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Ankara

Ankara is the capital of Turkey, central within the country on the plateau of Central Anatolia. It's a sprawling modern place around an ancient citadel, and in 2022 had a population of almost 5.2 million (second in size to Istanbul), with a further 600,000 living in the wider metropolis.

Understand
Until 1923, Ankara was a provincial town of less than 30,000. Then Atatürk made it the capital of the new Republic of Turkey, a deliberate shift from the Ottoman capital of Istanbul with its literally Byzantine political life. The plateau was swiftly covered by drab concrete buildings and snarled highways, leavened by parks and woodlands, and occasional striking architecture. Although it never wrested the cultural crown from Istanbul, Ankara has a rich heritage in its museums, galleries and mosques, and tourists who just transit on the way to Cappadocia are missing an important chapter in the story of Turkey and Asia Minor. The city was already old when the ancient Greeks called it "the anchor", Аγκυρα, which to a sea-faring people indicated a base or home. Hattian, Hittite, Lydian, Phrygian and Galatian civilisations had risen and fallen before them; Persians, Romans and Byzantines were yet to come. In 1402 Timur - the Tamburlaine of legend - stormed all the way from Kabul, and won a battle that almost extinguished the Ottoman dynasty, but didn't stay to consolidate. So it was an Ottoman city and province for the next 500 years, giving the name "Angora" to long-haired cats, goats, rabbits and mohair textiles. Other European powers meddled in local affairs but concentrated on Istanbul, especially after Turkey was defeated in the First World War, and Greece was awarded much Turkish territory and tried to seize more. Atatürk rallied resistance in Ankara and the east, and the city's unconquered status made it a fitting capital.

Ankara acquired populations of government workers, university students, and incomers from the impoverished countryside. It didn't attract foreign immigration, but there's a stream of diplomatic visitors, and Ankara is more outward-looking than other Turkish cities bar Istanbul. Locals are generally friendly and helpful, and students / lecturers are keen to show off their English, but service staff such as hotel receptionists are not as widely fluent as in western capitals. You might want a translation app on your phone, especially if you're travelling further out.

Orientation
City centre is the broad strip from Ulus south through Sıhhiye to Kızılay:
 * - Ulus means "nation" as the republic's original parliament and other major institutions were here, grouped around the inevitable equestrian statue of Atatürk.
 * - Sıhhiye means "sanitary works" as the Ministry of Health stands here. This district is bisected by the railway tracks so on this page it's described as "south", with its rump north of the tracks described as Ulus.
 * - Kızılay was named for the headquarters of the Red Crescent, the Turkish equivalent of the Red Cross, now replaced by a shopping mall. It has the Metro interchange.

Citadel is the term used here to describe the older districts east of Ulus: Hisar around the hilltop castle, and Hamamönü just south down the hill.

Further south from Kızılay are the upmarket (and uphill) districts of Kavaklıdere, Gaziosmanpaşa and Çankaya. The city's most expensive hotels and restaurants are found here, as are the embassies.

Southwest from Kızılay is Bakanlıklar (meaning government ministries), then İsmet İnönü Boulevard leads into the district of Eskişehir Yolu (referring to the former highway to Eskişehir). It's lined by university campuses and public buildings, including the National Parliament. Interminable ribbon-development eventually gives way to the open steppe.

Climate
Ankara has a semi-arid, continental climate, with hot, dry summers and cold, snowy winters. Most rainfall is spring, with afternoon showers and thunderstorms.

Summers are hot, regularly topping 30°C in July and August, but humidity is low. Summer nights can be chilly, especially if a breeze starts up.

Early autumn has the best climate. Nights are cold but daytimes are mild and dry, unlike the wet spring months.

Winters are cold and often snowy, though the snow is seldom heavy, and cold below -20°C is very rare - not like the mountainous east of the country with perishing cold in mid-winter.

By plane

Transport is the major shortcoming of this airport. It's 30 km north of the centre, along a congested main road; there are no plans to extend the Metro here.

Belko Air bus runs downtown every 30 min 05:30-22:00 and overnight according to flight times. It runs via the railway station and Kızılay to AŞTİ bus terminal, which is on the Metro. With luck this takes an hour, traffic permitting, and in 2023 cost 11 TL. But belki is Turkish for "maybe" so the recurring joke is inevitable; the bus gets held up in city traffic.

Local (belediye, city council) bus Route 442 runs from the airport (arrivals level, watch for a crowd on the very far end of the dropoff lane on the arrivals level) and takes 40-50 minutes to the train station. Driver accepts cash, journey costs 25 TL (Jun 2023).

Havaş buses run to the bus terminal, AŞTİ.

A taxi downtown costs about 180 TL.

By train

 * Wikivoyage has an article on Rail travel in Turkey

Ankara is on the YHT high-speed rail network, with trains:
 * - from Istanbul taking 4½ hours, 13 daily via Pendik (for Sabiha Gokcen airport), Gebze, Izmit, Arifiye (for Adapazarı), Eskişehir (for Bursa) and Eryaman (for west Ankara suburbs). In April 2023 the fare is 248 TL economy, 372 TL business. The temporary terminus for Istanbul is Söğütlüçeşme, pending the interminable reconstruction of Haydarpaşa, but check for updates.
 * - from Konya taking 90 min, five daily, for a fare in 2023 of 112 TL economy, 268 TL business. Two trains per day start from Karaman, with connections from Adana and Cyprus.
 * - from Sivas taking 2½ hours, three daily, for 240 TL economy, 360 TL business.

Other mainline trains (anahat trenler) are slow and scenic, with the emphasis on slow, but are called "Express" to compensate.

 * - Ankara Ekspresi departs from Istanbul Halkali station at 22:00, picking up at Söğütlüçeşme, Bostanci and Pendik plus nine other intermediate stations, reaching Ankara before 07:00. The return service has similar times, taking nine hours, and there are seats and sleepers plus a dining car.

 * - Izmir Mavi departs from Izmir Basmane station at 18:00 and takes 14 hrs overnight via Kütahya and Eskişehir; the return departs Ankara at 19:00.

 * - Destinations east of Ankara are served by overnight trains. The main services are from Kurtulan and Diyarbakir (Güney Kurtalan Ekspresi), from Kars and Erzurum (Doğu Ekspresi), and from Tatvan (Van Gölü Ekspresi), linked by dolmus or ferry to Van. Van has a train once a week from Tehran and Tabriz in Iran. These services will be radically changed by the Ankara-Sivas YHT link, which cuts ten hours off that section.

Some of these trains have tourist versions, though all remain suspended in 2023. For instance the Turistik Doğu Ekspresi runs from Ankara to Kars with long stops for sightseeing eastbound at İliç (for Kemaliye), Erzincan and Erzurum; the westbound train makes long stops at Divriği and Bostankaya. Journey time each way is 30 hours.

For all times and reservations (strongly recommended) see TCDD Turkish Republic State Railways website.

Local trains (bölgesel trenler) run five times a day to Polatlı. These can't be booked.

