Things to Do in Balâ: 10 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Balâ

• 6 Ancient City
• 1 Museum
• 3 Nature

While you are in Balâ, you can also see the highlights of Ankara province. These places are in other districts; Balâ is about 75 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 Balâ

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn

Places to visit

10 places

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  Tarhana Çorbası (fermented grain and yoghurt soup)

  Tarhana, made by mixing yoghurt, tomato and wheat flour and then drying the mixture, is an essential soup of the winter months. In Balâ, every household makes tarhana by traditional methods.

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  Tandır Ekmeği (clay-oven bread)

  Bread baked in a clay tandır oven, known for its crisp crust and soft interior. It is served alongside village breakfasts and meat dishes.

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  Kuzu Çevirme (whole spit-roasted lamb)

  Prepared by slowly turning a whole lamb over a fire. It is a traditional dish made for special occasions such as bayram and weddings.

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  Balâ Tavası (lamb pan dish)

  A lamb dish said to have been created by Balâ's butchers to boost meat sales and to offer visitors something different.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Balâ

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  Steppe Culture

  In Balâ, where the steppe climate of Central Anatolia prevails, a traditional way of life based on dry farming and livestock continues. The traditions of threshing time and sheep shearing are still kept alive.

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  Yörük Nomadic Heritage

  The Yörük communities who settled in the region carry traces of tent life and livestock culture. Traditional kilim weaving is a modern reflection of this heritage.

Local Products

• Wheat — Wheat is grown on the wide plains of Balâ using dry farming methods. The district is one of Ankara's important cereal-producing areas.
• Salt — Salt is produced in the region because of its proximity to Lake Tuz. Naturally crystallised salt has contributed to the local economy for centuries.

Economy

Balâ's economy is based on agriculture and livestock. Wheat, barley and chickpeas are the main crops. Small livestock farming is an important source of income. Salt production, owing to the district's proximity to Lake Tuz, also contributes to the economy.

How to Get to Balâ

Balâ is 75 km from Ankara city centre. It is reached via the Ankara-Aksaray road. Regular minibus services run to the district.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Ankara

Balâ: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Balâ 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
• Ayaş 6 places Ayaş Hot Springs, Ayaş Castle and Ayaş Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami)
• 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