Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second-largest city, home to around 5.8 million people in the metropolitan area. Founded as the Republic's capital in 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Ankara replaced Istanbul as the seat of government and grew rapidly throughout the 20th century. The city blends its ancient Hittite and Roman heritage with modernist Republican architecture and a vibrant contemporary urban scene. Anıtkabir — Atatürk's mausoleum — is the defining landmark, while the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations ranks among the world's finest archaeological collections. Ankara sits on the central Anatolian plateau at roughly 850 metres above sea level, giving it a continental climate with hot dry summers and cold snowy winters.
Ankara is one of Turkey's safest cities for tourists. As the national capital it benefits from a heavy police presence around government buildings, embassies, and major monuments. The principal day-to-day risks for visitors are petty theft in crowded markets, aggressive traffic, and occasional taxi overcharging — not violent crime. The neighbourhoods of Çankaya, Kavaklıdere, and Kızılay are safe at all hours. Ulus is safe during the day; exercise standard urban caution after dark.
Current safety advisory
Low–moderate Risk (Level 2 Nationwide Per Us State Dept); Ankara City Centre Rates As Generally Safe For Tourists
As of April 2026, the US State Department rates Türkiye at Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) due to terrorism, armed conflict near southeastern borders, and arbitrary detentions. Ankara city has no heightened sub-advisory. The UK FCDO advises against all travel within 10 km of the Syria/Iraq borders; Ankara is well outside this zone. Check current advisories at travel.state.gov (US), gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey (UK), or your country's equivalent before departure.
Last updated: 2026-04
Official advisories
Guidance from national travel-advisory services.
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Essential safety tips
Practical advice that applies everywhere.
Ankara is Turkey's capital and generally one of the country's safest cities for tourists, with a strong police presence around government buildings, embassies, and major monuments
Check your government's current travel advice before travelling: the US State Department places Türkiye at Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) nationwide due to terrorism and arbitrary detentions; Ankara city itself has no heightened sub-advisory
Keep valuables secure and bags zipped across the body in the crowded Ulus bazaar, around Kızılay metro station, and in Gençlik Parkı where pickpocketing risk, while low, is higher than elsewhere in the city
Traffic in Ankara is heavy and drivers can be assertive; always use marked pedestrian crossings and obey traffic signals — do not assume vehicles will stop
Always insist taxi drivers use the meter (taksimetre açın) before departure; use BiTaksi or Uber for price-transparent rides, especially from Esenboğa Airport, where some unlicensed drivers operate
Photograph your passport and store the digital copy in cloud storage — Turkish law requires carrying identification at all times; a certified photocopy is acceptable for day-to-day purposes
Do not photograph military installations, police checkpoints, government buildings, or personnel without explicit permission; at Anıtkabir, the Hall of Honor has photography restrictions during ceremonies
Register with your country's embassy in Ankara if staying more than a few days (US citizens can use the STEP programme at step.state.gov)
Drink bottled water, which costs 10–20 TRY (~$0.30–0.60) per 0.5L and is available everywhere; tap water is treated and technically safe but locals and visitors generally prefer bottled
Dress modestly when visiting mosques — covered shoulders and knees required, women should carry a light scarf; free loaner scarves are available at Kocatepe Mosque
Avoid unlit streets in Ulus and the steep lanes around the Citadel after dark; Hamamönü, Kızılay, Çankaya, and Kavaklıdere are well-lit and safe at night
Carry a note of your accommodation's name and address written in Turkish — taxi drivers and locals outside the centre may not speak English
Common scams to avoid
Recognise and sidestep tourist-targeted scams.
Taxi meter scam
Some taxi drivers do not start the meter, take longer routes, or claim the meter is broken to overcharge tourists.
How to avoid: Always say 'taksimetre açın' (please start the meter) before departure. Use BiTaksi or Uber for transparent pricing. Agree on a fare upfront if the meter is unavailable, or choose a different taxi.
Souvenir price inflation
Shops immediately outside Anıtkabir and other tourist sites mark up prices 200–300% above normal market prices.
How to avoid: Walk two or more streets away from any tourist site for normal prices. Compare prices across multiple shops in the Citadel bazaar before buying.
Unofficial tourist offices
Unofficial 'tourism offices' near Ulus sell museum tickets or tours at inflated premiums, sometimes providing unqualified guides.
How to avoid: Buy museum tickets only at official museum entrances. Turkey's Ministry of Culture does not operate street-level offices selling tickets.
Currency exchange touts
Street touts offer to exchange currency at rates that seem favourable but involve sleight of hand or short-changing.
How to avoid: Only exchange money at licensed döviz bürosu (exchange offices) displaying their rates publicly. Banks and ATMs (bankamatik) offer fair rates. Never exchange with individuals on the street.
