Ankara Travel Forum

I've been checking out the VT tips on Ankara since I might end up with a free day there next Saturday (March 21). It seems like there's plenty to do--including a lot of outdoor stuff--but it also seems like it's going to be quite cold, possibly even snowy. I'm on a long business trip in the Mideast/Africa and don't have any warm clothes with me, just a light jacket. Should I stay in Ankara, or try to get myself somewhere warmer? I'm interested in seeing the city, but not sure if now is a good time for it. I haven't been there before, so I don't know how big Ankara is, how to get from place to place, etc. I'll be staying at the Sheraton. I won't have a car, but could take taxis and public transit.

Due to extreme climatic changes the World is experiencing at the moment, trying to predict the weather can be difficult because of local, on the day variations.
Most places now are seeing weather conditions well outside the norm.
The information below should be used as a guide only.

Here is the average weather for Ankara for this time of year.
Enjoy your holiday.

March.
High 51f / 11c
Low 32f / 0c
Rain 1.50in / 39.0mm
Rain days 11
Hours of sun 7
Daylight hours 12
UV level 4 = Moderate
Humidity = Frost may occur in March

I am quite capable of finding weather sites on the internet, and have already done so.

If someone who has actual answers to my questions would like to comment, I'd love to hear them.

Hello Julie,
Since you are coming from a very cold place like Delaware 10-15 degree C will be hot for you. It is now 18:36 in Ankara and in my room while writing this it is 22:5 C. I have my pullover. Although Today it was dry and the sky was blue, I had my coat and hat on. It was 10 degrees C during the day. On the high districts it even snowed says my younger son. Sorry I must go know. at 21:00 I will continue writing.

Thanks SirVictor--the issue is that I'm not actually coming from Delaware, I'm coming from Dubai, where it's hot. I am on the road now and had not planned for this trip to cover any place colder than 20 C, so I don't have the clothes for it.

The real question is: what are the transport and sightseeing options for someone visiting Ankara in March without a coat????

HiJulie, I am back again.
A light jacket is enough if you dont walk all the streets along. If you feel yourself cold you can buy a sacco or rock here.

OK !
Ankara have 5 millions population. it is an uninteresting big city. I advice you to visit:
1- the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations which exibites 5000 years old objects from different civilizations.
2- Mouseleum and museum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk the founder of Turkish Republic.
3- You can reach to the both places by taxi. The taxi is not expencive in Ankara.
4- I am a retired person for that reason I have lots of time If you dont mind I can guide you during your stay in Ankara on March 21st.

If you are interested in history I advice you to came to Istanbul during summer time.

Dear Julie,
It is not perfect time for Ankara, especially if you don't have coats.
From Sheraton you may take bus for Ulus but after than you must take a taxi for the castle area. Than you will definetely need to warm clothes to walk around... Even in Anitkabir you may need coat.
Today I saw snow, rain and also sun! 1 week later it can be sunny or snowy, everything is possible.
Just near the Sheraton there is a big shopping center, you may find cheap clothes. For cheaper clothes I advice to go to Kizilay. And if you want free clothes I can bring something if I am here.:-)) Let's write mail before 21 March.
Bring warm weather to Ankara. :-))

I am sorry that I am a hindrance.

Thanks very much, Tuna_Ank and SirVictor! I still have to figure out what to do--if I don't stay in Ankara through Saturday, my other option is to leave on Friday and give myself an extra day at my next destination (Cape Town). I'm leaning toward that, given your answers. Normally I would want to stay and explore Ankara, since it's a new place for me, but now I'm not sure. Cape Town is pretty pleasant this time of year!

If I do end up there I will let you both know--would love to meet up!

Well, it looks like I will be staying in Ankara after all. I couldn't manage to get the flights together to leave on Friday, so I will be staying all day Saturday and leaving that night. VT meet, anyone??? Sirvictor, I would be thrilled to take you up on your offer! Saturday afternoon is looking wide open! And anyone else around is welcome to join.

Who are you? We dont even know your real name.

rinoxab, I am very happy to have the chance to meet VTers from Ankara. I have put a notice on the Meetings page and when we come up with a place to meet, I'll post it. If you put up some more information about yourself, that would be great! I feel like I "know" VTers like Sirvictor because I've seen him on the forums and on his pages. You are a mystery so far though!

Hi. I'll just add that in my experience with Ankara, and other places in Turkey, SirVictor and Tuna ank give an accurate picture and that you can't tell what the weather will be like, but it should be cool to somewhat cold. I just got back from there in February and we saw, in the span of just a few days, sun, cloudcover without rain, light-to-moderate rain, no wind, somewhat strong wind, and a brief bit of light hail, with ambient temperatures in fahrenheit usually ranging from about 40 to 60. On one day, we saw cool, dry weather with mild breeze, then more wind on Anitkabir, then in the afternoon slightly warmer weather, mostly still, in Ulus, with patchy clouds. That night it rained. There was no snow at all in the city, but the moutnains around it were covered in snow, much quite thick, and we had almost blizzard conditions near Bolu on the way back to Istanbul, but the elevation there is pretty high, and there was no snow back down in Istanbul. Ankara can, of course, get snow, but it really fluctuates. Coming from California, this seems pretty normal to me and the weather is not extreme in either direction. Compared to Delaware, it should be pretty warm, but compared to the UAE, it will be quite cold. As for getting somewhere warmer, you would have quite a trip if going through Ankara. The mountains north of it are colder and more snowy and in winter most of Turkey, except in the far south and the far NE near Trabzon and Rize, is on the chilly side in winter, but not freezing cold like the Midwest. It should be perfectly fine. I just had a light sweater and sportcoat and I was fine.

I also would add that while Ankara is indeed mostly a modern city, I think it has a lot to offer and plenty of character of its own, and I really like it. Few people seem to really like it, and it's hardly Istanbul, but I advise having an open mind about this city. I love a lot of its architecture, especially in Ulus, and at the very least it has interesting buildings and monuments, in addition to the obvious main attractions (Ulus, Anitkabir, Mus of Anat. Civ, Hisar). It also has its own energy, quite different from Istanbul in most respects and in some ways has a rather "American" feel to it when compared to other Turkish or European cities.

Thanks Ed--I think I'll survive. I'm definitely ready to have an open mind about Ankara (heck, I have a fondness for Warsaw) and I think I can easily amuse myself for a day there. I love walking around looking at architecture, so Ulus sounds like an excellent place to explore.

First of all; Julie welcome to Turkiye& cold Ankara
Pls. be aware of the big meeting in Tandogan where is near to Anitkabir since the coming elections this saturday (21 March). Most of the roads in that area will be closed and if you go to Anitkabir, you'd better to use the other gate (not Tandogan Gate). Have a good trip on saturday...

Revontulet is right, because of the elections, on saturday, Ankara, especially Tandogan will be chaotic. If you want to reach Ulus quickly, don't go thru to Tandogan after Anitkabir. But it can be interesting to see meeting. At least you may look from far. You may take a good red photo which is full with Turkish flags.
Ed,these climatic changings also strange for us. Especially strong winds! But don't worry, we will help for surviving if she needs.

Good to know about the Tandogan issue, thanks!

Dont sweat it Ricky52, you were trying to be helpful.
Needless to say, lots of people ramble on and on without asking the real question they want the answers to.

No problem, you can't please every body :o)