The railway from Azerbaijan and Georgia was completed in 2017 and passenger trains have been promised ever since, but to date the line only carries freight. Trains from Syria and Iraq are all suspended indefinitely and the tracks are ruined.

Eryaman is a station in the west suburbs of Ankara where YHT trains also stop, and you can transfer to the cross-town Başkentray train. They no longer stop at Sincan (terminus of the Başkentray line) but slow trains from the west stop there not at Eryaman.

By bus
Buses from Istanbul depart every 15 min round the clock, and take six hours to Ankara non-stop, for a fare in 2023 of 250 TL. Slower services may stop at Gebze, Izmit, Adapazarı and Bolu. Many are running through to cities further east, all of which have good connections to Ankara, see individual pages.

Buses from Izmir take 8 hours and from Adana 7 hours, with hourly services. From Bursa is six hours, but the usual method is to take the bus to Eskişehir to join the YHT fast train. Similarly from Antalya you join the train at Konya.

The main bus operators are Metro Turizm, Pamukkale and Flixbus, who took over Kamil Koç. Buses are clean and comfortable, see Turkey for tips on using them and buying tickets.

Get around
The city has a dense bus network, a two-line Metro, and an east-west suburban railway called Başkentray. Good luck finding network information, even in Turkish.

There is no provision by any mode of public transport for travellers with restricted mobility.

By bus
There are two bus operations, competing on the same routes and using the same stops. EGO (Ankara Belediye Otobüsleri) are white and run by the city, who also run the Metro and the Yenimahalle - Şentepe cable-car. In 2009 the system was part-privatised: ÖHO buses (Ankara Özel Halk Otobüsleri) are blue. Central bus stops often have displays of real-time services. There are no indicators or announcements within buses, ask other passengers where to get off, or track your location on your phone.

EGO (white) bus fares cannot be paid in cash: you need to buy a card from a kiosk or metro station. A single trip is 1.65 TL, two trips 3.30 TL, three 4.95 TL, five 8.25 TL, ten 16.50 TL and twenty is 33 TL. The same cards are used for the Metro, and each trip permits a transfer between bus and Metro not exceeding 45 min. Note these are not the Ankarakart, a discount card for Turkish students, teachers and elderly Ankara residents.

ÖHO (blue) bus fares are cash, for a flat fare of 2.75 TL.

By Metro
The Metro, run by EGO the city transport operator, has three lines, which intersect at Kızılay. Remarkably, EGO have contrived to muddle their numbering.

Ankara Metro main line (M1, M2, M3) runs from the northwest suburbs of Sincan, Törekent and Eryaman to city centre (Ulus, Kızılay and Sıhhiye) then southwest to Çayyolu. Another line (M4) runs north from Kızılay to Keçiören.

Ankaray is styled differently yet is part of the same network. It runs east-west from Dikimevi via Kızılay to AŞTİ bus station.

Tickets are identical to the EGO buses and valid for transfer, see above for prices, and you buy them at kiosks or metro stations.

All stations are announced both on a display and by voice in the metros.

Suburban railway
Başkentray is the suburban line, transecting the city between Sincan and Eryaman in the west, through city centre and the main railway station, to Kayaş in the east. Trains run every 10 minutes from 07:00 to 21:00, then every 30 min to 23:00. Buy tickets in cash at any station. In 2022 a one-way ticket costs 1.70 TL and a return ticket costs 3 TL.

The line is shown in blue on transport maps and may be marked as B1. It's 37 km long, all above ground, and has 24 stations. There's nothing of visitor interest near the outlying stations, but to the west Eryaman is an interchange with YHT trains to Konya, Eskişehir and Istanbul, and Sincan is an interchange with other mainline trains. Kayaş to the east is also a mainline interchange, but not for YHT.

The system is owned and operated by TCDD Turkish State Railways, and until 2016 the same track carried mainline trains. That was incompatible with YHT and expansion of the suburban service so in 2016 the system closed for a couple of years while Ankara station was rebuilt and new tracks were laid parallel. It's planned to extend it northwest to Yenikent and Akçaören.

By taxi
Taxis are numerous: they are yellow, have the sign Taksi on top of the car, and the letter T in their license plates. Have nothing to do with unlicensed drivers.

Flagfall in 2022 is 7.50 TL, then 6 TL/km. The rates for day and night are same. Tipping is not usual but you round up to the next TL.

Scams are the same the world over: offering a fixed price way above the metered rate, special airport / luggage fees, failing to start the meter, going a silly route, tricks with banknotes / change, and so on.

By car
Avoid using a car in Ankara. Local drivers are fast, unpredictable and impatient even by Turkish standards, and parking is scarce.

Citadel

 * North Tower is another bastion of the citadel, 200 m north of the castle. You're aiming for the fluttering Turkish flag.
 * Turk-Russian Friendship House (Türk-Rus Dostluk Evi) is a bright modern art gallery at Kale Kapısı Sk 20 below the castle, open daily 10:00-17:00.
 * Turk-Russian Friendship House (Türk-Rus Dostluk Evi) is a bright modern art gallery at Kale Kapısı Sk 20 below the castle, open daily 10:00-17:00.
 * Turk-Russian Friendship House (Türk-Rus Dostluk Evi) is a bright modern art gallery at Kale Kapısı Sk 20 below the castle, open daily 10:00-17:00.

Ulus
Altındağ is the correct name for this district, but that also includes the Citadel. For traveller purposes it's worth distinguishing the more modern district close to Ulus Metro Station, extending south to the mainline railway station and tracks. Its south end merges into Sıhhiye district.
 * (Zafer Anıtı) in Ulus Square is the focus of the district, a marble and bronze monument with Atatürk on horseback. Since it was erected in 1927 a year before the "alphabet reform", it's one of the few republican monuments inscribed in Ottoman Turkish, using Arabic script.
 * Cardo Maximus is a stretch of Roman road 216 m long by 7 m wide, coursing north from Anafartlar Cd towards the Column of Julianus. It was discovered in 1995: its artefacts have been taken to the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations.
 * (Julian Sütunu, Belkıs Minaresi) is a 15 m column in the square behind the İş Bankası building. It was erected in 362 CE to commemorate the visit of Emperor Julian (331-363 AD), who stopped off in town while marching against Persia. He rejected Christianity and revived earlier pagan rites, so by Christians he was derided as "Julian the Apostate". His campaign in Persia started well then was a debacle and he was fatally wounded; his successor Jovian reinstated Christianity so Julianus was the last pagan emperor. His story is retold, with many artistic liberties, in the 1964 novel Julian by Gore Vidal.
 * Korean War Memorial just west of the Aviation Museum commemorates the Turkish Brigade, which fought under UN command in the Korean War. Their biggest engagement was the series of battles at Kunu-ri in late 1950. Some 15,000 rotated through the Brigade, with 721 killed in action, 2111 wounded and 168 missing.
 * Korean War Memorial just west of the Aviation Museum commemorates the Turkish Brigade, which fought under UN command in the Korean War. Their biggest engagement was the series of battles at Kunu-ri in late 1950. Some 15,000 rotated through the Brigade, with 721 killed in action, 2111 wounded and 168 missing.
 * Korean War Memorial just west of the Aviation Museum commemorates the Turkish Brigade, which fought under UN command in the Korean War. Their biggest engagement was the series of battles at Kunu-ri in late 1950. Some 15,000 rotated through the Brigade, with 721 killed in action, 2111 wounded and 168 missing.
 * Korean War Memorial just west of the Aviation Museum commemorates the Turkish Brigade, which fought under UN command in the Korean War. Their biggest engagement was the series of battles at Kunu-ri in late 1950. Some 15,000 rotated through the Brigade, with 721 killed in action, 2111 wounded and 168 missing.
 * Korean War Memorial just west of the Aviation Museum commemorates the Turkish Brigade, which fought under UN command in the Korean War. Their biggest engagement was the series of battles at Kunu-ri in late 1950. Some 15,000 rotated through the Brigade, with 721 killed in action, 2111 wounded and 168 missing.
 * Korean War Memorial just west of the Aviation Museum commemorates the Turkish Brigade, which fought under UN command in the Korean War. Their biggest engagement was the series of battles at Kunu-ri in late 1950. Some 15,000 rotated through the Brigade, with 721 killed in action, 2111 wounded and 168 missing.
 * Melike Hatun Mosque next to Vakif Museum was built in 2017 but in traditional Ottoman style.
 * Gençlik Park stretches east from the railway station to Hatun Mosque. It has a large ornamental lake and is sometimes a venue for open-air events.
 * Gençlik Park stretches east from the railway station to Hatun Mosque. It has a large ornamental lake and is sometimes a venue for open-air events.

