Things to Do in Çubuk: 10 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Çubuk

• 3 Historic
• 3 Religious
• 1 Museum
• 2 Nature
• 1 Other

🏛️ Historic Sites 3

1 🏛️ Historic

1402 Battle of Ankara Battlefield

The historic battlefield that started the Interregnum (Fetret Devri) in the Ottoman state.

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

2 🏛️ Historic

Çubuk Dam (Çubuk-1 Dam)

Built in 1936 as the Republic's first major dam project, the Çubuk-1 Dam was constructed to meet Ankara's drinking water needs. One of the important infrastructure investments of the Atatürk period, the dam is valuable from the point of view of engineering history.

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3 🏛️ Historic

Melikşah Village Stone Hammam

A stone hammam in Melikşah Village, said to have been commissioned by Timur in the 15th century.

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🌳 Natural Wonders 2

8 🌳 Nature

Karagöl Lake

A natural lake in Çubuk.

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i Photo: Esma.Ünal.23 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source

9 🌳 Nature

Karagöl Nature Park

Karagöl, located north of Çubuk, is a natural lake surrounded by pine forests. With walking trails, picnic areas and bird-watching points, it is a place preferred by nature lovers.

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While you are in Çubuk, you can also see the highlights of Ankara province. These places are in other districts; Çubuk is about 40 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 Çubuk

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

September (Pickle Festival)

Places to visit

10 places

• 🍽️

  Çubuk Agat Taşı (Çubuk agate)

  Çubuk Agat Taşı was registered as a protected designation of origin on 6 December 2017 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 260). Product group: other products. Registered by: Çubuk Municipality.

• 🥒

  Çubuk Turşusu (Çubuk pickles)

  Çubuk pickles, the most famous pickles in Türkiye, are made by fermenting cucumbers, cabbage, peppers, carrots and green tomatoes in vinegar and salt water. The Pickle Festival held every year keeps this tradition alive.

• 🍳

  Ankara Tava (lamb and pepper casserole)

  Ankara tava, lamb cooked with onions and peppers in a casserole, is also an important dish on traditional tables in Çubuk.

• 🥣

  Tarhana Çorbası (yoghurt, tomato and flour soup)

  Tarhana, made by mixing yoghurt, tomato and wheat flour and drying the mixture, is an essential winter soup in Çubuk.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Çubuk

• 🥒

  International Çubuk Pickle and Culture Festival

  Held every year in September, the festival attracts thousands of visitors to Çubuk with pickle competitions, concerts and cultural events. It promotes the district's pickling tradition nationally and internationally.

• ⚔️

  Legacy of the Battle of Ankara

  The Battle of Ankara, fought in 1402 on the Çubuk Plain, is one of the most important events in Ottoman history. The memory of this battle is an inseparable part of the region's historic identity.

Local Products

• Çubuk Homaçası — Çubuk Homaçası was registered as a protected geographical indication on 23 May 2022 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1118). Product group: meals and soups. Registered by: Çubuk Municipality.
• Çubuk Turşusu (Çubuk pickles) — Çubuk Turşusu was registered as a protected geographical indication on 26 August 2008 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 99). Product group: processed and unprocessed fruit and vegetables and mushrooms. Registered by: Çubuk Municipality.
• Çubuk Vişnesi (Çubuk sour cherries) — Çubuk Vişnesi was registered as a protected designation of origin on 18 April 2022 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1087). Product group: processed and unprocessed fruit and vegetables and mushrooms. Registered by: Çubuk Municipality.

Economy

Çubuk's economy is based on agriculture, food industry and tourism. Pickle production is the district's most important economic activity. Cultivation of cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers is widespread. Industrial investment is also increasing because of its proximity to Ankara.

How to Get to Çubuk

Çubuk is 40 km from Ankara city centre. It lies on the Ankara–Çankırı road. Regular transport is provided by EGO buses and minibuses. Esenboğa Airport is 25 km away.

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Çubuk: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Çubuk 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
• Çankaya 7 places Anıtkabir, Kocatepe Mosque and Cengelhan Rahmi M. Koç Museum
• 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