Car with Driver In Ankara

Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Atatürk

Anıtkabir is the first stop for most visitors who book a private driver in Ankara. The monumental mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Turkish Republic, was completed in 1953 on a hill above the city. You approach along the Lion Road, lined with stone lions, and reach the Hall of Honour, where the tomb stands in a solemn, quiet space. A museum alongside displays his belongings and the story of the republic's early years.

Visitors often ask about Anıtkabir opening hours and how to get there. Hours change by season and security checks apply at the entrance, which is why having your own car with driver in Ankara helps: the driver takes you to the right gate and waits while you spend as long as you like. Allow at least an hour and a half.

The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations occupies a restored fifteenth-century Ottoman covered market below the citadel and is one of the best archaeological museums in the world. Its galleries follow the story of Anatolia from the Neolithic period through the Bronze Age, the Hittites, the Phrygians and the Urartians, with finds from Çatalhöyük and Hittite sites among the highlights.

Many travellers ask whether the museum is worth visiting if they only have one day in Ankara. It is, because it explains why this land was important long before the republic. Opening days and hours vary, and we suggest two hours here. A private schedule lets you start with it while the galleries are quiet in the morning.

Ankara Castle and the old citadel quarter

Ankara Castle, known as Hisar, stands on a rocky hill above the old town. Its walls go back to Roman and Byzantine times and were rebuilt by the Seljuks and Ottomans. Inside, narrow cobbled lanes are lined with old stone and timber houses, small cafés and craft shops, and from the upper walls you look across the roofs of Ankara. It is a good place to understand how the city grew.

The climb is gentle but the cobbles are uneven, so wear comfortable shoes. Because the driver waits for you, you can stay for an hour or for two, and the best time to visit Ankara Castle is usually late afternoon, when the light is soft and the views are at their best.

Aslanhane Mosque and the copper bazaar

Below the citadel stands Aslanhane Mosque, also known as the Ahi Şerafettin Mosque, one of the oldest surviving mosques in Ankara. It dates from the thirteenth century, in the Seljuk period, and is known for its wooden columns and fine tilework inside. As in all mosques, dress modestly and remove your shoes at the entrance.

Next to it is the old copper bazaar, Bakırcılar Çarşısı, a street of workshops where craftsmen still hammer copper into trays, pots and decorations. It is an easy place to browse for a souvenir and to see a traditional Ankara trade that is still alive. Bring a little cash if you plan to buy something.

Temple of Augustus, Hacı Bayram Mosque and the Roman Baths

The Temple of Augustus and the Hacı Bayram Mosque stand side by side in the old centre. The temple was built in Roman times and its walls carry the famous inscription in which Augustus listed his achievements. The mosque, beside it, is named after a Sufi saint of the fifteenth century and is one of the most visited religious sites in the city.

Not far away are the Roman Baths, a third-century complex where you can still see the stone columns and the heating channels beneath the floors. Together these stops show how many layers of history lie in one small part of Ankara, and a private driver makes it easy to see them in a short time.

Kocatepe Mosque, Atakule and Gençlik Park

Kocatepe Mosque, completed in 1987, is the largest mosque in Ankara and one of the largest in Turkey, with four tall minarets and a large central dome in an Ottoman-inspired design. It is a strong contrast to the old sites seen earlier, and visitors are welcome outside prayer times when properly dressed.

Atakule is a tower with a viewing platform and restaurant that gives wide views across Ankara, a good place to end the day at sunset. Gençlik Park, opened in the 1940s, is a large green space with a lake and walking paths that suits a relaxed stop. Whether to add these or skip them is your choice.