South
Most sights are in Sıhhiye beyond the railway tracks or a couple of km further in Kızılay.
 * is an extensive hilltop site centred on the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938), founder of the Republic of Turkey. He died at Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul and lay for 15 years at what is now the Ankara Ethnographic Museum before transferring here in 1953. It's a 20th century Giza, a pharaonic collection of tombs, monuments and museums in Art Deco style, with individual opening hours. The site is free to enter 24 hours, walk south up the parkland avenue from AnkarayLogo.png Tandoğan / Anadolu. The last section is the 262 m "Road of Lions", flanked by statues of lions representing the ancient Turkic tribes. (The gaps between paving stones imbue visitors with a suitably reverent attitude, apparently.) This concludes in the Ceremonial Plaza, where the coloured flagstone patterns are those of traditional rugs and kilims. Expect military pageantry and flag-waving here on all state occasions.
 * Hall of Honor holds the tomb. What you see is the symbolic ground-level sarcophagus. Atatürk lies 7 m below in an ornate but private Tomb Room, where he mingles with soil from all the Turkish regions of his day, including from Salonica his birthplace now in Greece, parts of Hatay now in Syria, and northern Cyprus.
 * Mausoleum of İsmet İnönü (1884-1973) is southwest side of the Ceremonial Plaza. He was Atatürk's right-hand man, the country's second president and had three spells as Prime Minister, embedding the Republic's modernisations. The tomb is small at ground level but below is an exhibition hall - this is only open for one week from Oct 29 Republic Day and for two weeks from Dec 25 the anniversary of his death.
 * Ten towers line Ceremonial Plaza, but they're set within the colonnade and don't stand tall. Their low pitched roofs are meant to symbolise Turkic tents, and they contain various statues and inscriptions of an uplifting patriotic nature. For example the tower west side of the Hall of Honor depicts the opening of the Turkish Grand National Assembly on 23 April 1920, and holds Atatürk's Cadillac. So it's called 23 Nisan Kulesi but he didn't own 23 Nissans.
 * is the twee structure on Atatürk Blv as it enters Sıhhiye beneath the railway tracks. Its deer, two oxen and sun disc are supposed to commemorate Anatolian Hittite culture - a powerful realm from 18th to 12th century BC then gobbled up by Egyptian and Assyrian rivals. If you were disappointed at Anitkabir by not finding 23 Nissans, they're right here nose-to-tail in the traffic snarl.
 * is the twee structure on Atatürk Blv as it enters Sıhhiye beneath the railway tracks. Its deer, two oxen and sun disc are supposed to commemorate Anatolian Hittite culture - a powerful realm from 18th to 12th century BC then gobbled up by Egyptian and Assyrian rivals. If you were disappointed at Anitkabir by not finding 23 Nissans, they're right here nose-to-tail in the traffic snarl.
 * Abdi Ipekci Park is just east of Ankara Metro logo.svg Sıhhiye station and the Hittite statue.
 * (Türk, Öğün, Çalış, Güven Anıtı) is the sinister focus of Güven Park just outside Ankara Metro logo.svg AnkarayLogo.png Kızılay. "Turk! Be proud, work hard, and believe in yourself" is Atatürk's sage advice to his people, above which two gun-toting thugs pose, the "or else!" of the police and army. It was erected in 1935.
 * is an oh-so-Seventies telecoms tower, 125 m high, with a rotating observation deck and restaurant. However it's closed as the shopping mall at its foot is demolished, and in 2023 it's not known when it might re-open.
 * Botanical Park is the large green space north of the tower, bounded by Cinnah Cd west and Çankaya Cd east. It's free 24 hours.
 * is an oh-so-Seventies telecoms tower, 125 m high, with a rotating observation deck and restaurant. However it's closed as the shopping mall at its foot is demolished, and in 2023 it's not known when it might re-open.
 * Botanical Park is the large green space north of the tower, bounded by Cinnah Cd west and Çankaya Cd east. It's free 24 hours.

Elsewhere
This covers all other districts out to the ring road O-20 some 20 km out.
 * (200 m north of Ankara Metro logo.svg Akköprü) means "white bridge" though it's rosy basalt. With seven arches, it was built from 1222 to carry the main highway across the Çubuk River. Modern traffic rushes past on Fatih Sultan Mehmet Blv: this may be your best viewpoint, as in 2020 the bridge was barricaded off as a construction site.

 * is a 5 km long recreational lake south side of the town of Gölbaşı, 20 km south of city centre. It has camping areas, coarse fishing, picnic spots and walking trails. In 2023 you pay 5 TL per car.
 * Tulumtaş caves are by the intersection of O-20 and Turgut Özal Blv. They're extensive decorated caves discovered during construction of the ring road. As of Feb 2023, people are finding their way in but they're not yet officially open as show caves.

Do

 * IF Performance Hall is a live music venue at Tunus Cd 14 in Kavaklıdere.
 * Cinema: one that occasionally shows films in English is Cinemaximum to the northwest (Ankara Metro logo.svg Akköprü).
 * Ankara International Music Festival is in April, with the next on 4-28 April 2023.
 * Bilkent Mayfest is organised by Billkent University but events are open to the public. It's unlikely to happen in May 2023.
 * Burn Sonance Festival of music is next held 9-10 June 2023.
 * Jazz Festival is in Oct / Nov, dates for 2023 TBA.
 * Ankara Film Festival is next held on 3-11 Nov 2023.
 * Şefika Kutluer Festival of music is in December, dates for 2023 TBA.
 * Şefika Kutluer Festival of music is in December, dates for 2023 TBA.

