Ankara travel guide

The capital city of Turkey.

Not a beauty but still stuck within a beast, Turkey’s capital is besieged by desert lands. The drive from Istanbul is scenic (just watch out for crazy drivers) as the country’s palette turns from green to yellow. Upon arriving, you will be greeted by the new residential high-rises pushing the city’s boundaries further into the hostile terrain. The city, a creation of Ataturk, founder of the Turkish republic, was simply not meant to exist in a place like this -- as the city's struggles to meet its water needs demonstrate. But geostrategic thoughts during World War I turned this village of a few thousand into a bursting metropolis. What Mecca is to Muslims, so is Ankara to secular Turks – Anitkabir, Ataturk’s gigantic mausoleum, is a must-see for every proud citizen. The government district was planned by famous architects and is also worth the visit. And don’t forget to dive into Ankara’s nightlife, and enjoy the party where raki flows more than water.