Ankara City Guide – ParkCloud Recommends

Ankara is the capital of Turkey and is the second largest city, after Istanbul, and is a dynamic and exciting place. With extraordinary museums telling stories of Turkey's history, a vibrant nightlife and delicious dinners, it's a fantastic place for a city break. If you're thinking about visiting, here's ParkCloud's tips and tricks.

If you're driving to Ankara, why not leave your car slightly out of the city centre and then travel in on public transport. It'll save you time sat in traffic, trying to find somewhere to park in the city centre. Drop your car at Buyukhanlı Park Hotel, a secure indoor car park which is open 24/7. You can enjoy your visit knowing your car is safe and sound! From there, it's just a short ride on the metro into the city centre.

The Museum of Anatolian Civilisations is located on the south side of Ankara castle, and houses wonderful exhibits focusing on Anatolian archeology. With an extensive collection of artefacts from excavations around the country, the exhibits of gold, silver, glass and bronze date back incredibly far, and are definitely worth seeing.

Tunalı Hilmi Caddesi is sort of like Ankara's version of Oxford Street in London. The street is packed full of cafes, shops, restaurants and bars and is very popular with the young people in the area. With famous brands and smaller sellers, it's the go-to place for shopaholics.

Kuğulu Park is a famous park in the city centre, known for its swans – which are a symbol of Ankara, gifted by the City of Vienna. Take a stroll on a sunny day and don't forget to visit the café - enjoy a cup of tea whilst overlooking the lake.

Güvenpark is another park in the city centre, with plenty of public transport links located around it. It's located adjacent to the Liberty Square, and was established in the 1930s as part of the green belts proposed in the urban plan of the rapidly growing capital. Explore this beautiful green space, and make sure you see the 'Trust Monument', dedicated to Turkish security forces.