Day Trips from Ankara: Hattusa, Safranbolu, Beypazarı and Gordion

Ankara’s position at the centre of the Anatolian plateau makes it an unusually good base for day trips into some of Turkey’s most historically significant and least-visited territory. Within three hours in any direction lie a Bronze Age Hittite capital, a perfectly preserved Ottoman timber-frame city, a traditional market town known for its silver crafts and local delicacies, and the royal burial mound of a king who may have inspired the legend of Midas. None of these requires a guide or complex logistics — the distances are manageable, the roads are good, and the sites are consistently undervisited compared to their importance.

These are among the best day trips from Ankara for anyone spending more than two nights in the capital.

Hattusa — Hittite Capital (200km, 2.5 hours)

Hattusa was the capital of the Hittite Empire — a Bronze Age civilisation that rivalled Egypt and Mesopotamia, signed the world’s first recorded peace treaty with Ramesses II, and controlled most of Anatolia from around 1650 to 1180 BCE. The ruins spread across a large open site near the modern village of Boğazkale in Çorum province, and they are genuinely extraordinary: massive stone gates with lion and sphinx sculptures, a 3,000-year-old royal archive of cuneiform clay tablets, the Great Temple complex, and the rock sanctuary of Yazılıkaya 2km away where 12th-century BCE processions of gods are carved into natural rock chambers.

Getting there: Drive northeast from Ankara on the D785 (Samsun road) to Sungurlu, then follow signs south to Boğazkale — 200km total, about 2.5 hours. Bus from Ankara AŞTİ to Sungurlu: approximately ₺120–150 one way (several daily services). From Sungurlu, a taxi to Boğazkale costs around ₺150–200; there is occasional dolmuş service but it is unreliable for day trippers. A rental car from Ankara is the most practical option and allows you to cover both Hattusa and Yazılıkaya in a single day without time pressure.

Entry: Hattusa site entry approximately ₺200 as of 2026; Yazılıkaya has a separate entry (approximately ₺100 as of 2026). The Boğazkale Museum in the village (small but worthwhile) has additional finds.

What to see: Start at the Great Temple in the lower city, then follow the circuit road to the Lion Gate, Sphinx Gate, and the royal citadel (Büyükkale). Allow at least 2.5–3 hours for the main site. Yazılıkaya is 2km further — the rock-cut procession in Chamber A is one of the most striking images in Bronze Age art.

Best time: April–June and September–October. July and August are hot on the exposed site (limited shade); bring water.

Safranbolu — Ottoman Timber-Frame City (230km, 2.5–3 hours)

Safranbolu is the best-preserved example of a late Ottoman residential city in Turkey — a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 1994) with over 1,000 registered traditional timber-frame houses, hans (caravansarais), and mosques dating from the 17th to 19th centuries. The old city (Çarşı) is compact and almost entirely free of modern construction: cobbled streets, projecting bay windows, and the smell of saffron-flavoured Turkish delight (lokum) that the town has made for centuries.

Getting there: Drive north from Ankara on the O-4 motorway toward Bolu, then northwest on the D-755 toward Karabük — 230km, approximately 2.5–3 hours. Bus from AŞTİ: direct services to Safranbolu run several times daily (approximately 3 hours, ₺150–180). The bus drops passengers near the modern town; a short taxi or dolmuş ride reaches the old city.

What to see: The Çarşı (old market quarter) is the core — Cinci Han (a 17th-century Ottoman han now operating as a hotel, open to visitors), the covered bazaar, and the Köprülü Mehmed Paşa Mosque. The Kaymakamlar Evi (Ethnographic House Museum) shows the interior of a traditional Safranbolu timber mansion (entry approximately ₺50). The canyon overlook above the old city gives the classic view of the roofscape.

Eating: Safranbolu’s lokum (Turkish delight flavoured with saffron and rose) is the reason most Turkish visitors make the trip. Buy it fresh at any of the shops along the bazaar street. Sit-down lunch options are plentiful in the old city; expect ₺150–250 for a full meal.

Best time: Spring (April–May) when the trees are in bloom and the crowds are not yet at peak. Weekends bring significant numbers of domestic tourists; a weekday visit is more peaceful.