Sports

 * Football: MKE Ankaragücü were relegated in 2024 so they play soccer in TFF First League, the second tier. Their home ground Eryaman Stadium (capacity 20,560) is in the western suburbs, take the Metro to Devlet Mahallesi. MKE, since you were wondering, stands for Machinery and Chemical Industry.
 * - Gençlerbirliği SK share Eryaman Stadium. They too play in TFF First League.
 * - Ankara Keçiörengücü SK also play in First League. Their home ground is Aktepe Stadium (capacity 5000) 8 km north of city centre on Adnan Kahveci Cd.
 * - Ankaraspor were known as Osmanlıspor from 2014 to 2020 but have re-adopted their former name. They play in Second League, the third tier, at Osmanlı (Yenikent) Stadium, capacity 18,000, west edge of the city. Take the Ankaray train to its west terminus at Sincan then a local bus onward to Yenikent.

 * Golf: courses and ranges within the city remain closed in 2023. Regnum Golf Country Club is 50 km southwest near Halaçlı village.

Buy

 * Useful to know: AVM stands for Alışveriş Merkezi, shopping centre.

 * Citadel approaches up Kale Kapısı Sk have been a merchandising area for centuries. There are lots of tourist-trappy outlets for carpets, leather and fake antiquities. At least you hope they're fake, because if genuine it's illegal to export them.

Eat
Ankara has trad Turkish fare, with classics such as döner kebap, and seafood. It lacks the international variety of western capitals, though there are a handful of Chinese / Korean places. That's because in modern times it never had international immigration, but it did have incomers from other parts of the country, so regional cuisines are represented.

Budget

 * Meşhur Adıyaman Çiğköftecisi and Meşhur Köfteci are chains serving meatballs, multiple locations.
 * Kızılay has a pedestrianised block full of little cafes and takeaways. It's east of Atatürk Blv and north of Ziya Gökalp Cd.

Mid-range

 * Sudem is a tavern at Konur Sk 63 with tapas / meze-style servings and Turkish music, open daily 11:00-01:00.
 * Ege (which means Aegean) serves seafood on Tunali Hilmi Cd, open daily 12:00-01:00.
 * Sudem is a tavern at Konur Sk 63 with tapas / meze-style servings and Turkish music, open daily 11:00-01:00.
 * Ege (which means Aegean) serves seafood on Tunali Hilmi Cd, open daily 12:00-01:00.
 * Ege (which means Aegean) serves seafood on Tunali Hilmi Cd, open daily 12:00-01:00.
 * Ege (which means Aegean) serves seafood on Tunali Hilmi Cd, open daily 12:00-01:00.
 * Ege (which means Aegean) serves seafood on Tunali Hilmi Cd, open daily 12:00-01:00.
 * Ege (which means Aegean) serves seafood on Tunali Hilmi Cd, open daily 12:00-01:00.
 * Aşkabat Cd is a street west side of Anıtkabir with a slew of eating places. La’lozi Ocak Başı is a grill at the corner of 72nd Sk open daily 11:00-00:00.
 * Aşkabat Cd is a street west side of Anıtkabir with a slew of eating places. La’lozi Ocak Başı is a grill at the corner of 72nd Sk open daily 11:00-00:00.
 * Aşkabat Cd is a street west side of Anıtkabir with a slew of eating places. La’lozi Ocak Başı is a grill at the corner of 72nd Sk open daily 11:00-00:00.
 * Aşkabat Cd is a street west side of Anıtkabir with a slew of eating places. La’lozi Ocak Başı is a grill at the corner of 72nd Sk open daily 11:00-00:00.
 * Aşkabat Cd is a street west side of Anıtkabir with a slew of eating places. La’lozi Ocak Başı is a grill at the corner of 72nd Sk open daily 11:00-00:00.
 * Aşkabat Cd is a street west side of Anıtkabir with a slew of eating places. La’lozi Ocak Başı is a grill at the corner of 72nd Sk open daily 11:00-00:00.

Drink
Most cafes and restaurants serve beer, wine and rakı. Free-standing bars are uncommon in Turkey away from the beach resorts, but Ankara has a strip flanking Atatürk Blv from Sıhhiye station south down to Kavlıdere Cd. Try Bestekar Cd and Tunus Cd.

Meyhanes are taverns with fixed meze-style menus, drinks and traditional Turkish music and dancing. "Meyhane" is Persian for "house of wine" though it's more likely to be rakı nowadays. They're along the same stretch as the other bars. There used to be a cluster around the citadel, but these relied on the tourist trade and disappeared during covid.

 * Hayyami wine bar is next door at Bestekar Cd 82B.
 * Zodiac Pub is next to James Cook Cafe at 17 Tunus Cd.
 * Manhattan Rock Bar is at Üsküp Cd 11, open W-Sa 20:30-04:00.
 * Hayyami wine bar is next door at Bestekar Cd 82B.
 * Zodiac Pub is next to James Cook Cafe at 17 Tunus Cd.
 * Manhattan Rock Bar is at Üsküp Cd 11, open W-Sa 20:30-04:00.
 * Zodiac Pub is next to James Cook Cafe at 17 Tunus Cd.
 * Manhattan Rock Bar is at Üsküp Cd 11, open W-Sa 20:30-04:00.

Sleep
Accommodation is clustered in Ulus north of the railway station, in Sıhhiye south of the tracks, and in Kızılay further south. A strip of mid-range business hotels follows D200 a few km west - these are more convenient for the bus station.

Mid-range

 * Airport : the hotel within Esenboğa airport remains closed in 2023. Ibis is 1 km south, and Holiday Inn Express is a further km south.
 * Airport : the hotel within Esenboğa airport remains closed in 2023. Ibis is 1 km south, and Holiday Inn Express is a further km south.
 * Airport : the hotel within Esenboğa airport remains closed in 2023. Ibis is 1 km south, and Holiday Inn Express is a further km south.
 * Airport : the hotel within Esenboğa airport remains closed in 2023. Ibis is 1 km south, and Holiday Inn Express is a further km south.
 * Airport : the hotel within Esenboğa airport remains closed in 2023. Ibis is 1 km south, and Holiday Inn Express is a further km south.
 * Airport : the hotel within Esenboğa airport remains closed in 2023. Ibis is 1 km south, and Holiday Inn Express is a further km south.
 * Airport : the hotel within Esenboğa airport remains closed in 2023. Ibis is 1 km south, and Holiday Inn Express is a further km south.
 * Airport : the hotel within Esenboğa airport remains closed in 2023. Ibis is 1 km south, and Holiday Inn Express is a further km south.
 * Airport : the hotel within Esenboğa airport remains closed in 2023. Ibis is 1 km south, and Holiday Inn Express is a further km south.
 * Airport : the hotel within Esenboğa airport remains closed in 2023. Ibis is 1 km south, and Holiday Inn Express is a further km south.
 * Airport : the hotel within Esenboğa airport remains closed in 2023. Ibis is 1 km south, and Holiday Inn Express is a further km south.

