Things to Do in Elmadağ: 4 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Elmadağ

• 2 Historic
• 1 Nature
• 1 Attraction

i Photo: Ediz1412 (CC BY 4.0) · Source

1 🏛️ Historic

Vezir Pınarı Fountain

An Ottoman-period stone fountain built in the 18th century.

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2 📸 Attraction

Elmadağ Ski Centre

The closest ski centre to Ankara, Elmadağ Ski Centre sits at an altitude of 1,850 metres. Skiing and snowboarding are possible at the facility in winter, and it is the main destination for Ankara residents seeking day-trip winter sports.

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3 🏛️ Historic

Elmadağ Ammunition Factory Historic Site

Established in 1924 as one of the first defence industry investments of the Republic, the Elmadağ Ammunition Factory is a historic facility where the foundations of Turkish defence industry were laid.

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4 🌳 Nature

Elmadağ Forests

The black pine and oak forests surrounding the district are suitable areas for walking and outdoor camping. Forest roads are also used as mountain-biking trails.

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While you are in Elmadağ, you can also see the highlights of Ankara province. These places are in other districts; Elmadağ is about 25 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 Elmadağ

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

Winter (skiing), spring (nature walks)

Places to visit

4 places

• 🍳

  Ankara Tava

  Lamb cooked in a clay pot with onion and peppers, the Ankara tava is an indispensable dish at traditional tables in Elmadağ too.

• 🍖

  Tandır Kebabı

  Lamb slow-cooked for hours in an earth tandır oven, tandır kebab is one of the important flavours of Elmadağ's rural cuisine.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Elmadağ

• 🏭

  Defence Industry Heritage

  Elmadağ has been associated with defence industry facilities since the early years of the Republic. The ammunition factory, which is linked to MKE, has shaped the district's economic and cultural identity.

• ⛷️

  Winter Sports Culture

  Thanks to its proximity to Ankara, Elmadağ has become the winter sports centre of the capital. Events held during the ski season bring life to the district.

Local Products

• Elmadağ Tandır Bread — Elmadağ Tandır Bread was registered as a geographical indication on 31 May 2023 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1370). Product group: bakery and pastry products, dough products, desserts. Registered by: Elmadağ Municipality.
• Mountain Thyme — Mountain thyme growing on Elmadağ's high slopes is used as tea and as a spice for its intense aroma.
• Forest Honey — Honey produced in the district's forested areas has a rich aroma profile thanks to the variety of flowers.

Economy

Elmadağ's economy rests on the defence industry, agriculture and winter tourism. The MKE ammunition factory is the district's largest employer. Wheat and barley are grown in agriculture. The ski centre generates tourism income in the winter months.

How to Get to Elmadağ

Elmadağ is 25 km from Ankara city centre. It lies on the Ankara–Kırıkkale road. Regular transport is provided by EGO buses.

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Elmadağ: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Elmadağ 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
• Çubuk 10 places Karagöl Lake, 1402 Battle of Ankara Battlefield and Çubuk Dam (Çubuk-1 Dam)
• 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