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5 places to visit in the Yenimahalle district of Ankara: Atatürk Forest Farm (AOÇ), Ankara Zoo and 75th Year Ankara Hippodrome. Plan your trip to Yenimahalle with local food, practical tips and transport information.

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Yenimahalle is one of the metropolitan districts of Ankara Province. The district covers 219 km² and has an average elevation of 877 metres above sea level. It became the district centre on 1 September 1957 and today consists of 54 neighbourhoods.

History

Between 1946 and 1949, Yenimahalle was planned by Ankara Mayor Ragıp Tüzün as a settlement area close to Ankara. In the 1950s, two-storey houses began to be built to make low-income workers and civil servants homeowners.

Historical and Tourist Sites

The Atatürk Forest Farm was established on 5 May 1925 by Atatürk, who paid for it personally, and lies within the district’s borders. The Ankara Zoo is located within the Atatürk Forest Farm and opened to visitors on 29 October 1940. The 75th Year Ankara Hippodrome was built and put into service in 1988 on an area of 1,383,282 m² and has a capacity of 8,700 spectators. Akköprü is a bridge built in the Byzantine period and repaired during the reign of the Seljuk ruler Alaaddin Keykubat I.

History and Culture

Yenimahalle became a district centre on 1 September 1957. The district began to be established in the 1950s to provide housing for low-income workers and civil servants.

Highlights

The historic bridge in Yenimahalle, Ankara, was built by Kızılbey on behalf of the Anatolian Seljuk sultan I. Alaeddin Keykubad, at the point where the Çubuk Stream, the İncesu Creek and the Hatip Stream meet. Yenimahalle borders Kahramankazan to the north, Keçiören and Altındağ to the east, Etimesgut and Çankaya to the south, and Sincan to the west.

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Places to Visit in Yenimahalle

  • 1 Ancient City
  • 4 Other
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Atatürk Forest Farm (AOÇ)

Established by Atatürk on 5 May 1925, the farm lies within the district's borders and serves the public with recreation and model agricultural work.

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Ankara Zoo

The zoo located within the Atatürk Forest Farm opened on 29 October 1940 and houses 178 species of animals.

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75th Year Ankara Hippodrome

Built in 1988 on an area of 1,383,282 m², the hippodrome has a capacity of 8,700 spectators.

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Akköprü - Yenimahalle Photo: E4024 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source
Ancient City

Akköprü (White Bridge)

The bridge over the Ankara Stream was built in the Byzantine period and repaired by a Seljuk ruler; it has seven arches.

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Karşıyaka Cemetery

Ankara's largest cemetery, located within the district's borders.

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Places to Visit Around Ankara Province

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

  • 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 Yenimahalle

Suggested time
1–2 days
Best time to visit
Spring and summer
Places to visit
5 places

What to Eat in Yenimahalle

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  • Ankara Tava

    Lamb cooked in a clay pot with onions and peppers, Ankara tava is on the menus of traditional restaurants in Yenimahalle.

  • AOÇ Ice Cream

    Ice cream made from the dairy products of the Atatürk Forest Farm is one of the favourite flavours of Ankara's residents. It is prepared with natural milk and fruit.

  • AOÇ Beer

    Beer produced at the brewery within the Atatürk Forest Farm is made at one of Türkiye's oldest brewing facilities.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Yenimahalle

  • Atatürk Forest Farm Heritage

    The farm founded by Atatürk in 1925 is a symbol of the modernisation vision of the Republic. A model enterprise has been created by running agriculture, livestock farming and industry side by side.

  • Modern Urban Planning

    The Batıkent mass housing project was built in the 1980s as one of Türkiye's largest planned settlement areas. It is a pioneering example of modern urban planning.

Local Products

  • AOÇ Dairy Products — Milk, yoghurt, cheese and butter produced at the Atatürk Forest Farm are in high demand in Ankara thanks to their natural and additive-free production.
  • AOÇ Honey — Honey obtained from the farm's apiaries is produced using natural methods.

Economy

The economy of Yenimahalle is based on services, trade and industry. The Ostim Organised Industrial Zone is one of Türkiye's largest small and medium-sized industrial centres. Shopping malls, business centres and commercial areas form the basis of the district's economy.

How to Get to Yenimahalle

Yenimahalle is one of the central districts of Ankara. The Ankara Metro Kızılay–Batıkent line passes through the district. EGO buses and minibuses provide access to all quarters. The Ankara Intercity Bus Terminal (AŞTİ) is within Yenimahalle's borders.

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Yenimahalle: Frequently Asked Questions

What are the places to see in Yenimahalle?

The 5 highlights of Yenimahalle are: Atatürk Forest Farm, Ankara Zoo, 75th Year Ankara Hippodrome, Akköprü and Karşıyaka Cemetery.

What is there to eat in Yenimahalle?

Ankara Tava, AOÇ Ice Cream and AOÇ Beer are the standout flavours on Yenimahalle's tables.

What is Yenimahalle famous for?

Yenimahalle is known for AOÇ Dairy Products and the Atatürk Forest Farm Heritage. Milk, yoghurt, cheese and butter produced at the Atatürk Forest Farm are in high demand in Ankara thanks to their natural and additive-free production.

How do I get to Yenimahalle?

Yenimahalle is one of the central districts of Ankara. The Ankara Metro Kızılay–Batıkent line passes through the district. EGO buses and minibuses provide access to all quarters. The Ankara Intercity Bus Terminal (AŞTİ) is within Yenimahalle's borders.

How much time should I set aside for a visit to Yenimahalle?

Suggested visit length: 1–2 days. Best time to visit: spring and summer.

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