Things to Do in Çankaya: 7 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Çankaya

• 1 Religious
• 1 Museum
• 1 Nature
• 3 Attraction
• 1 Cultural

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

1 🎭 Cultural

Anıtkabir

The monument housing the mausoleum and museum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Türkiye.

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2 🕌 Religious

Kocatepe Mosque

Built between 1967 and 1987, Kocatepe Mosque is the largest mosque in Ankara. Inspired by classical Ottoman mosque architecture, it has a capacity of 24,000 people and four minarets 88 metres high.

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3 📸 Attraction

Cengelhan Rahmi M. Koç Museum

A museum dedicated to the history of industry and transport, housed in the historic Cengelhan building. The collection includes antique cars, maritime vehicles and industrial machinery.

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4 📸 Attraction

CerModern Arts Centre

A contemporary arts centre opened in 2010 by converting former TCDD workshops. With 10,000 m² of exhibition space, it is one of the largest art venues in Türkiye. It hosts works by Turkish and international artists.

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i Photo: Elelicht (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Source

5 🌳 Nature

Kuğulu Park

A park in the Kavaklıdere quarter of Çankaya, one of Ankara's most popular meeting points thanks to the swans swimming in its pond. Established in 1958, the park offers a green oasis in the city centre.

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i Photo: A.Savin (FAL) · Source

6 📸 Attraction

Atakule

A 125-metre tower opened in 1989, one of Ankara's iconic structures. Its revolving restaurant and observation terrace at the top offer a 360-degree panoramic view of the city.

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7 🖼️ Museum

Anatolian Architecture and Furniture Cultural Heritage Museum (Altın Köşk)

The first architecture and furniture museum, set up in the Merik Mansion in Bilkent, presenting examples of Anatolian architecture.

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

• 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.
• 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.

Practical Information for Visiting Çankaya

Suggested time

2-3 days

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn

Places to visit

7 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. Traditional restaurants in Çankaya serve this dish using their own authentic recipes.

• 🥒

  Çubuk Turşusu (Çubuk pickles)

  Ankara's famous pickles, prepared by fermenting various vegetables in vinegar and salt water. They are served alongside kebabs and meat dishes.

• 🥯

  Ankara Simidi (sesame bread ring)

  Ankara simit, which differs from the Istanbul simit with its thin and crispy texture, is baked in a stone oven, generously coated with sesame. It is eaten with tea.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Çankaya

• 🏛️

  Capital of the Republic

  Çankaya became the administrative centre of Türkiye when the Republic was proclaimed in 1923. The Presidential Mansion, the Grand National Assembly and ministries are located in this district. The story of modern Türkiye took shape in Çankaya.

• 🎭

  Kavaklıdere and Tunalı Hilmi Culture

  Tunalı Hilmi Avenue and the Kavaklıdere quarter are the centre of Ankara's cultural, arts and entertainment life. Cafés, galleries, theatres and bookshops offer a lively city life.

• 🎓

  University Quarter

  Hacettepe, Middle East Technical and Bilkent universities are within the boundaries of Çankaya. These universities make Ankara one of Türkiye's most important centres of education and research.

Local Products

• Ankara Tiftik Keçisi Ürünleri (tiftik goat products) — Products made from the wool of the tiftik goat, the symbol of Ankara, are world-famous for their softness and quality. Known as mohair, this wool is a valuable raw material in the textile sector.
• Ankara Armudu (Ankara pears) — This pear variety, native to Ankara, is known for its small size and intense aroma. It ripens in the autumn months and is eaten fresh.

Economy

Çankaya is the centre of administration, education and services for Ankara and Türkiye. Public institutions, embassies, universities and private sector companies are concentrated in the district. The Kızılay and Kavaklıdere commercial areas, shopping malls and office buildings are the focal points of economic activity.

How to Get to Çankaya

Çankaya is the central district of Ankara. All neighbourhoods are reached by metro (Kızılay interchange station), the Ankaray, EGO buses and dolmuş minibuses. Esenboğa Airport is 35 km away. The high-speed train station is within the boundaries of Çankaya.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Ankara

Çankaya: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Çankaya 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)
• 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
• 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