Ankara Castle Claimed

The inner castle, which has four floors, is partly made of Ankara Stone and partly of collected stones. The inner castle has two large gates, one of which is called the Outer Gate and the other is called the Hisar Gate. There is an inscription belonging to the Ilkhanids on this gate. The inner castle consists of 42 pentagonal towers, the heights of which vary between 14-16 m.

Entrance to the castle is free. There is the Erimtan Archaeological Museum and the Rahmi Koç Museum near the castle. You can enter both museums by paying a fee.

The most interesting aspect of the protection scheme is the 42 pentagonal towers placed every 15-20 meters along the east, west and south walls.

You can go to Ankara Castle every day.

The secret shelter built by the Germans is accessible through 3 separate doors. The shelter, which can accommodate 3,600 people for short periods and 1,200 people for long periods, includes ventilation, heating, electricity, a generator and plumbing units. The inside of the shelter is a closed area of ​​1,200 square meters.

You can also visit the souvenir shops where you can buy different things as souvenirs or to give as gifts.

Ankara Castle, located within the borders of Ulus Historical City Center Urban Protected Area and Renewal Area, is within the responsibility area of ​​Ankara Metropolitan Municipality.

Ankara Castle is located on a rocky hill on the Bent Stream (Hatip Stream) that is very suitable for defense. There is no information about the first construction of the castle, which is known to have existed in the Galatian period in the 2nd century BC.

Some visitors, who disregard the warnings and the railings installed to prevent the danger of falling at the historical Ankara Castle, climb over the railing bars and the walls to reach the section closed to visitors.

The castle has more than 20 towers. The outer castle surrounds Ankara in the shape of a heart. The four-story inner castle is made partly of Ankara Stone and partly of collected stones. The inner castle has two large gates, one called the Outer Gate and the other called the Hisar Gate.

According to a rumor, you marry the first person you meet at Ankara Castle.

Within the scope of the Street Rehabilitation Project; a total of 248 buildings, 77 of which are registered and 171 of which are unregistered, will be renovated. In 2024, all of the traditional Ankara houses in Ankara Castle will be restored.

To go to Ankara Castle, which is located within the borders of Ankara's Altındağ district, from Kızılay; you need to take the Kızılay-Batıkent metro, get off at the Ulus stop and then exit from the Ulus Bazaar exit. After a 15-minute walk, you can reach Ankara Castle.

There is no fee to be paid by those who want to enter Ankara Castle. In other words, the castle can be entered free of charge. The visiting hours of the castle are between 08:30 and 17:30.

By Metro:

You can get off at the Ulus stop of the Kızılay - Batıkent metro, follow Anafartalar Street next to the 'Ulus Bazaar' and reach the museum with a 30-minute walk towards Ankara Castle.

In 1071, Seljuk Sultan Alp Arslan opened the gates of Anatolia to the Turks with the victory of Malazgirt. Later, in 1073, he annexed Ankara, which was an important military transit route and had natural resources, to his country. Orhan Bey, the second sultan of the Ottoman Empire, conquered the city in 1356.

The four-storey inner castle is partly made of Ankara Stone and partly of collected stones. The inner castle has two large gates, one called the Outer Gate and the other called the Hisar Gate.

The history of Ankara Castle, one of the symbols of Ankara, is as old as the history of the city.

It is not known exactly when the castle, which existed when the Galatians settled in Ankara and was repaired during the Roman period, was built. The inner walls of the castle, which consists of two parts, the inner and outer castle, were built by the Byzantines in the 7th century.

There is an actual living city inside the castle. It is definitely a valuable asset that should be seen.

Offering its visitors a unique view of the city, Ankara Castle is an important symbol of the capital. In the area surrounded by walls, which was used for both defense and settlement purposes, you will not only take a journey through history but also witness the timeless neighborhood culture. Although the exact date of construction of Ankara Castle is not known, it is thought to have existed since the time of the Galatians in the 2nd century BC. Additions were made to the castle in the Roman, Byzantine and later periods. It consists of two parts: the inner and outer castle. The current appearance of the castle dates back to the Seljuks. It was repaired during the Ottoman period. It is made of Ankara stone (andesite).

Entrance to the castle is free and can be visited Monday-Friday: 10:00 – 18:00
Saturday: 08:00 – 22:00
Sunday: 08:00 – 21:00. You can park your vehicles in the paid parking lots close to the castle or in the places where you find availability. During your castle tour, you can eat Ankara cuisine in restaurants, find carpet and rug makers, wicker and basket shops and antique dealers, souvenirs made of natural stones, many ornaments and souvenirs.