Is Ankara Boring? (First Impressions of Turkey’s Capital)
In the latest episode of my travel series, I embark on an exciting journey to Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. Many of my Turkish friends had warned me that Ankara might be a bit dull, but I was determined to experience the city firsthand and form my own opinion.
Joined by my friend Brian, we kicked off our adventure with a comfortable business-class trip on the high-speed train from Istanbul. As we arrived in Ankara, we dove right into exploring its vibrant neighborhoods and notable attractions. From the lively Gaziosmanpaşa area to the iconic Anıtkabir, the stunning memorial for Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, every corner of the city offered a unique glimpse into Turkish culture and history.
We also visited the impressive National Library of the Presidency (Cumhurbaşkanlığı Millet Kütüphanesi), in addition to treating ourselves to some delicious local cuisine at ASPAVA. Of course, no trip to Ankara would be complete without wandering through the historical Ankara Old Town (Ankara Kalesi), where every street tells a story.
Whether you’re wondering if Ankara is truly boring or looking for hidden gems in Turkey’s capital, this video is packed with insights and adventures. Don’t forget to follow Brian on Instagram (@brian.world) for more travel inspiration!
So, what did I find? Is Ankara truly dull, or does it have its own distinctive charm? Tune in to find out!
Thank you for watching! If you’re eager to travel too, check out my website for upcoming trips and all the gear I use for vlogging. Stay connected with me on Instagram, TikTok, and more for daily updates and travel tips.
Music Credits: Special thanks to Epidemic Sound for the fantastic soundtrack that accompanies our journey.
ankara #turkey #travels #exploration #isankaraboring #vlog #travelvlog #turkishculture #exploreturkey
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Video “Is Ankara Boring? (First Impressions of Turkey's Capital)” was uploaded on 08/19/2025. Watch all the latest Videos by Doug Barnard on Gretopia
@19:20 Persian/Turkish tea made the same way and they are the best ❤🔥
Yes.
Continue my friend, your content is beautiful. I hope you go to Istanbul. If you want to go to Istanbul, you must go to a place called Mall of Istanbul. You will be surprised that it is very huge. I hope you go there and make a video about it.
Your are not right on smoking every where Türkiye. Türkiye is the first country in the world banning smoking in enclosed areas, public transportation, bars, restaurants, e.t.c. But you are right on high smoking rate among Turkish people .
Ataput
Not Kemal, he himself did not like Kemal.
nur içinde yatsın ATAM….
airola yasaklandı abi bu ülkede bedavaya hiç bir şey yok
nice perspective
thanks
They are investing so much in transportation. Every time I visit Turkiye, there is something new or improved.
💙🌙
19:37 Lebabese/Arabic Desserts?
You're forgetting that most of those parts of the regions were under the Ottoman/Turkish Rule for almost 500 years
Bizim youtuber Kafalar dan daha iyi gezmişler Ankarayı 😂
Those who dont Like the Library are dumb people
Atatürk would punish them
You may be the only tourist who comes to Ankara😅
Thankfully, 100 years ago, Atatürk transformed Turkish society so that we could serve you with the quality you deserve. Thank you for the honor of serving you in our 5-star hotels. Even today, we respectfully protect Atatürk, your legacy. Because we must serve you even more. (The British mind is on a different level.)
Not Turkey bro Türkiye or Turkiye
Yaşa Mustafa Kemal Paşa Yaşa ❤
Beautiful ANKARA ❤
Thank God you had Brian on your side, bringing positivity and adding color to the video. Otherwise, your mood in Ankara felt really down, almost hard to believe you enjoyed the trip 😀
how long did train take to go istanbul to ankara,love watching your videos as a turk
Bro, are you serious about your skills in turkish? I was shocked at 1:13 that you knew that YHT Meant yeni hizli tren (The new fast train), dude some turkish people would not know that, I can see that you are very good at language skills, I would guess that you can speak over 5-6 languages fluently, am I right?
Thank you for this video.
Atatürk's Mausoleum is a very important place for the Turkish nation. It is the eternal resting place of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who liberated our country from occupation and founded our state, occupying a most exceptional place in our glorious and honorable history.
The military unit stationed at Anıtkabir has a very spiritual mission. They have their own ritualistic marches. They move slowly, especially out of respect for Atatürk. Turks watching the march cannot hold back their tears or hide them. Only we understand that feeling, but for some reason, we cannot explain it. You can watch a portion of this march by searching in YouTube as "Anıtkabir Nöbet Değişimi" , respectfully.
Damn Brian knows everything!
Türkiye’ye hoşgeldin. Artık sadece Türkiye diyoruz. Sağlıkla kal.
As a Turkish viewer and as someone who has lived in Ankara all my life, there was not a single wrong information in this videos. Well Done👍
I’m your neighbor and ex-translator from Moda, Istanbul. Ankara may not have a sea and the insane amount of choices of Istanbul but it is never boring. There are so many unique places to visit and great night life. It’s just İstanbul slander 😂.
Ö is pronounced as in French Je or Eu or the German Ö :). Or as if you’re vomiting 🤮😅. The closest English sound could be the vowel in “bird” or “hurt”. Your Turkish improved a lot and I am proud of you
l am a new follower and glad to see a vlog about the city l've been living for years.Ankara cannot be compared with İstanbul and not fair.Ankara became a capital City after 1923- the date that Turkish Republic was founded,it used to be like a village.ln Ankara there are distinguished museums such as Anatolian Civilizations' museum near Ankara Castle and Augustus temple near Hacı Bayram mosque.l advise you to visit Beypazari and Nallıhan Bird Sanctuary which is located in Ankara and should be visited in April/May.
Allah; sağlık, para, afiyet, versin amin 🙏🏻
What a beautiful spot!! Great capital city in my opinion! Loved the changing of the guards. Reminded me of the changing at the Tomb of the Unkown soldier.
Anıtkabire benzetme yaptığınız yapıt aslında pek doğru değil çünkü Anıtkabir mimarisi Türk mimarisinden esinlenilmiştir örnek vermem gerekirse sütünlar iri ve dikdörtgen prizmadır ve Selçukluya özgüdür.Asıl mezar odası da görmüş olduğunuz yapının alt katında bulunur ve altıgen kurgan şeklindedir ama ziyarete kapalı
Doner kebabs origin is ankara my friend.
If you are a local; ankara is enjoyable but if you are a tourist, of course boring 😂 and your friend is really good we want to watch him much more 🎉
ibrahim (abraham) Türk mü?
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