PhotoSecrets Ankara

A Photographer’s Guide

Best classic places spots hotspots sites sights views photo locations to photograph for photography with maps tips ideas composition postcard photos cool beautiful pictures

ANKARA

Photos

Ankara

40 views to photograph
View of Ankara Castle from Haci Bayram MosqueBernard Gagnon/Wikipedia
Middle East Technical UniversityVeritas-Tr/Wikipedia
Roman Baths of AnkaraNosferatü/Wikipedia
Ankara citadel wallsPeace01234/Wikipedia
Ethnography Museum of AnkaraBernard Gagnon/Wikipedia
Halkbank TowerVikiçizer/Wikipedia
Roman Road of AnkaraVeritas-Tr/Wikipedia
TCDD Open Air Steam Locomotive MuseumEx13/Wikipedia
Victory MonumentJojan/Wikipedia
Aslanhane MosqueNedim Ardoğa/Wikipedia
Çengelhan Rahmi M. Koç MuseumQuintucket/Wikipedia
Gençlik ParkıAli Tinaz/Wikipedia
Yunus Emre InstituteMcdrwal/Wikipedia
Bilkent Concert HallDostoyevski1881/Wikipedia
Column of JulianStephan Garcia/Wikipedia
Exterior, Ankara railway stationFah112778/Wikipedia
Hands sculptureNosferatü/Wikipedia
Maltepe MosqueNoumenon/Wikipedia
Radisson Blu HotelCetorhinus/Wikipedia
State Art and Sculpture MuseumHusshho/Wikipedia
15 Temmuz Kızılay Milli İrade MeydanıNedim Ardoğa/Wikipedia
Ankara High Speed Train StationEx13/Wikipedia
Ankara Opera HouseŞevki Balmumcu/Wikipedia
Interior, Ankara railway stationEx13/Wikipedia
METU Science and Technology MuseumVeritas-Tr/Wikipedia
Museum of Anatolian CivilizationsBjørn Christian Tørrissen/Wikipedia

Contents

Map

About PhotoSecrets

 
 
 
 

Foreword

A great travel photo­graph, like a great news photo­graph, requires you to be in the right place at the right time to capture that special moment. Professional photo­graphers have a short-hand phrase for this: “F8 and be there.”

There are countless books that can help you with photo­graphic technique, the “F8” portion of that equation. But until now, there’s been little help for the other, more critical portion of that equation, the “be there” part. To find the right spot, you had to expend lots of time and shoe leather to wander around, track down every potential viewpoint, and essentially re-invent the wheel.

In my career as a professional travel photo­grapher, well over half my time on location is spent seeking out the good angles. Andrew Hudson’s PhotoSecrets does all that legwork for you, so you can spend your time photo­graphing instead of wandering about. It’s like having a professional location scout in your camera bag. I wish I had one of these books for every city I photo­graph on assignment.

PhotoSecrets can help you capture the most beautiful sights with a minimum of hassle and a maximum of enjoyment. So grab your camera, find your favorite PhotoSecrets spots, and “be there!”

About Bob Krist

Bob Krist has photo­graphed assignments for National Geographic, National Geographic Traveler, Travel/­Holiday, Smithsonian, and Islands. He won “Travel photo­grapher of the Year” from the Society of American Travel Writers in 1994, 2007, and 2008.

For National Geographic, Bob has led round-the-world tours and a traveling lecture series. His book In Tuscany with Frances Mayes spent a month on The New York Times’ bestseller list and his how-to book Spirit of Place was hailed by American Photo­grapher magazine as “the best book about travel photo­graphy we’ve ever read.”

The parents of three sons, Bob and his wife live in New Hope, Pennsylvania.

Welcome

Thank you for reading PhotoSecrets. As a fellow fan of travel and photo­graphy, I hope this guide will help you quickly find the most visually stunning places, and come home with equally stunning photo­graphs.

PhotoSecrets is designed to show you all the best sights. Flick through, see the classic shots, and use them as a departure point for your own creations. Get ideas for comp­osition and interesting viewpoints. See what piques your interest. Know what to shoot, where to stand, when to go, and why it’s interesting. Now you can spend less time researching and more time photographing.

The idea for PhotoSecrets came during a trip to Thailand, when I tried to find the exotic beach used in the James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun. None of the guidebooks I had showed a picture, so I thought a guidebook of postcard photos would be useful for us photographers. Twenty-plus years later, you have this guide. Thanks!

Now, start exploring — and take lots of photos!

About Andrew Hudson

Originally an engineer, Andrew Hudson started PhotoSecrets in 1995. His first book won the Benjamin Franklin Award for Best First Book and his second won the Grand Prize in the National Self-Published Book Awards.

