Anitkabir - Ankara's main attraction

Advantages: Important and interesting historic monument, great kitsch souvenirs
Disadvantages: None

...In modern Turkey culture and pride revolve around one man: Kemal Mustafa Ataturk. He was the founder of the Turkish Republic, having proved himself during the First World War as a commander of the Turkish armies during the Gallipoli campaign. All Turkish towns and cities have a statue of Ataturk, all schools have a bust of him by the entrance, as do all army barracks, police stations and other civic buildings. Nowhere is Ataturk more celebrated than in Ankara, the city chosen by the great man to replace Istanbul and become the capital of the Republic of Turkey. Until then Ankara was a rather modest town with a population of around 30,000; today Ankara is home to some four million people. He chose Ankara because he wanted to leave behind the associations with the Ottomans and Istanbul just had too many reminders of the old regime...

fizzytom 01.05.2008 · Read review
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Review of Anitkabir, Ankara

Keep Manhattan - I'll Take Ankara

Advantages: Something for everyone; easy to get around
Disadvantages: Very cold in winter; wine is expensive and can double the cost of your meal

...We have been travelling to Ankara at least twice a year every year for nearly nine years now, and I have grown to love the city even more than Istanbul. Ankara is very, very different to Istanbul and, in many ways, it is unfair to compare the two. So, why do I love Ankara? Basically because it provides all the things I want in a city (given that I'm not really a "city person"). Truly, it has something for everyone. If you want history, it's got it - from Roman ruins, to the Citadel (Castle), to Ataturk and the War of Independence, which lead to the founding of the modern Republic of Turkey. If you want grandeur, it's got it - even if you don't know the history, who can fail to be moved by Anitkabir, the imposing mausoleum built to honour Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. If you want iconic, modern buildings, it's got them...

roundthekitchentable 27.02.2008 · Read review
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Review of Ankara (Turkey)

Ankara- The Capital city of Turkey

Advantages: History, Everything is Cheap, Easy to Reach
Disadvantages: Very Cold in Winter

...Ankara is one of cities I like very much in Turkey. I spent my childhood there. I love this city. It is also the capital city of Turkiye (Turkey) Ankara is located at the center of Anatolia on the eastern edge of the great, high Anatolian Plateau. It is bordered by the cities of Cankiri and Bolu to the north, Eskisehir to the west, Konya and Aksaray to the south, and Kirikkale and Kirsehir to the east. The region's history goes back to the Bronze Age, Hatti Civilization. You can reach Ankara easily. Most countries have direct flights to Esenboga Airport in Ankara; also there are regular flights to the major cities of Turkey from Esenboga. Additionally, I can say that Ankara is the centre of Turkey's very extensive coach network; it is possible for you to travel to city to most Turkish cities, and also many major European cities. You...

Emrahsenel 28.09.2001 · Read review
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Review of Ankara (Turkey)

A tale of Two Cities

Advantages: Friendly people, the grandeur of the Anitkabir, cheap accommodation
Disadvantages: Bad sign-posting, not very tradtional, new areas brash

...Many people mistakenly think that Istanbul is the capital of Turkey; indeed it is probably the best known Turkish city and the one which is most frequently visited by tourists. It contains many of Turkey's most famous attractions and historic sites. However, Ankara is the capital city of Turkey; it is some 350 kilometres from Istanbul and is situated on the edge of the Anatolian plain. It has been the capital since 1923 when Kemal Mustafa Attaturk declared the first Turkish Republic. At the time Ankara was a small dusty town of some 70,000 inhabitants. It was chosen because Attaturk wanted to distance himself from the legacy of the Sultans and this was not possible in Istanbul - a city of palaces and mosques built for the Ottoman rulers; anyone who has ever been to Istanbul will know that it is hard to escape the Sultans' influence...

fizzytom 05.12.2006 (06.12.2006) · Read review
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Review of Ankara (Turkey)

Perfectly suite-ed in central Ankara

Advantages: Spacious, comfortable rooms and good location with easy access to shops and restaurants
Disadvantages: Expensive unless you negotiate a discount; and the lighting in the rooms is appalling.

