Ulus (Ankara) Travel Guide - Free

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Ulus in Ankara brings Roman ruins, Ottoman mosques, Republic-era museums, traditional markets and historic streets together in Türkiye’s capital.

Layers of Ankara’s Past

Ulus occupies the historic centre of Ankara, where ancient remains, Ottoman streets and the institutions of the early Turkish Republic stand close together. The district rises northwards towards Ankara Castle and opens southwards into broad civic avenues, making it one of the clearest places to understand how Ankara grew from a provincial settlement into the capital of modern Türkiye. Its streets can feel practical and unpolished rather than conventionally picturesque, but that everyday quality is part of its character: traders, office workers, pilgrims, students and museum visitors share the same squares and pavements.
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Monuments and Museums

The most concentrated historic route runs around Hacı Bayram Veli Mosque, the remains of the Temple of Augustus and Rome, and the former parliament buildings on the southern side of the district. The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations lies in the adjoining castle quarter, while the Ethnography Museum and the Independence War Museum preserve different chapters of Ankara’s cultural and political story. At the centre of Ulus, the Republic Monument provides a visual link between the Ottoman capital’s final years and the new republic established under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Street Life and Local Character

Ulus is also a working shopping district. Anafartalar Street, nearby covered bazaars and the lanes leading towards the castle offer household goods, traditional crafts, second-hand objects and inexpensive local eateries. The area is most rewarding when explored on foot, with time allowed for changing elevations, crowded pavements and unexpected views of domes, stone walls and modern government buildings. Evenings are generally quieter than in Ankara’s entertainment districts, so Ulus is best understood through its museums, religious monuments, markets and daytime street life.

Best attractions in Ulus

Ulus’s attractions are concentrated within a walkable historic area. Hacı Bayram Veli Mosque and the adjoining Temple of Augustus and Rome form the district’s most evocative pairing, placing an active Ottoman-era religious site beside substantial Roman remains. The First Grand National Assembly building, now the Independence War Museum, and the Second Assembly building, now the Republic Museum, explain Ankara’s central role in the formation of the Turkish Republic. The Ethnography Museum offers further insight into Turkish material culture, while the route north towards Ankara Castle leads to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in the adjoining historic quarter. Ulus Square, the Victory Monument and the busy streets around Anafartalar provide a more contemporary view of the district, where shopping, transport and everyday commerce continue alongside archaeological and political heritage.

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Best landmarks in Ulus

Ulus contains an unusually concentrated sequence of landmarks from Ankara’s ancient, Ottoman and republican past. The Temple of Augustus and Rome preserves inscriptions and architectural remains from the Roman period, while Hacı Bayram Veli Mosque and its tomb remain an active religious centre associated with one of the city’s most important spiritual figures. The First and Second Grand National Assembly buildings are significant not only for their architecture but for the political decisions made there during the founding years of the republic. At Ulus Square, the Victory Monument provides a prominent republican symbol amid traffic and commercial streets. The district also forms the lower approach to Ankara Castle, whose walls and elevated position define the wider historic skyline, although the castle quarter is commonly treated as a distinct adjoining area.

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Explore Ulus on the map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots in Ulus, mapped for you.

Best restaurants in Ulus

Ulus’s dining scene reflects its role as an old commercial centre rather than a dedicated restaurant quarter. Around Anafartalar Street, Ulus Square and the streets leading towards the castle, visitors find straightforward lokanta-style restaurants, kebab shops, soup kitchens, bakeries and tea houses serving workers, traders and museum visitors. Menus commonly draw on central Anatolian and wider Turkish home-style cooking, with dishes such as soups, rice, grilled meats, stews and pide appearing more often than elaborate international cuisine. The shopping lanes around Çıkrıkçılar Yokuşu and the historic bazaar area also offer practical places for tea or a quick meal, although businesses can change and individual opening arrangements vary. Dining here is generally informal and daytime-oriented, making it a useful complement to a museum and market itinerary rather than a destination for a long evening meal.

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Best bars in Ulus

Ulus is not one of Ankara’s principal nightlife districts, and its evenings are shaped more by restaurants, tea houses and the gradual closing of commercial streets than by clubs or late-night entertainment. Around the central avenues, visitors may find casual places for tea, coffee or a simple meal, while the historic lanes towards the castle are often quieter after the museums and shops close. Live music and club-focused nightlife are more strongly associated with other parts of Ankara, particularly Kızılay, Tunali and Bahçelievler, rather than with Ulus itself. Visitors staying nearby should therefore treat the district as an atmospheric place for an early evening walk around illuminated monuments and busy avenues, then use established public transport or a clearly marked taxi for later entertainment elsewhere in the city.