Stay safe
Ankara is generally safe, even for single females at night, since as the capital it's well-policed. (The cops are looking for traffic offences, dissident trouble-makers and squaddies in town without a liberty pass.) Take usual care of valuables. The main hazard is traffic - vehicles are driven at silly speeds with scant regard to traffic lights and pedestrians. The side walks are often in poor condition: anyone with restricted mobility will be forced onto the roadway, and on ill-lit streets at night you risk falling into uncovered drains.

For emergencies call the national police number 155 or approach any officer or go to the nearest station. Ankara nominally has a tourist police section with multilingual staff, based at AŞTİ bus station. The covid slump in tourism saw them redeployed to other duties, but perhaps staffing will resume as tourism and related incidents increase.

Embassies
Ankara is the national capital so most countries have an embassy or equivalent consular service. Most are in the southern districts of Kavaklıdere, Gaziosmanpaşa and Çankaya.
 * 🇩🇿 Algeria
 * 🇦🇺 Australia
 * 🇦🇹 Austria
 * 🇧🇩 Bangladesh
 * 🇧🇪 Belgium
 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇨🇱 Chile
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇨🇺 Cuba
 * 🇩🇰 Denmark
 * 🇪🇨 Ecuador
 * 🇪🇬 Egypt
 * 🇫🇮 Finland
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇮🇳 India
 * 🇮🇩 Indonesia
 * 🇮🇷 Iran
 * 🇮🇪 Ireland
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
 * 🇲🇽 Mexico
 * 🇳🇱 Netherlands
 * 🇳🇿 New Zealand
 * 🇳🇴 Norway
 * 🇵🇰 Pakistan
 * 🇵🇭 Philippines
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇷🇺 Russia
 * 🇿🇦 South Africa
 * 🇪🇸 Spain
 * 🇸🇪 Sweden
 * 🇨🇭 Switzerland
 * 🇹🇼 Taiwan
 * 🇺🇦 Ukraine
 * UK
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Connect
Ankara has 4G from all Turkish carriers. As of Jan 2024, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.

Go next

 * Northwest, Highway D140 follows an ancient trade and pilgrimage route from Baghdad to Ankara and Constantinople. Towns along it westbound are Ayaş, Beypazarı, Çayırhan and Nallıhan.
 * Kızılcahamam 80 km north has thermal springs amid forests — bears and wolves lurk in Soğuksu National Park.
 * Boğazkale northeast is the hub for visiting ancient Hattuşa, the capital of Hittites.
 * Çağırkan Japanese Gardens are 10 km past Kaman on the road southeast to Kırşehir.
 * South you pass Tuz Gölü ("Salt Lake") on the road to Aksaray.
 * Aksaray is a laid-back city and great base for the attractions near Güzelyurt.
 * Haymana 80 km southwest is a down-at-heel spa town with hot springs. Gavurkale and Kulhoyuk nearby have rock friezes and Hittite burial grounds.
 * Gordion (Yassıhöyük) is 96 km west, near Polatlı off the highway to Eskişehir. One of the most important ancient cities in Turkey, it had been home for Hittites, Phyrigians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans since 3000 BC. The remnants of the city are displayed in Gordion Museum and Anatolian Civilizations Museum in Ulus.

title: Ankara


text:
Ankeny

Ankeny is a suburb of Des Moines in Central Iowa.

Understand
About 13 miles (20 km) north of Des Moines, Ankeny was once dependent on agriculture but now is a bedroom community for Des Moines.

By car
Ankeny is 13 mi (21 km) north of downtown Des Moines. Take I-35 and until exit 90 or 92.

Get around

 * Ankeny has a commuter bus service with two park-and-ride locations that connect to the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority.

Newspapers

 * Ankeny Press Citizen - Similar to Datebook it also features information about local shows, concerts, movie showtimes and releases, and restaurant reviews. Released on Tuesdays and is free.

Go next
Des Moines is 5-15 minutes away.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Ankeny


text:
Ankola

Ankola is a small town in Uttara Kannada.

Understand
The town is surrounded by numerous temples, and the local people speak Kannada and Konkani.

Get in
The town is well connected to Mangalore and Goa - by bus and train. Konkan railways operates a fairly regular services and Bangalore is connected by road. The National Highway 17 passes through Ankola from Goa to Udupi.

See

 *  Lakshminarayana Mahamaya Temple - a very famous temple dedicated to the deity Goud Sarawat.

Do
There are many beaches in the area, with perhaps Belikeri being the most famous.

Eat
Ankola is famous for its locally cultivated mango called ishaad.

Go next

 * Gokarna - the coastal pilgrimage town is south of Ankola

title: Ankola


text:
Anlong Veng

Anlong Veng is a district and small town in the Oddar Meanchey Province of north-western Cambodia. Its sole claim to notability is its connection to the later days of the Khmer Rouge. Pol Pot, Ta Mok, Son Sen, and Khieu Samphan, the leaders of the organisation, all had homes here. The district also holds the graves of Pol Pot and Ta Mok, as well as the remnants of the structure where Pol Pot was convicted of crimes against the Cambodian people. What might otherwise be an overly morbid itinerary is redeemed by the stunning mountain scenery. There is a border crossing with Thailand's Si Saket Province 13 km north of Anlong Veng town.

Understand
Anlong Veng is at a crossroads, literally and perhaps metaphorically. Once its inaccessibility made it attractive to Khmer Rouge fugitives, it is now at the hub of four glorious asphalt highways which blaze trails through the undeveloped hinterland of North-western Cambodia. Hwy 67 runs north to Choam and the border with Chong Sa-Ngam in Thailand bringing an influx of traders. It continues south to Siem Reap and its temples. The east–west highway connects the town with its provincial capital, Samraong, in the west and the disputed Preah Vihear temples in the east.

The town of 70,000 people (2018) is centred on a roundabout near the market. This is where the road to Preah Vihear meets Hwy 67. The town spreads north towards the man-made lake (see below) and the junction of the road to Samraong.

By bus
Next to the roundabout are the offices of G.S.T and Angkor Paramount Transport which both run buses to and from Siem Reap (2 hr, US$4, twice daily), and Sra Em (2 hr, once daily) for Preah Vihear.

By taxi
Share-taxis and pick-up trucks connect with Siem Reap (2 hr), Samraong (1 hr), Tbeng Meanchey (2 hr) and others. The four main roads to Anlong Veng are now all sealed.

On the Thai side, the international border crossing is at the border of Surin Province and Si Saket Province and is accessible from either. The nearest town is Khu Khan in Si Saket Province. From Surin train station to the border takes about 1½ hr. On the Cambodian side, moto-taxis and pick-up trucks are available in the tiny bazaar.

Get around
The town is easy enough to cover on foot. Moto-taxis are eager to take the town's few visitors to the sites listed below for US$7–15. If haggling isn't your strong point and you're not desperate to see every last heap that has a connection with the Khmer Rouge, better prices can be had by taking on a motorbike driver for one-way journeys only. A motorbike to or from the border area should only be US$3–4. The sights in town can be reached on foot. Plenty of drivers hang about at the border, so don't fear being stranded.