Andrew has published 38 nationally-distributed photo­graphy books. He has photo­graphed assignments for Macy’s, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Men’s Health and Seventeen, and been a location scout for Nikon. His photos and articles have appeared in Alaska Airlines, National Geographic Traveler, Shutterbug Outdoor and Nature photo­graphy, Where, and Woman’s World.

Andrew has a degree in Computer Engineering from Manchester University and a certificate in copyright law from Harvard Law School. Born in Redditch, England, he lives with his wife, two kids, and two chocolate Labs, in San Diego, California.

Introduction

At a Glance

Name:Ankara
GPS:39.933, 32.867
Address:Ankara Province, Central Anatolia Region, Turkey, Middle East
Fame:Capital of Turkey
Size:Turkey’s second largest city, after Istanbul
Nickname:Heart of Turkey
Country:Turkey
Region:Central Anatolia
Province:Ankara
Population:City 4,587,558 (2014)
Metro 5,150,072 (2014)
Time zone:EET (UTC+2)

Ankara formerly known as Ancyra and Angora, is the capital of the Republic of Turkey.

Ankara Castle

View of Ankara Castle from Haci Bayram Mosque

Ankara > Ankara Castle

Ankara Castle is a fortification from ancient or medieval era in Ankara, Turkey.

Addr:Ankara,
Ankara Province,
Central Anatolia Region,
Turkey,
Middle East
Where:39.943908
32.858111
When:AfternoonLook:East-southeast
Far:0.64 km (0.40 miles)

Citadel walls

Ankara > Ankara Castle
Addr:Ankara,
Turkey
Where:39.94167
32.86500
What:WallWhen:Anytime

Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

Ankara > Ankara Castle

The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations is located on the south side of Ankara Castle in the Atpazarı area in Ankara, Turkey.

Addr:Where:39.93833
32.86194
What:MuseumWhen:Anytime
Wik:Museum_of_Anatolian_Civilizations

Ideas for Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

Kocatepe Mosque

The Kocatepe Mosque is the largest mosque in Ankara, the capital of Turkey.

Addr:Ankara,
Ankara Province,
Central Anatolia Region,
Turkey,
Middle East
Where:39.91667
32.86056
What:MosqueWhen:Anytime
Wik:Kocatepe_Mosque

Çankaya [Ankara]

Atakule

Ankara > Çankaya

Atakule is a 125 m high communications and observation tower located in the Çankaya district of central Ankara, Turkey, and is one of the primary landmarks of the city.

Addr:Where:39.88611
32.85611
What:TowerWhen:Anytime
AKA:Atakule TowerWik:Atakule

Ideas for Atakule

Kavaklıdere [Ankara]

Sheraton Ankara

Ankara > Çankaya > Kavaklıdere

The Sheraton Ankara is a hotel and convention center in Ankara, Turkey.

Addr:Where:39.9000761
32.8647933
What:HotelWhen:Anytime
Wik:Sheraton_Ankara

Kuğulu Park

Ankara > Çankaya

Kuğulu Park is a 1 ha public park in the Çankaya neighborhood of Ankara, Turkey.

Addr:Where:39.901924
32.860166
What:ParkWhen:Anytime
AKA:Swan ParkWik:Kuğulu_Park

Ideas for Kuğulu Park

Bilkent

Bilkent University

Bilkent Concert Hall

Ankara > Çankaya > Bilkent > Bilkent University

Bilkent Concert Hall (Bilkent Konser Salonu) is home to the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra.

Addr:Where:39.8689242
32.754968
What:Performing arts centerWhen:Anytime
AKA:Bilkent Konser SalonuWik:Bilkent_Concert_Hall

Kızılay [Ankara]

15 Temmuz Kızılay Milli İrade Meydanı

Middle East Technical University

Middle East Technical University (METU) is a public technical university focusing on research and education in engineering and natural sciences.

Addr:Ankara,
Ankara Province,
Central Anatolia Region,
Turkey,
Middle East
Where:39.89139
32.78472
What:UniversityWhen:Anytime
AKA:METUWik:Middle_East_Technical_University

METU Science and Technology Museum

Ankara > Middle East Technical University

METU Science and Technology Museum (ODTÜ Bilim ve Teknoloji Müzesi) is a museum within the campus of the Middle East Technical University.

Addr:Where:39.902
32.772
What:MuseumWhen:Anytime
AKA:ODTÜ Bilim ve Teknoloji MüzesiWik:METU_Science_and_Technology_Museum

Roman Baths of Ankara

Roman Baths of Ankara are the ruined remains of an ancient Roman bath complex.

