City Information

PRACTICAL INFORMATION ABOUT ANKARA

Welcome to Capital of Turkish Republic: ANKARA. The city is youthful, innovative and exciting, with the galleries and museums befitting a world city, plenty of superb Turkish restaurants, and a cultural calendar that constantly turns up new festivals and exhibitions.

Here are some practical information for making your visit easy:

Climate
Ankara which is generally under the influence of continental climate has cold and rainy winters and hot and dry summers.

Monthly average temperatures in Ankara:
January (5,4), February (-0,3) March (3,2), April (10,3), May (19,0), June (22,6) July (23,5), August (24,3), September, October (14,4), November (8,0), December (1,9).

Transportation

How to get to/from Ankara
By Bus
Transportation opportunity to every city in the country is possible from the intercity bus terminal (AŞTİ) which is located at the center of highway networks. For further information: http://www.asti.com.tr

By Train
It is possible to travel between Ankara-İstanbul, Ankara-İzmir, Ankara-Balıkesir, Ankara-Isparta-Burdur, Ankara-Zonguldak, Ankara-Adana, Ankara-Elazığ-Diyarbakır by train, as well. For further information: https://ebilet.tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr/view/eybis/tnmGenel/tcddWebContent.jsf

By Flight
Airline transportation is available at the international Ankara Esenboğa Airport located 28 kilometers away from the city center, giving domestic and foreign flight services. There are modern and techniqually equiped terminal buildings, 4336 vehicle capacity parking lot, food court, shops, banks, rent-a-car, taxi and bus services at the domestic and international flights sections of the International Ankara Esenboğa Airport. For further information: http://www.esenbogaairport.com/en-EN/Pages/Main.aspx

Transportation between the Ankara city center and Esenboğa Airport is carried out by special HAVAŞ, Belko Air and EGO (line no: 442) buses.

For route, timetables and more information about Havaş Shuttle between Aşti (Intercity Bus Terminal) and Esenboğa Airport:http://www.esenbogaairport.com/en-EN/Transportation/Pages/havasbus.aspx

For route, timetables and more information about Belko Air Shuttle between Kızılay (Center) and Esenboğa Airport: http://www.belkoair.com/en/anasayfa

For route, timetables and more information about Public Transport Bus Line 442:

http://www.esenbogaairport.com/en-EN/Transportation/Pages/Bus.aspx

How to get around Ankara
Public Transportation
In general, the public transportation system is cheap and easy to use in Ankara. Public buses, dolmuş (midibuses), subway and taxi are among Ankara’s public transportation alternatives.

To use public services, you’ll need to purchase magnetic cards (Ankarakart) or Single Use Smart Card. You can buy them from Card Processing Center or Ankarakart Filling and Selling Points with the distinctive logo on display. You can also fill Ankarakart in many automats found in metro stations across the city. The cards cost ₺5.50 when you buy them and ₺2.50 for each person when you get in a bus or a metro. If you take a second bus/metro within an hour you only need to pay ₺1.00. Keep in mind the automats don’t give back change so if you have larger denominations fill your cards in the counters of metro stations or in filling points. Another option is Single Use Smart Card which costs ₺3.00 for single way and do not let you either to charge or transfer for the second time.

Bus
There are two types of public buses in Ankara; those run by the Ankara Municipality named Ankara Belediye Otobüsleri (EGO) and those run by a private corporation named Ankara Özel Halk Otobüsleri (ÖHO). You can differentiate these two types by their colors. EGO-run buses are white and blue (since electronic tickets are required for traveling on these buses, they should be bought in advance) while ÖHO-run buses are blue (Tickets are not valid on those buses and only cash is accepted, however the price is the same). Both types of these public buses use the same bus network and bus stops.

For further information about timetable: https://www.ego.gov.tr/en/hareketsaatleri

And for the transportation map: http://map.ego.gov.tr:8080/ego/index.aspx

Underground
Ankara’s underground train network is the easiest way to get around the city. There are four lines: the Ankaray (A1) line running between AŞTİ intercity bus station through Kızılay to Dikimevi; M1-M3 line running from Kızılay through Batıkent to Sincan; M2 line running from Kızılay to Çayyolu; M4 line running from AKM to Keçiören. Trains run from 6.00 am to 1.00 am daily.

Suburban Train
There are suburban trains traveling from Sincan, a district on the west of the city to Kayaş, which is on the east end of Ankara. It is possible to travel with Ankarakart on these trains.

Dolmuş (Midibus)
Dolmuş is a special service found only in Turkey. This is a collective taxi, which follows specific routes. Each passenger pays according to the distance traveled and can get off at specific or requested stops. The municipality fixes the relatively cheap fares. This is a very practical means of transportation and much cheaper than a taxi. You pay the fee to the driver. Prices differ depending on distance traveled. They usually have a sign in the lower or upper right-hand corner of their windshield that specifies the direction in which they will be traveling.

Taxi
Taxis are numerous in all Turkish cities and are recognizable by their yellow color and word “taksi” on top the car. The fare shown on the meter reads according to distance traveled.  The ride will start at ₺4.00, and the rate is ₺3.00 per kilometer.