See
The below sights are either within the town or about 14 km up in the hills near the Choam border point.

Do
An interesting few hours can be spent touring all the above sites, with plenty of vista stops and little encounters with surprisingly friendly local people. Moto-taxi drivers can arrange an itinerary.

Over Pol Pot's dead body will there be a casino in Anlong Veng. And so there is: in Choam, opposite brother number one's final resting place (give or take relic looters) is a casino resort. The casino is up and running, the adjoining resort is still under construction.

Buy
The market has the requisite cheap clothing, rambutans, and motorcycle parts. There are a few pharmacies.

There is an ATM at the ACLeda Bank, east of the central roundabout. It accepts only Visa, not MasterCard.

Eat
Khmer rice plates can be bought in various places. Just look for the lidded silver cook pots, have a peek inside them and point at your favourite.

Drink
Places selling soft drinks and coconut water often have beer in their coolers as well.

Sleep
There are a few guesthouses in town, in addition to the place near Ta Mok's mountain house. Ask the moto-taxi drivers for advice.

Connect
There is Internet cafe. It is about 50 m north of the roundabout at the market. US$0.75/hr.

Go next

 * Preah Vihear
 * Samraong
 * Siem Reap and Angkor Archaeological Park
 * Thailand - in Choam, near Pol Pot's cremation site, one can cross to Chong Sa-Ngam in Thailand. The crossing is open to foreigners (07:00-20:00). On the Thai side, transport connections are fairly informal (i.e., hitching a lift with anything going is standard practice). More formal transport can be supplied by a Thai border guard called Iing, who can arrange taxis. Call him on . The best option appears to be the minibuses and pickup trucks that take Thais to the casino in Choam. They should be able to get travellers to Khu Khan, the closest Thai town. Khu Khan has accommodation, banks, ATMs, and direct bus services to Bangkok, Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat), Pattaya, Rayong, Si Saket and Ubon Ratchathani. Westbound and Ubon-bound buses can be boarded at the junction of Hwy 24 and 2201, about 30 km from the border and about 15 km from Khu Khan. On the Cambodian side, motorbike drivers loiter near immigration and will get travellers into Anlong Veng for US$3–4. Choam has at least one guesthouse, so do not worry about arriving at the border late, unless you get stuck on the Thai side, which has very little to offer, except an excellent swimming spot at a reservoir behind the shabby looking market.

title: Anlong Veng


text:
Annaba

Annaba is a coastal city in Northeast Algeria.

By plane
mostly provides domestic connections to Algiers and Oran. It also has international services to Paris (both Charles de Gaulle and Orly), and Istanbul. However, these flights aren't frequent and one should check the Air Algérie timetable when planning a trip.

By sea
There should be a ferry service from Marseille to Annaba operated by Algérie Ferries, but it is not running as of March 2022, presumably due to COVID-19.

By rail
The national railway company SNTF has daily services from Algiers and several other large cities. A daily night train leaves Algiers' Agha station at 20:48. Its price is DA1770 for a first class couchette bunk bed.

By road
One can also reach Annaba by road quite easily from most major Algerian cities. However, due to the road construction and traffic jams this is the least desirable option.

The provides connections to other provinces and cities, such as Constantine. In or around the station you can also find (unofficial) taxis to Tunis (DA3000). The trip to Tunis can take 6-7 hr including stops and border formalities.

Get around
From the airport there is a regular bus shuttle service that runs to downtown Annaba.

The best way to get around Annaba is with taxis. They are the easiest, and most efficient way to get around, and they're readily available. There is also a network of bus routes that connects downtown Annaba with the rest of the city and surrounding suburbs.

See
The central parts of Annaba features both domestic and French colonial architecture, a stunning contrast of old and new. The central square Le Cours is filled with local cafés and ice cream parlors. Annaba has its own Kasbah, dating back to the 12th century. Enjoy narrow alleys and walkways and marvel at magnificent Ottoman architecture. The kasbah is located at the hill just east of Place d'Armes.

Eat
Annaba has countless places to eat. Whether they be small family owned cafes, and restaurants to big fancy places there is a wide range of places to choose from. The fancier restaurants are almost exclusively at La Corniche, and by major beaches. However, there are cafes and restaurants all over town.

Wherever one goes in Algeria, trying the pizza sold at local cafes and restaurants is a must. Similar to the way Italians make pizza in Italy, it is delicious, and a welcome change to the usual round, heavy, topping filled pizza served in most western countries.

One thing Annaba specializes in is "bourek", an Algerian "eggroll". The east of Algeria, and more so Annaba, specializes in this delicacy.

Enjoying a coffee and croissant at a cafe with the locals is always a good thing.

Drink
Like any Algerian city. Annaba has a lot of traditional drinks and bars. Alcoholic drinks are pretty common and Algerian tea “Atay” is usually served in cafeterias.

Sleep
Some popular hotels in the city are:

Stay safe
As is common around Algeria, the city is lively during the day but quiets down fast after dark when most shops start closing. Combined with sparse street lighting this can give an impression of unsafety.

Women might not feel at ease late in the evening, as any people outside will be almost exclusively male.

Go next
There are a number of places to visit that are around or close to Annaba.

Seraidi: Seraidi is a small village up high in the mountains that surround Annaba. It's about 13 km from downtown. It's a great place to enjoy a day away from the hustle and bustle of the city and escape enjoying the tranquility and clean, crisp air. There is a famous hotel there known to the locals as "Hotel Al-Hawa", literally "hotel of the wind". It is called that because it's so high up that it breaks the clouds and offers a great place to stay and has amazing views. On a clear day one can see the amazing views of the coastline and natural beaches below. On a cloudy day there is noting but clouds. It's a great place to see the sunrise or sunset.

El Caala: El Caala is a small town about an hour and a half drive east of Annaba. It's on the road to Tunisia so it is very service oriented. There are many hotels, clubs, restaurants to enjoy. The beach of course, and many souvenirs one can get from there. Not far from El Caala there is "La Vielle Calle" or "Old Caala". There is a wonderful beach there and ruins of a French fort which are beautiful. La Vielle Calle is about 30-45 minutes away.

Tunisia: Annaba is in the east of Algeria, not far from the Tunisian border. The roads leading to Tunisia from Annaba are very well serviced and have numerous service oriented places on the way, such as restaurants, hotels and gas stations.

title: Annaba


text:
Anna Maria Island

Anna Maria Island is a barrier island on the Florida West Coast. It contains the cities of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, and Bradenton Beach.

Get in
From Bradenton, take the Cortez Bridge. From 2-3pm it is often busy.

See

 * White sand beaches
 * Beautiful sunsets
 * Old Florida charm

Go next

 * Bradenton on the mainland.
 * Longboat Key to the south.

title: Anna Maria Island


text:
Annandale

There is more than one place called Annandale:

Australia

 * Annandale (New South Wales) — A town in New South Wales.
 * Annandale (Queensland — A town in Queensland.