Addr:Ankara,
Ankara Province,
Central Anatolia Region,
Turkey,
Middle East
Where:39.9465
32.853
What:Roman bathsWhen:Anytime
AKA:Roman bathsWik:Roman_Baths_of_Ankara

Ideas for Roman Baths of Ankara

Yenimahalle [Ankara]

Akköprü

Ankara > Yenimahalle

Akköprü is a historical bridge in Yenimahalle district of Ankara, Turkey, crosses the Ankara River in front of Varlık neighbourhood.

Addr:Where:39.953889
32.832389
What:Historical bridgeWhen:Anytime
Wik:Akköprü

Etimesgut

Eryaman [Etimesgut]

Göksu Park

Ankara > Etimesgut > Eryaman

Göksu Park is a public park in Ankara, Turkey.

Addr:Where:39.9902417
32.6482333
What:ParkWhen:Anytime
Wik:Göksu_Park

Halkbank Tower

Designed by Doğan Tekeli and Sami Sisa, 1993.

Addr:ankara,
Turkey
Where:39.910492
32.794612
What:BuildingWhen:Anytime

Roman Road of Ankara

The Roman Road of Ankara or Cardo Maximus is an ancient Roman road in Ankara, the capital of Turkey.

Addr:Ankara,
Ankara Province,
Central Anatolia Region,
Turkey,
Middle East
Where:39.9422861
32.8559639
What:Roman roadWhen:Anytime
AKA:Cardo MaximusWik:Roman_Road_of_Ankara

Sıhhiye Square

Hattian sculpture

Ankara > Sıhhiye Square
Addr:Sıhhiye Square,
Ankara,
Turkey
Where:39.92778
32.85500
What:SculptureWhen:Anytime

Ideas for Hattian sculpture

Suluhan

Suluhan is a historical caravanserai in Ankara, Turkey.

Addr:Ankara,
Ankara Province,
Central Anatolia Region,
Turkey,
Middle East
Where:39.93972
32.85833
What:Historical buildingWhen:Anytime
AKA:Hasanpaşa HanWik:Suluhan

TCDD Open Air Steam Locomotive Museum

The TCDD Open Air Steam Locomotive Museum is a railroad museum in Ankara, Turkey, which traces the history of steam locomotives.

Addr:Ankara,
Ankara Province,
Central Anatolia Region,
Turkey,
Middle East
Where:39.932662
32.846316
What:MuseumWhen:Anytime
AKA:TCDD Açık Hava Buharlı Lokomotif MüzesiWik:TCDD_Open_Air_Steam_Locomotive_Museum

Ideas for TCDD Open Air Steam Locomotive Museum

Ulus [Ankara]

Ethnography Museum of Ankara

Ankara > Ulus

The Ethnography Museum of Ankara is a museum of ethnography dedicated to the cultures Turkish civilizations.

Addr:Where:39.932668
32.854894
What:MuseumWhen:Anytime
Wik:Ethnography_Museum_of_Ankara

Ideas for Ethnography Museum of Ankara

Ataturk

Ankara > Ulus > Ethnography Museum of Ankara

The Ethnography Museum of Ankara is a museum of ethnography dedicated to the cultures Turkish civilizations.

Addr:Where:39.932668
32.854894
What:Equestrian statueWhen:Anytime

Ulus Square

Victory Monument

Ankara > Ulus > Ulus Square

Victory Monument (Zafer Anıtı, Ulus Atatürk Anıtı) is a group of bronze statues with an equestrian Atatürk in the center.

Addr:Where:39.9416
32.8548
What:MonumentWhen:Anytime
AKA:Zafer Anıtı, Ulus Atatürk AnıtıWik:Victory_Monument_(Ankara)

Ankara Palas

Ankara > Ulus

Ankara Palas is a historical building, which is used as an official state guest house in the capital Ankara, Turkey.

Addr:Where:39.94064
32.85229
What:Historical buildingWhen:Anytime
Wik:Ankara_Palas

State Art and Sculpture Museum

Ankara > Ulus

The State Art and Sculpture Museum is a museum dedicated to fine arts and sculpture in Ankara, Turkey.

Addr:Where:39.933056
32.855833
What:MuseumWhen:Anytime
AKA:Resim ve Heykel MüzesiWik:State_Art_and_Sculpture_Museum

Sumerbank

Ankara > Ulus
Addr:Ankara,
Ankara Province,
Central Anatolia Region,
Turkey,
Middle East
Where:39.9419028
32.8543333
What:BankWhen:Anytime

Aslanhane Mosque

Aslanhane Mosque is a 13th-century mosque.

Addr:Ankara,
Ankara Province,
Central Anatolia Region,
Turkey,
Middle East
Where:39.93667
32.86528
What:MosqueWhen:Anytime
Wik:Aslanhane_Mosque

Çengelhan Rahmi M. Koç Museum

The Çengelhan Rahmi M.