......

roundthekitchentable 26.04.2006 · Read review
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Review of Elit Palas, Ankara

Ancient Culture in a modern city - updated

Advantages: Cosmopolitan and full of culture
Disadvantages: It is a modern city

...Unlike Istanbul with its long history, Ankara is a modern city, founded by Atatürk in the location of the provincial town of Angora, and declared Turkeys Capital in 1923. It is a carefully planned Metropolis with wide boulevards flanked by Embassies and parks, huge modern shopping centres and a number of Universities on its outskirts. In comparison to Istanbul, it will never have the same oriental feel about it. Only the old part, on and around the old citadel has the same charm of winding streets and beautiful wooden Ottoman houses. It boasts some great restaurants in some of these old houses - make sure to get a seat on a terrace or upper floor to make most of the spectacular views. There are a number of twelfth and thirteenth century mosques worth looking at in the area. On the road leading down from the citadel, antiques and carpet...

anjuschka 15.05.2001 (20.09.2001) · Read review
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Review of Ankara (Turkey)

Ikibin 2000

Advantages: Good location, nice breakfast
Disadvantages: Poor maintenance

...I visited Ankara last summer (August) for 2 nights and stayed in this hotel. It was booked through Expedia and they state it is a four star hotel; well I haven't stayed in many hotels but surely in a four star hotel light switches should be properly attached to walls?! Anyway? Best Western International is the world's largest hotel brand with over 4,200 hotels in 80 countries. They are known for good standard hotels and service. In my short travels this is my second experience of a Best Western Hotel - the first was in Istanbul which I prefered. Getting there; I was travelling with 2 other people and we had come by coach from Istanbul - a long but wonderful trip due to scenery and service on the coach. Arriving at the coach station we were willing to take a bus to the hotel but with our limited Turkish and being tired out from...

zainabm 09.09.2006 · Read review
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Review of Best Western Hotel Ikibin-2000, Ankara

Amiable Amasya

Advantages: Relaxing, scenic, lots of history, friendly people
Disadvantages: Pontic tombs are a let down

...The Turkish town of Amasya was unknown to me before we started planning our 2006 trip around the Black Sea. It's situated in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, more precisely to the north east of Ankara and towards (but still many kilometres from the Black Sea coast. The town occupies the bottom of a high-sided valley through which the Yesilirmak River winds. Apart from the fact that the town made a convenient stop on the way between Ankara and the coast, there were several reasons we decided to stop there. One was we had originally wanted to visit the town of Safranbolu near Istanbul to see the famous Ottoman houses but we had chosen t head towards Ankara instead. We read that Amasya also had some fine examples of these timber houses so we thought this would be a good compromise. Another reason was that Amasya is noted...

fizzytom 16.08.2008 · Read review
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Review of Amasya, Turkey

Istanbul - the best of both worlds

Advantages: Fascinating, historic, romantic, magical, nowhere else like it
Disadvantages: Must go at the right time, can be very busy

...day, many of them living in illegally built apartment blocks on the outskirts of the city (although Ankara has an even greater problem with this). It's known as the city where Europe meets Asia but that is a little confusing because what is geographically the European side is the part with the more Asian feel and the very oldest buildings such as the hippodrome, the Basilica Cistern and the Grand Bazaar. Conversely, the "Asian side" with its main shopping street Istiklal Caddesi off Taksim Square feels much more European. Istanbul is a watery city standing on the River Bosphorous and the section of the Sea of Marmara known as the Golden Horn, which cuts through the western shore. Istanbul is a major port and the Sea of Marmara links the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. Vessels bound for destinations around the world pass through...

fizzytom 05.04.2009 · Read review
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Review of Istanbul (Turkey)

Corum - chickpea central

Advantages: Chickpeas, nice people, good restaurant
Disadvantages: Nuts (for me), not much to do

...Have you ever given much thought to the humble chickpea? I don't suppose you have; even if you really like chickpeas you have probably never stopped to consider them more deeply (unlike the hapless Jade Goody who once asked if they contained chicken). I love chickpeas though I freely admit they're not something I dwell on regularly. Actually that's only partly true: when I found out that the Turkish town of Corum is the global chickpea capital (that's my designation not the United Nations'), I had to ensure it was incorporated into my Black Sea trip in 2006. Corum is a good day's coach ride (including an extended motorway services stop to have the coach washed, eat kebabs and drink Turkish tea) from the capital, Ankara. It's not really a tourist destination but it tends to make the guidebooks because it is the nearest town to...

fizzytom 08.01.2009 · Read review
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Review of Corum, Turkey