Guyana

 * Annandale (Demerara-Mahaica) — A town in Demerara-Mahaica.
 * Annandale (Pomeroon-Supenaam) — A town in Pomeroon-Supenaam.

United States of America

 * Annandale (Minnesota) — A town in Minnesota.
 * Annandale (New Jersey) — A town in New Jersey.
 * Annandale (Virginia) — A town in Virginia.
 * Annandale-on-Hudson — A town in New York (state).

title: Annandale


text:
Annandale (Virginia)

Annandale is a suburb of Washington, D.C. in Fairfax County, Northern Virginia. It serves as the unofficial "Koreatown" of the Washington metropolitan area, with numerous ethnic Korean-owned restaurants, bakeries, and other businesses in the area. Annandale's residents, however, represent a diversity of ethnic backgrounds.

Understand
The main reasons to visit Annandale are its Asian dining options, almost all of which are located either on Little River Turnpike, or just a few blocks off of it near its intersection with Annandale Road and Columbia Pike.

By car
From either I-495 (the Beltway) or I-395, take the Little River Tpk (VA 236) exit.

By bus
Buses 29C,E,G,H,X operate service to Little River Tpk from the Pentagon Metro station. The journey takes 30 minutes. For more information on riding the Metrobus, see Washington DC

Eat
Some of the best Korean food in the Washington area is to be found in Annandale, and some of the latest. Several restaurants are open around the clock, ready to feed your Korean BBQ fix.

Chinese
Chinese is the other reason people make the long trek, with A&J being particularly popular even with D.C. residents for dim sum.

Korean Fried Chicken
And then there's KFC! No, not that KFC—we're talking the original, Korean Fried Chicken! Both of the below are well-known chains from Korea. KFC is deep fried, somewhat crispier/caramelized than American fried chicken, and usually coated with sticky honey before frying. Because of the honey, it is eaten with chopsticks, which might be tough for inexperienced baeg-in.

Sleep
There are no hotels within Annandale proper. If you are staying in the area, stay just north by Beltway Exit 50 (US-50, Arlington Blvd), where you'll find Marriott, Residence Inn, and Homestead Studio Suites.

title: Annandale (Virginia)


text:
Annapolis

Annapolis is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maryland. Annapolis was a thriving, wealthy town in the 1600s and 1700s. Many of the houses and other buildings from the 1800s remain, leaving a thriving, vibrant historic district with shops and restaurants along the waterfront. Brick-lined streets and quaint shops add to the feel. You could easily spend a day walking around the town's downtown harbor area shopping and eating. There is also a lively nighttime scene.

Understand
Tourism from the surrounding Baltimore and Washington, D.C. metro area is a major part of the town's life, as is a thriving boat business.

By plane

 * Many major air carriers fly to Baltimore-Washington International Airport, in Linthicum, Maryland, only a 30 minute drive from Downtown Annapolis.

By car

 * From Baltimore, take I-97 south then go east on Hwy 50.
 * From Washington, D.C., take Hwy 50 East.

Get around
The first place you should stop in when you are in Annapolis is the Visitors Center, 26 West Street,, daily 9AM-5PM, the official destination marketing organization of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County. Come in for area maps, restroom, restaurant menus, and tours and tour schedule.

The most economic way of enjoying Annapolis would be getting around on foot. There are plenty of parking spaces available during less crowded times, such as during the winter months and weekdays after work hours. They are easy to find by following either the parking signs to a parking garage or looking around the harbor area for metered spots which can be held for up to two hours. Bicycles are also an option to bring along, but generally wouldn't be needed for a day of sightseeing in the harbor area.

Tourist maps are available at many downtown establishments, usually highlighting map sponsors as places to visit, but also including most places of interest as a not-to-scale reference. Any local Annapolitan would be more than happy to give short directions, or even a tip on where to eat.

During the busier times, a parking place will be a bit harder to find, but patience is usually rewarded. If needing extended transport, a bus line does traverse Annapolis at various locations. Though, the Annapolis Transit buses have a tendency to run off schedule and are often extremely early or extremely late; plan extra time if using the buses. Weekend nights, you will also find more than enough taxis available at the base of Main Street.

See

 * The city put up a memorial at the waterfront of Alex Haley, author of the book "Roots" which became a TV mini-series in the mid 1970s. This memorial marks the spot where Kunta Kinte, first arrived in this country, in Annapolis in 1767. He came aboard a slave ship from Gambia, Africa named the Lord Ligonier.

Do
Annapolis is the sailing capital of the United States (there's a sign saying so right before the Eastport Bridge), so you must go sailing while in Annapolis.
 * Another great thing to do is go to Sandy Point State Park and look at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. There is a sandy beach, and it provides spectacular views and a view of an old lighthouse in the middle of the Chesapeake.
 * Explore the historic district of Annapolis by foot. Walk with the colonial-clad guides of the Capital City Colonials (website) as they tour you about town explaining the history, buildings, and colonial life in Annapolis' golden age.
 * Lacrosse: Annapolis is generally considered to be the lacrosse capital of the U.S., with marquee matchups between high school powers St. Mary's and Severn taking place in the spring at the United States Naval Academy. Numerous nationally recognized junior and club teams also play throughout the year.
 * Scenic drives: although Marylanders love the Chesapeake Bay, the majority of waterfront property is privately owned. As a result, very few scenic drives exist in Annapolis.  The closest thing to an open drive is through Bay Ridge at the end of Forest Drive.
 * Navy football: Although largely dormant since Roger Staubach's days, Navy football has enjoyed a Renaissance under Paul Johnson, and current coach Ken Niumatalolo. Still, even in a good season, the middies and their chants can be more entertaining than the onfield activities.  Although stadium seating is often available, families with kids are known to prefer the North endzone, which is a grassy hill.  The list of battles in which USNA alumni participated is always impressive, and leaves a strong impression.  Be sure to be inside the stadium for marchon and for the weather permitting flyovers.
 * Have some delicious Maryland crabs and crab cakes.
 * Have some delicious Maryland crabs and crab cakes.

Buy

 * There are many, many shops catering to all tastes in historic downtown Annapolis and it is very easy to just take a stroll and look around at what there is to see. Many shops in downtown Annapolis tend to be fairly expensive and others cater to the tourists.
 * Westfield Annapolis Mall is on Bestgate Road and is the largest mall in the state and has a great selection.

