Introducing Ankara
These days just about everyone could name the capital of Turkey correctly in a pub quiz, which goes to show how far Ankara has come in the public consciousness since the days when ‘İstanbul’ seemed like the only possible answer. In the 80 years since independence the once anonymous provincial capital has really grown into its role as an international city, assuming a very modern air of sophistication. Café culture in particular has transformed the city, breathing full-on life into its wide, open streets.
As the city expands, everything that’s new and now tends to pop up at random points across the lattice of suburbs, making it tricky for short-term visitors to track down the latest hotspots. If you really want to keep up with the thriving city scene, get used to asking locals for tips and taking taxis to find them.
Last updated: Sep 30, 2008
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The Turkish National Flag flys over the tomb of Kemal Ataturk (Anit Kabir) in Ankara.
- Andrew Burke
- Lonely Planet photographer
