A historic market street below the Citadel selling fabrics, textiles, traditional clothing, and haberdashery wholesale. Ankara's angora wool tradition is most evident here.
Çıkrıkçılar Yokuşu, meaning Weavers' Hill in Turkish, is a steep historic market street descending from the foot of the Ankara Citadel into the Ulus commercial district. The street has been associated with fabric and textile trade since the Ottoman period, when Ankara was renowned across Europe for its fine angora wool — a luxury fibre exported to France, England, and the Netherlands. Today the street retains its wholesale textile character, with shops selling bolts of fabric, haberdashery supplies, buttons, zips, lace trim, embroidered cloth, and traditional Turkish clothing including şalvar (baggy trousers) and yemeni headscarves. Angora mohair fabric, the product that gave Ankara its historic commercial fame, remains available here in both pure and blended forms, though it is now less prominent than in earlier centuries. The street draws a predominantly local clientele — dressmakers, tailors, small clothing manufacturers, and home sewers — rather than tourist shoppers, which keeps prices realistic and the atmosphere businesslike rather than souvenir-oriented. Stalls and shops are generally small, tightly packed, and open onto the narrow sloping street with bolts of cloth displayed prominently in doorways. The concentration of shops runs for approximately 400 metres and is most active from Monday to Saturday. Prices are generally wholesale or near-wholesale and are usually fixed rather than subject to negotiation, unlike the nearby Citadel Bazaar. Most vendors accept cash only, with Turkish lira preferred. The street connects easily with the broader Ulus district, where additional fabric markets and the covered Ulus Çarşısı extend shopping options. Traditional cookware and kitchen supply shops also appear along the lower section of the street. Those interested in Turkish textile history will find the street itself — its sloped cobblestones, traditional storefronts, and guild atmosphere — as culturally instructive as any museum exhibit on Anatolian craft commerce. Çıkrıkçılar Yokuşu is approximately a 10-minute uphill walk from Ulus Square.
Good to know
- Best for
- Angora/mohair wool, Fabrics, Traditional clothing, Wholesale textiles
Highlights
- Historic Ottoman-era street with 400 metres of concentrated fabric and textile traders
- Angora mohair fabric — Ankara's historic luxury export — available in pure and blended forms
- Haberdashery supplies, buttons, zips, and lace at near-wholesale prices
- Traditional Turkish clothing including şalvar trousers and yemeni headscarves
- Predominantly local tailor and dressmaker clientele creating an authentic craft district atmosphere
Tips for visiting
- Visit Monday to Saturday; most shops close on Sunday and some take extended lunch breaks around midday
- Bring cash in Turkish lira — the majority of stalls do not accept credit cards
- Ask specifically for 'angora kumaş' (angora fabric) to find authentic mohair; blended versions are more common and less expensive
- The street is steep and cobbled — wear comfortable flat shoes, particularly in wet weather
- Combine with the nearby Ankara Citadel and Ulus district bazaar for a full half-day traditional shopping itinerary
Frequently asked questions
Is Çıkrıkçılar Yokuşu a tourist market or a local trade street?
It is almost entirely a local trade street catering to dressmakers, tailors, and small manufacturers. Tourists are welcome but prices are set with local buyers in mind rather than the souvenir trade.
Can visitors buy angora wool products on Weavers' Hill?
Angora mohair fabric and blended angora cloth are available from several shops along the street. Ready-made angora garments are less common; most vendors sell fabric by the metre rather than finished goods.
Is there a minimum purchase quantity for fabric?
Most shops sell fabric by the metre with no strict minimum, though wholesale quantities receive better pricing. Visitors wanting a small amount for craft use can usually buy as little as half a metre.
How far is Çıkrıkçılar Yokuşu from Ulus Square?
The street is approximately a 10-minute walk uphill from Ulus Square, following signs toward the Ankara Citadel through the Altındağ district.