Ankara is having a moment. Last year, Türkiye’s vibrant capital was added to UNESCO’s Tentative List, and this year, it’s been chosen as the Turkic World Tourism Capital. It’s an accolade bestowed by the Organisation of Turkic States, a body aiming to promote the history, culture and unity of its member states which include Turkic peoples from across Siberia, the Kipchak, Karluk and Oghur regions , as well as Turkic countries from around the world.
As host city, Ankara will be looking to demonstrate its cultural legacy through festivals, workshops, concerts and other immersive events highlighting the region's deep heritage.
Honours aside, Türkiye’s capital city – which has held the title for over 100 years – doesn’t need a cultural movement to show off its offerings. The buzzy metropolis is packed with first-class museums, incredible artistic performances and a gastronomy scene to make even the least foodie-inclined salivate. Here’s where to start with Türkiye’s magical capital.
History inside and out
A capital city is usually a good place to start when it comes to learning about the country you’re visiting, and Ankara is certainly a great scene-setter. Home to more than 20 museums, Ankara enables visitors to learn about almost all facets of Turkish history, from the storied past of its Anatolian peoples (Museum of Anatolian Civilizations) to the War of Independence which saw the country achieve autonomy (War of Independence Museum).