Addr:Ankara,
Ankara Province,
Central Anatolia Region,
Turkey,
Middle East
Where:39.93750
32.99722
What:MuseumWhen:Anytime
Wik:Çengelhan_Rahmi_M._Koç_Museum

Crowne Plaza

Crowne Plaza is a hotel built in 2006.

Addr:Ankara,
Turkey
Where:39.951707
32.832971
What:HotelWhen:Anytime

Gençlik Parkı

Gençlik Parkı is a public park opened in 1943 from a drained marsh.

Addr:Ankara,
Ankara Province,
Central Anatolia Region,
Turkey,
Middle East
Where:39.93742
32.84998
What:ParkWhen:Anytime
Wik:Gençlik_Parkı

Ideas for Gençlik Parkı

Yunus Emre Institute

Originally the Tekel Building (1928).

Addr:Ankara,
Turkey
Where:39.938637
32.854564
What:BuildingWhen:Anytime

Railway station

Exterior, Ankara railway station

Ankara High Speed Train Station

Ankara > railway station
Addr:Ankara,
Turkey
Where:39.9364
32.8438
What:Train stationWhen:Anytime

Interior, Ankara railway station

Column of Julian

Column of Julian is a Roman column.

Addr:Ankara,
Turkey
Where:39.942027
32.849274
What:ColumnWhen:Anytime

Hands sculpture

Hands sculpture is a sculpture by Metin Yurdanur.

Addr:Abdi Ipekci Park,
Ankara
Where:39.927924
32.856128
What:SculptureWhen:Anytime

Küçük Tiyatro

Küçük Tiyatro is a theatre in Ankara, Turkey.

Addr:Ankara,
Ankara Province,
Central Anatolia Region,
Turkey,
Middle East
Where:39.938485
32.852992
What:TheatreWhen:Anytime
Wik:Küçük_Tiyatro

Maltepe Mosque

Maltepe Mosque is a mosque in Ankara, Turkey.

Addr:Ankara,
Ankara Province,
Central Anatolia Region,
Turkey,
Middle East
Where:39.92472
32.84722
What:MosqueWhen:Anytime
Wik:Maltepe_Mosque

Radisson Blu Hotel

Originally Stad Oteli (1970), designed in 1964 by Doğan Tekeli, Sami Sisa and Metin Hepgüler.

Addr:Ankara,
Turkey
Where:39.939793
32.851262
What:HotelWhen:Anytime
AKA:formerly Stad Oteli

Ankara Opera House

Ankara Opera House of the Turkish State Opera and Ballet is the largest of the three venues for opera and ballet in Ankara, Turkey, the other two being Leyla Gencer Sahnesi in Ostim and Operet Sahnesi in Sıhhiye.

Addr:Ankara,
Ankara Province,
Central Anatolia Region,
Turkey,
Middle East
Where:39.93528
32.85333
What:Opera houseWhen:Anytime
AKA:Opera SahnesiWik:Ankara_Opera_House

Ideas for Ankara Opera House

Credits

Thank you to the many wonderful people and companies that made their work available to use in this guide.

Photo key: Tap the camera icon to see the photo. The two letters reference the distributor and license. Key for distributors: w:Wikipedia. Key for license: a:CC-BY-SA; b:CC-BY; m:public domain.

Cover image by .Nedim Ardoğa ( wa); Avniyazicicommonswiki ( wa); Atilim Gunes Baydin ( wa); Blcksprt ( wa); Burakotto ( wa); Cetorhinus ( wa); Nevit Dilmen ( wa); Dostoyevski1881 ( wa); Elelicht ( wa); Ex13 ( wa); Bernard Gagnon ( wa); Stephan Garcia ( wa); Albay Hardal ( wb); Husshho ( wa); Georges Jansoone ( wb); Jojan ( wm); Georges Jansoone Jojan ( wa); Kafkasmurat ( wa); Ahmet Keles ( wa); Mcdrwal ( wb); Михал Орела ( wm); Nosferatü ( wa); Noumenon ( wa); Oscarkosy ( wa); Peace01234 ( wa); Quintucket ( wa); Roweromaniak ( wa); Scisa ( wa); Şevki Balmumcu ( wa); Ali Tinaz ( wa); Bjørn Christian Tørrissen ( wa); Uğurgüler06 ( wb); Aykut Uludağ ( wm); Veritas-Tr ( wa); Vikiçizer ( wa). Some text adapted from Wikipedia and its contributors where noted by the URL path in the “Wik” table field, used and modified under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC-BY-SA) license. Map data from OpenStreetMap and its contributors, used under the Open Data Commons Open Database License (ODbL).

Index

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