is 80 km from Ankara city centre. It is reached by the Ankara–Eskişehir road. There are regular minibus services from the Ankara Intercity Bus Terminal.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Ankara

Ayaş: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Ayaş 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
• Altındağ 11 places Ankara Castle, Hacı Bayram Mosque and Temple of Augustus
• 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