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Best nightclubs in Ulus

Ulus is not one of Ankara’s principal nightlife districts, and its evenings are shaped more by restaurants, tea houses and the gradual closing of commercial streets than by clubs or late-night entertainment. Around the central avenues, visitors may find casual places for tea, coffee or a simple meal, while the historic lanes towards the castle are often quieter after the museums and shops close. Live music and club-focused nightlife are more strongly associated with other parts of Ankara, particularly Kızılay, Tunali and Bahçelievler, rather than with Ulus itself. Visitors staying nearby should therefore treat the district as an atmospheric place for an early evening walk around illuminated monuments and busy avenues, then use established public transport or a clearly marked taxi for later entertainment elsewhere in the city.

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Best shops in Ulus

Shopping in Ulus is practical, traditional and closely connected to the district’s historic role as a commercial centre. Anafartalar Street carries a mixture of everyday retail, while the lanes running towards Ankara Castle contain long-established bazaar businesses, craft workshops and small specialist sellers. Çıkrıkçılar Yokuşu is associated with textiles, household goods and traditional market shopping, and the Bakırcılar Çarşısı area is known for copperware and craft-oriented stalls in the adjoining historic quarter. Visitors may also encounter antiques, second-hand objects, souvenirs and locally useful goods rather than the international brands found in Ankara’s modern shopping centres. The market streets are best explored slowly and respectfully: stock, ownership and opening arrangements vary, and bargaining should be handled courteously rather than assumed to be obligatory.

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Ulus essentials

Getting There
Ulus is served by Ankara’s metro network at Ulus station on the M1 line, with connections towards the central districts and the intercity transport area. City buses also use the major corridors around Atatürk Boulevard and Anafartalar Street. From Kızılay, visitors can travel north by metro or walk along the main central avenues, although the route becomes busier and less historically focused before reaching the old centre. Ankara’s main railway station is nearby to the south-west, but the most convenient approach depends on the final destination: Hacı Bayram Veli Mosque, the museums or the shopping streets each lie on different sides of the Ulus area.
Getting Around
The central monuments of Ulus can be explored on foot, but the district is not uniformly level. Hacı Bayram Veli Mosque and the Temple of Augustus lie on an elevated historic terrace, while routes towards Ankara Castle become steeper and may include uneven paving, steps and narrow lanes. Anafartalar Street and the principal avenues are easier for straightforward walking, though traffic crossings require care. Metro and bus stops are useful for reaching the district but do not replace walking between its museums, markets and religious sites. Visitors with limited mobility should plan routes in advance and allow extra time around the castle approaches.
Safety
Ulus is a busy daytime commercial district, and ordinary city precautions are sensible in crowded market streets, around transport stops and near major road crossings. Keep phones and wallets secure in dense crowds, particularly while browsing shops or waiting for buses. Traffic can be close to pavements on the main avenues, and steep or uneven streets require attention in the historic upper quarter. After businesses and museums close, some lanes become much quieter than they are during the day, so visitors should favour well-used routes, arrange transport clearly and avoid wandering without a destination.
Emergency Situations
In Türkiye, call 112 for ambulance, fire or police emergencies; the service is the main emergency number and operators may be able to assist international visitors. State the neighbourhood as Ulus, Ankara, and give a recognisable location such as Hacı Bayram Veli Mosque, Ulus Square or the nearest metro station. Ask staff at a museum, hotel, restaurant or transport facility for help if language is a problem. Carry identification and any essential medical information, and use official taxis or established transport when travelling to medical care rather than accepting unsolicited assistance.
Do's and Don'ts
Dress and behave respectfully at Hacı Bayram Veli Mosque and its tomb, remembering that it remains an active place of worship rather than simply a monument. Remove shoes where requested, keep voices low and ask before photographing worshippers. In markets, handle goods carefully and agree prices or purchase details clearly before completing a transaction. Respect queues on public transport and avoid blocking narrow pavements while taking photographs. Around archaeological remains and republican monuments, do not climb, touch fragile surfaces or treat active religious spaces as theatrical backdrops.
Local Tips
A useful orientation is to link the metro station and Ulus Square with Anafartalar Street, then continue uphill towards Hacı Bayram Veli Mosque and the Temple of Augustus. The museums near the castle are best combined with the old shopping lanes rather than approached as isolated attractions. Traditional eateries around the commercial centre tend to serve practical local meals, while cafés are more readily found along larger streets than in the narrowest historic lanes. Check current museum opening arrangements before setting out, as access and schedules can change.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloMerhaba[Mer-ha-ba]
GoodbyeHoşçakal[Hosh-cha-kal]
YesEvet[Eh-vet]
NoHayır[Ha-yuhr]
Please/You're welcomeLütfen[Loot-fen]
Thank youTeşekkür ederim[Teh-sheh-kur eh-deh-reem]
Excuse me/SorryÖzür dilerim[O-zoor dee-leh-reem]
How are you?Nasılsın?[Nah-suhl-suhn]
Fine. And you?İyiyim. Sen?[Ee-yee-yim. Sen?]
Do you speak English?İngilizce konuşuyor musun?[Ing-ee-leez-jeh kon-oo-shoo-yor moos-oon?]
I don't understandAnlamıyorum[An-lah-muh-yor-um]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseMenüyü görmek istiyorum, lütfen[Meh-noo-yu ger-mek is-tee-yor-um, loot-fen]
I don't eat meatEt yemem[Et yeh-mem]
Cheers!Şerefe![Sheh-reh-feh]
I would like to pay, pleaseÖdemek istiyorum, lütfen[O-deh-mek is-tee-yor-um, loot-fen]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Yardım edin![Yar-duhm eh-deen!]
Go away!Uzaklaş![Oo-zak-lash!]
Call the Police!Polisi arayın![Poh-lee-see ah-rah-yun!]
Call a doctor!Doktor çağırın![Dok-tor cha-uh-ruhn!]
I'm lostKayboldum[Kai-bol-doom]
I'm illHasta'yım[Has-tai-yum]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Satın almak istiyorum...[Sa-tuhn al-mak is-tee-yor-um...]
I'm just lookingSadece bakıyorum[Sah-deh-je bah-kuh-yor-um]
How much is it?Kaç lira?[Kach lee-rah?]
That's too expensiveÇok pahalı[Chok pah-ha-luh]
Can you lower the price?Fiyatı indirebilir misiniz?[Fee-yat-uh in-de-reh-bee-leer mee-see-neez?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Saat kaç?[Saat kach?]
It's one o'clockSaat bir[Saat beer]
Half past (10)Saat on buçuk[Saat on boo-chook]
MorningSabah[Sah-bah]
AfternoonÖğleden sonra[Oh-leh-den sonra]
EveningAkşam[Ak-sham]
YesterdayDün[Doon]
TodayBugün[Boo-goon]
TomorrowYarın[Yah-run]
1Bir[Beer]
2İki[Ee-kee]
3Üç[Ooch]
4Dört[Durt]
5Beş[Besh]
6Altı[Al-tuh]
7Yedi[Yeh-dee]
8Sekiz[Seh-keez]
9Dokuz[Doh-kooz]
10On[On]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?... nerede?[... neh-reh-deh?]
What's the address?Adres nedir?[Ah-dres neh-deer?]
Can you show me (on the map)?(Haritada) gösterebilir misiniz?[(Hah-ree-ta-da) ger-steh-reh-bee-leer mee-see-neez?]
When's the next (bus)?Sonraki (otobüs) ne zaman?[Son-rah-kee (oh-toh-booos) neh zah-man?]
A ticket (to ....)Bir bilet (....’ya)[Beer bee-let (....’ya)]

