Daily Ankara Tour from Istanbul – Anitkabir, Citadel & Anatolian Museum

Ankara Day Trip from Istanbul: Anıtkabir, Ankara Castle and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

This daily Ankara tour from Istanbul lets you see the essential sights of Turkey's capital in a single, well-organised day, travelling by road through the Anatolian countryside and returning to Istanbul the same evening. It is an ideal day tour for travellers interested in the founding of the modern Republic and in the ancient cultures that shaped Anatolia.

Shore Excursion for Cruise Passengers in Istanbul

This Ankara Tour also works as a shore excursion from the Istanbul cruise port — a popular choice for passengers who have one day ashore. As a private excursion it is fully flexible — pickup is right at the pier, the pace follows your group, and we make sure you are back on board well before departure. Tell us how many hours your ship stays in port and we will confirm that the full programme fits comfortably. Simply share your cruise itinerary and the date you are in Istanbul, and we will reserve your places.

• Hotel pick-up in Istanbul – an early start with a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle for the whole day
• Museum of Anatolian Civilizations – treasures from the Stone Age to the Hittites, Phrygians and Urartians
• Ankara Castle (Citadel) – historic walls and the old quarter with sweeping city views
• Anıtkabir – the monumental mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
• Lunch in Ankara – a break at a local restaurant on arrival

Ankara became the capital in 1923, but its story is far older. The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, housed in a restored Ottoman covered market and caravanserai, displays finds from prehistoric settlements, Hittite reliefs, Phrygian bronzes from the Gordion region and Urartian metalwork, making it one of the most important archaeological collections in the country. On the hill above, the citadel's layered walls reflect Roman, Byzantine and Seljuk building phases, and the lanes inside still hold traditional houses. Anıtkabir, completed in 1953, is the resting place of Atatürk; its vast ceremonial square, colonnades and museum tell the story of the War of Independence and the birth of the Republic.

This daily excursion includes hotel pick-up and return transfer in Istanbul, an English-speaking guide, lunch and the entrance fees for the sites in the programme. The drive is around four hours in each direction, so it is a long day; dress modestly and comfortably for the mausoleum and the walk up to the citadel. Flights, insurance and personal expenses are not included.