Fake police checks
Rare but reported: individuals posing as plainclothes police ask to inspect wallets for 'counterfeit bills'.
How to avoid: Real police carry official ID (kimlik); request to see it before complying. If uncertain, ask to be taken to the nearest police station (karakol). Never hand over your wallet.
Health considerations
Staying healthy on your trip.
- Hospitals
- Ankara Şehir Hastanesi (Ankara City Hospital) — Bilkent Cd., Bilkent; +90 312 552 6000; Turkey's largest hospital complex with an international patient unit; 24-hour A&E
- Hacettepe University Hospital — Hacettepe, Altındağ; +90 312 305 5000; major university teaching hospital with 24-hour A&E
- Güven Hospital (private) — Maltepe Cd. No:28, Maltepe; +90 312 457 2727; private hospital with English-speaking staff
- Vaccinations
- No mandatory vaccinations for Turkey. Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, tetanus, and typhoid boosters are advisable. Check your national health authority (e.g., cdc.gov/travel, travelhealthpro.org.uk) before departure.
- Water
- Tap water in Ankara is treated and technically safe to drink. Most locals and visitors prefer bottled water, which costs 10–20 TRY (~$0.30–0.60) per 0.5L and is widely available.
- Pharmacies
- Eczane (pharmacies) appear on every main street, marked by a green cross sign. One pharmacy per neighbourhood rotates as nöbetçi (on-call 24 hours) — the current nöbetçi address is posted on every pharmacy door.
- Insurance
- Travel health insurance is strongly recommended. EU EHIC provides limited coverage in Turkey — comprehensive private travel insurance offers much better protection.
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- Hospitals
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- Ankara Şehir Hastanesi (+90 312 552 6000) is the largest hospital. Güven Hospital (+90 312 457 2727) has English-speaking staff. Emergency number: 112.
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- Pharmacies
- Detail
- Eczane (green cross sign) on every main street. One per neighbourhood rotates as 24-hour nöbetçi — listed on every pharmacy door.
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- Water safety
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- Tap water is treated and safe; bottled water (10–20 TRY / ~$0.30–0.60 per 0.5L) is widely preferred.
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- Heat precautions
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- July–August temperatures regularly reach 32–35°C. Carry water, avoid midday sun, and use sunscreen when sightseeing outdoors.
Safety for specific travellers
Tailored advice for different groups.
Solo travellers
Ankara is generally safe for solo travellers of all backgrounds. The Çankaya, Kavaklıdere, and Kızılay neighbourhoods are safe to walk alone day and night and have plenty of cafés and restaurants for independent diners. The main practical risks are petty theft in crowded bazaars and taxi overcharging, not personal violence. Solo travellers are advised to share their itinerary with someone, keep a phone charged, and save the hotel address in Turkish for taxi navigation.
Female travellers
Solo female travellers generally report Ankara as safer and more relaxed than Istanbul or coastal resorts. The Çankaya and Kavaklıdere areas, near embassies and universities, have a liberal atmosphere. Away from the centre, especially in Ulus and more conservative residential districts, modest dress (covered shoulders and knees) is advisable to avoid unwanted attention. Harassment is uncommon but not unheard of in crowded bazaars at night. Travelling by BiTaksi or Uber is safer than hailing street taxis. Women should avoid walking alone in unlit streets in Ulus after midnight.
Families
Ankara is a very family-friendly destination. Major attractions such as Anıtkabir, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, the Zoo, and Gençlik Parkı are designed for families. Pedestrian infrastructure is reasonable in central areas. Hospitals are world-class (Ankara Şehir Hastanesi). Key precautions: supervise children closely in the crowded Ulus bazaar, teach children the family meeting point at each attraction, programme the emergency number 112 into all family members' phones, and keep children hydrated in summer heat.
LGBTQ+ travellers
Turkey does not have legal protections for LGBTQ+ travellers, and public displays of affection between same-sex couples can attract negative attention, particularly outside the upscale Kavaklıdere and university neighbourhoods. Ankara's annual Pride events have been banned since 2015. Discrete travel is strongly recommended. Major hotels in the Sheraton, Hilton, and Marriott brands are generally welcoming. The ILGA-Europe rating for Turkey remains low — LGBTQ+ travellers should research current conditions at ilga-europe.org before visiting.
Emergency contacts
Numbers to know before you go.
- Police
- 155
- Ambulance And General
- 112 (single national emergency line; works from any phone including without a SIM)
- Fire
- 110
- Gendarmerie
- 156 (for rural areas outside city police jurisdiction)
- Tourist Police
- +90 312 384 0606
- City Hospital
- +90 312 552 6000 (Ankara Şehir Hastanesi — 24-hour A&E)
- Private Hospital
- +90 312 457 2727 (Güven Hospital — English-speaking staff, Maltepe Cd. No:28)
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