An Ankara one day itinerary can link Kızılay with the historic sights around Ulus, including Ankara Castle, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, the Roman Temple of Augustus and Hacı Bayram Mosque. Start with the metro to Ulus, then plan time for the museum and the old-city sights before returning to central Kızılay.
- Starting point: Kızılay, where Business Park Hotel is located.
- Metro: The M1 Batıkent–Kızılay line serves both Kızılay and Ulus.
- Museum hours: Regular hours are 08:30–18:45 every day; the ticket office closes at 18:45.
- Shuttle: Free weekday shuttles are described as running from 10:00 to 17:00 at half-hour intervals, stopping at Ulus Metro Station, the museum and Ankara Castle.
Start from Kızılay
Kızılay is the starting point for this route, and the M1 metro connects it with Ulus. From Business Park Hotel, 15 Temmuz Kızılay Millî İrade station is about 8 minutes on foot; the hotel is in Kızılay.
Take the metro toward Batıkent and get off at Ulus. The line serves both stations, making it a simple way to begin the old-city part of the day without planning a separate transfer. For more context on the area around your starting point, the Kızılay and Güvenpark area guide covers the neighbourhood.
The Kızılay–Batıkent line opened for service on 28 December 1997, after construction began on 29 March 1993.
For broader transit planning, use this guide to getting around Ankara from Kızılay.
How do you get from Kızılay to Ankara Castle and the old city?
From Kızılay, ride the M1 to Ulus, then use the weekday shuttle information to plan a connection toward Ankara Castle. The shuttle stops at Ulus Metro Station, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and the castle.
A visitor-information page for Ankara Rahmi M. Koç Museum says Ankara Metropolitan Municipality operates the free shuttle on weekdays from 10:00 to 17:00, every half hour.
It includes a stop opposite Ulus Metro Station, in front of the former Second Parliament, and another at the front square of Ankara Castle. The published details are time-sensitive, so confirm the shuttle arrangements before building your day around them.
AnkaraKalesi.com gives the castle’s hours as 10:00–18:00 Monday to Friday, 08:00–22:00 on Saturday and 08:00–21:00 on Sunday. Allow for the castle visit within those opening times, then continue to the museum or reverse the order according to the shuttle schedule.
Visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations gives you a broad introduction to archaeological finds from Anatolia, with its collection reaching from the Paleolithic Age onward. It is at Gözcü Sokak No: 2, 06240 Ulus, Ankara.
The museum occupies two historic Ottoman buildings, Mahmutpaşa Bedesteni and Kurşunlu Han. Its visitor information also mentions audio-guide service, virtual tours, reconstructions and replicas of Göbeklitepe’s T-shaped pillars. The museum says it was renovated in 2014.
Regular opening hours are 08:30–18:45 every day, and the ticket office closes at 18:45. The museum also gives night-museum hours as 19:00–21:00 every day, with ticket sales ending at 20:15.
Turkish citizens with a valid MüzeKart may buy a night-visit ticket for 200 TL. Hours and ticket details can change, so check the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations’ official site before you go.
Continue to the Roman Temple of Augustus and Hacı Bayram Mosque
The Roman Temple of Augustus and Hacı Bayram Mosque are additional named stops for the Ulus part of this day route. Fit them around your castle and museum visits, using the shuttle details for the museum and castle where they suit your plans.
Keep the museum’s closing time in mind if you want to visit it on the same day. You can also make the Ethnography Museum of Ankara part of a separate museum-focused plan with this guide to visiting the Ethnography Museum.
Return to central Kızılay
To return to Kızılay, go back to Ulus Metro Station and take the M1 toward Kızılay. The same line serves both stations, so you can finish the old-city visits before retracing your metro journey to central Ankara.
If you use the municipal shuttle during the day, its stops include Ulus Metro Station, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and Ankara Castle. That gives you a way to connect those stops before returning to the metro. Check the operating details before you go, especially if the shuttle is central to your timing.
FAQs
Can you visit Ankara Castle and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in one day?
Both are included in this route, and the weekday shuttle stops at the castle, museum and Ulus Metro Station. Check current transport and opening details before setting the order.
What are the regular hours of the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations?
The museum’s regular hours are 08:30–18:45 every day, with the ticket office closing at 18:45. Its separate night-museum hours are 19:00–21:00, with ticket sales ending at 20:15.
Does the metro connect Kızılay and Ulus?
Yes. Ankara’s M1 Batıkent–Kızılay line serves both Kızılay and Ulus.