History of Ulus

Ancient Ankara on the Hill

Ulus developed around the ancient settlement of Ankara, known in classical sources as Ancyra. The area’s most visible ancient reminder is the Temple of Augustus and Rome, built in the early Roman imperial period and later incorporated into the surroundings of Hacı Bayram Veli Mosque. Ankara’s position on routes crossing central Anatolia helped it function as a regional centre long before it became the national capital. The Roman city occupied the hill and its approaches, while later fortifications and settlement patterns continued to concentrate activity in the same elevated historic zone.

Ottoman Religious and Commercial District

Under Ottoman rule, the historic centre retained its role as Ankara’s principal urban focus. Hacı Bayram Veli, a fifteenth-century Sufi scholar associated with the city, became central to the district’s religious identity, and the mosque complex around his tomb remains one of Ulus’s defining places. Commercial life grew through hans, small workshops and market streets serving local residents and regional trade. The area’s later bazaars and traditional shopping lanes preserve traces of this practical urban economy, even though many buildings and businesses have changed.

From Provincial Town to National Capital

The decisive transformation came after Ankara was chosen as the centre of the nationalist movement during the Turkish War of Independence and became the capital of the Republic of Türkiye in 1923. The First Grand National Assembly building, now the Independence War Museum, and the later Second Assembly building, now the Republic Museum, place Ulus at the centre of the new state’s political history. Government offices, planned avenues and public monuments altered the area’s scale, while the Victory Monument became a prominent symbol of the republican period.

Modernisation and Changing Urban Roles

As Ankara expanded southwards into districts such as Kızılay and Çankaya, Ulus gradually lost its position as the city’s main commercial and administrative centre. Some historic buildings survived beside twentieth-century shops, transport corridors and later apartment blocks, producing the mixed streetscape visible today. Urban renewal projects and conservation efforts have repeatedly sought to balance the needs of a busy working district with the protection of archaeological remains and republican heritage. Ulus remains important not because it represents a single period, but because ancient, Ottoman and modern national histories remain unusually close together.

Ulus in Photos

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Neighbourhoods near Ulus

The closest neighbourhoods to Ulus, if you have time for more than one stop.

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