Beypazarı — Silver Town and Market Culture (100km, 1.5 hours)

Beypazarı is the closest substantial day trip from Ankara — 100km west on the E90 motorway, about 1.5 hours — and one of the most enjoyable for understanding day-to-day Anatolian life. The town is known across Turkey for three things: its Ottoman old quarter (one of the better-preserved in the region), its handcrafted silver jewellery (Beypazarı gümüşü), and its dried carrot dishes and local cucumbers. The weekly market (Tuesday) is worth timing a visit around.

Getting there: Drive west from Ankara on the E90 toward Eskişehir, exit at Beypazarı — 100km, about 1.5 hours. Buses from Ankara’s AŞTİ leave throughout the day (approximately ₺60–80 one way, 1.5–2 hours).

What to see: The Tabaklar neighbourhood has the densest concentration of Ottoman houses. The silver bazaar along the main shopping street is the best place to buy jewellery — prices are set, quality is generally reliable, and the craft has a centuries-long tradition here. The Beypazarı History Museum (former mansion, free entry) provides context on the town’s history as a stop on the Silk Road. The old hamam (bathhouse) on the main square dates from the Ottoman period.

Eating: The dried-carrot speciality (havuç tatlısı and havuçlu yemekler) appears on almost every local restaurant menu. Gözleme (flatbread with fillings) is popular and inexpensive — around ₺50–80 per portion. The Tuesday market brings in producers from surrounding villages.

Tips: The town is quiet on weekdays outside market day. A morning departure from Ankara (by 9am), 4–5 hours in Beypazarı, and return by late afternoon makes for a relaxed day trip.

Gordion — City of King Midas (70km, 1 hour)

Gordion is the easiest substantial day trip from Ankara — 70km southwest on the E90, under an hour’s drive. It was the capital of ancient Phrygia (c. 900–550 BCE), the kingdom ruled by the dynasty that gave rise to the legend of King Midas. The site holds the world’s largest collection of Bronze Age tumuli (burial mounds), including the Midas Mound (Büyük Höyük), which at 53 metres is one of the largest surviving tumuli in the ancient world. Excavations by the University of Pennsylvania over several decades have established Gordion as one of the most significant Bronze Age sites in Anatolia.

Getting there: Drive west from Ankara on the E90 toward Polatlı, then follow signs to Yassıhöyük village near Gordion — 70km, 45–60 minutes. There is no reliable public transport direct to the site; most visitors drive or take a taxi from Polatlı (approximately ₺200–250 return from Polatlı; Polatlı is accessible by frequent bus from AŞTİ, ₺30–50).

What to see: The Gordion Museum (entry approximately ₺100 as of 2026) holds the original grave goods from the Midas Mound excavation — wooden furniture (remarkably preserved in the anaerobic mound), bronze vessels, and textiles dating to around 740 BCE. The tomb chamber itself (entered through a passage cut into the mound) is the highlight: the oldest surviving wooden structure in the world, still standing inside the mound. The main archaeological site, the Gordion Citadel, is a short walk away and shows the remains of the Phrygian city gates and palace.

Best time: Year-round; the museum is heated and the tumuli are open terrain. Aim for a weekday — visitor numbers are low and the guides (available in Turkish, sometimes English) are more accessible.

Practical Tips

Car rental: For Hattusa and Gordion especially, a rental car gives flexibility that public transport cannot match. Ankara has extensive car rental options at both the airport and the city centre (Kızılay area). Budget from approximately ₺800–1,500/day for a small car as of 2026, including third-party insurance. Book in advance for weekend departures.

Start early: All four destinations benefit from an early departure (7:30–8:30am from Ankara). Hattusa in particular takes most of the day — a 7am departure allows 5–6 hours at the site and a comfortable return.

Fuel and food: Petrol stations are plentiful on all major routes. Each town has local restaurants — there is no need to bring food from Ankara, though carrying water is always sensible on long drives.

Combined days: Gordion and Beypazarı can be combined in a single day (both west of Ankara, roughly 1.5 hours apart) if you start early. Hattusa and Yazılıkaya are a natural pair. Safranbolu works best as a standalone trip or with an overnight.

For more on the capital itself, see the full Ankara travel guide.