Eat

 * Joss Cafe. The "in the know" sushi spot in Annapolis. Small, generally crowded and no reservations available. Located towards the top of Main Street on the left. Best sushi in town. Go to Nano's for Chinese food but stick to Joss for sushi. On Main Street, just up from Church Circle. Joss Sushi website
 * O'Leary's Seafood in Eastport is by far the best seafood restaurant in the area. It is consistently ranked as one of the Washington, DC area's top 100 restaurants. 310 Third Street. O'Leary's Seafood website.
 * Pusser's is right on the water, and a great place to get a couple of drinks on the harbour. Pusser's is also a prime spot to watch fireworks on 4 July and New Year's Eve. Try their Painkiller mixed drink, a locally famous one that will quickly put you in the mood. On Compromise Street, by the Marina. Pusser's website.
 * Tsunami is home to delicious Asian and Indian food, known for their $5 lunch bowls. On the corner of West and Cathedral. Tsunami website.
 * Pip's Dock Street Dogs is on Dock Street by Randall Street and has many different specialty hot dogs and sausages. It is good value and delicious. +1 410-990-9009
 * Sofi's Crepes is on Craig Street, close to the City Dock and home to delicious, fresh crepes made right in front of you. The selection is fairly large. Sofi's Crepes website.
 * Mangia is at the bottom of Main Street, by compromise on the circle and home to good Italian food and delicious pizza. +1 410-268-1350
 * Sofi's Crepes is on Craig Street, close to the City Dock and home to delicious, fresh crepes made right in front of you. The selection is fairly large. Sofi's Crepes website.
 * Mangia is at the bottom of Main Street, by compromise on the circle and home to good Italian food and delicious pizza. +1 410-268-1350

Drink
Along with a lively night scene, there comes a number of great bars. During the day most of these play the role of family restaurant very well and serve outstanding authentic Maryland food and then turn up the volume when the sun goes down. It can be a bit odd to travelers having lunch at a great restaurant that happens to serve some drinks and hoping to be back for dinner, only to find a packed bar that happens to serve some food.

There are far too many to name, even in a small downtown such as Annapolis, but one unique specialty can be found at Lujan's Pub. Situated on the water front it caters to mostly Naval Academy Midshipmen but finds its fan base with the tourist. Ask for the Crab Cod. A delicious mix of crab juice with rum and cherry flavors. Other main street establishments can lead to an interesting interaction between the very rich and the Middies.

The Mexican Cafe on the south side of town remains very popular for those visiting PAL Park.

Learn
Annapolis is home to St. John's College (which also has a campus in Santa Fe). St. John's has an undergraduate and graduate studies programs in the Great Books tradition. All are welcome to attend the free, weekly lecture series during the school year, or to visit the Greenfield Library. The school also hosts Great Books Saturday and a Continuing Education and Fine Arts program.

Stay safe
Annapolis is one of the safest cities in Maryland. The normal precautions apply, but downtown is pretty much safe at all times. Due to its status as the state capital, there is a larger-than-usual police presence; the Annapolis City Police, Maryland Capital Police, Maryland State Police and, Anne Arundel County Police are all commonly seen in the city and surrounding areas.

Go next

 * The Chesapeake Bay Bridge is close, and when it was built it was the largest bridge of its type in the world. The western end is at Sandy Point State Park which has great views of the bridge and bay and ships passing on the way to Baltimore. From here you can see the Baltimore Lighthouse which for a brief time in the 1960s was the world's first and only nuclear powered lighthouse (it is solar powered at this time). Kite flying, beach walking, swimming, summer concerts, boat launches, etc.. are all here. At the other end of the bridge is Kent Island, another historic place, known for its seafood and popular new bike trails.

title: Annapolis


text:
Annapolis Valley

The Annapolis Valley is in the western part of the Nova Scotia peninsula. It is formed by a trough between two parallel mountain ranges along the shore of the Bay of Fundy.

Towns and hamlets

 * — a settlement dating from the early 17th century, home to Fort Anne, Canada's oldest National Historic Site
 * — a regional centre of about 6,300 people
 * — home of an annual pumpkin festival (mid-Oct)
 * — a good base for exploring the valley's wineries

Other destinations

 * — a National Historic Site and Dark-Sky Preserve in the rugged interior of the peninsula
 * – a World Heritage Site and a historic colonial village
 * Nice view of tidal river from two pubs, old fashioned vibe to main street stores.

Understand
Many small communities are spread through a progressive, farming centric, valley especially famous for apple growing which is celebrated with its Apple Blossom Festival in spring, but also wine grapes, and more. Post-secondary education — Acadia University in Wolfville, and the Nova Scotia Community College campuses in Kentville, Middleton, Lawrencetown, and Digby — play an important role in the region. Michelin has an important truck tire manufacturing plant in Waterville and the Department of National Defence has its largest air force base in Atlantic Canada at CFB Greenwood along with an important training facility at Camp Aldershot, near Kentville.

History
Long settled by the Mi'kmaq Nation, the valley experienced French settlement at the Habitation at Port-Royal, near modern-day Annapolis Royal in the western part of the valley, beginning in 1605. From there, the Acadians spread throughout the valley, in various communities, building dykes to claim the tidal lands along the Annapolis and Cornwallis Rivers. They continued throughout the Annapolis Valley until the British-ordered expulsion of Acadians in 1755. New England Planters moved in to occupy the abandoned Acadian farming areas, and there was later settlement by Loyalist refugees of the American Revolutionary War, and be foreign Protestants. These were followed by significant numbers of freed Africans in the War of 1812, Irish immigrants in the mid-19th century and Dutch immigrants after World War II. Agriculture in the Annapolis valley boomed in the late 19th century with the arrival of the Windsor and Annapolis Railway, later the Dominion Atlantic Railway, which developed large export markets for Annapolis Valley apples.

The valley has a diversified agricultural industry, with a wide range of output ranging from livestock to fruit trees and berries.

Get in
Wolfville is 95 km from Halifax on Route 101. From Moncton, it is 325 km on NB 2, NS 104/NS102/NS101.

Halifax International is the closest major airport.

Get around
Kings Transit links many of the towns and villages of the Annapolis Valley, with service from Hants Border to Weymouth. An express service runs from Hants Border through Grand-Pre, Wolfville/Port Williams and North Kentville via Belcher Street to the Valley Regional Hospital and the Station Lane bus depot in downtown Kentville (Route 2/2A). The other main route (Routes 1/1A and 6/6A) run from the Wolfville Town Centre bus depot on Main Street, with stops in the commercial and business centres of New Minas, Kentville and Berwick to the Greenwood Mall, close to the 14 Wing Greenwood Royal Canadian Air Force base and the Atlantic Region Air Cadet Training Centre. The route from Kentville to Greenwood follows roughly along Highway 1 (the Evangeline Trail) through the communities of Coldbrook, Cambridge, Waterville and the villages of Aylesford and Kingston before terminating.

In Greenwood, a user may also transfer to a route from Greenwood to Bridgetown, via the town of Middleton at the heart of the Annapolis Valley. From the downtown of Bridgetown, the Kings Transit service continues onwards via Highway 1 (Evangeline Trail) to the village of Weymouth through the town of Annapolis Royal (home to Fort Anne National Historic Site), the town of Digby, where you can connect with an inter-provincial ferry service to Saint John, New Brunswick via Bay Ferries' MV Fundy Rose. Afterwards, along the Evangeline Trail, Kings Transit goes through the community of Cornwallis Park, which is home to the former Royal Canadian Navy base and Pearson Peacekeeping Centre, which has been repurposed as the Annapolis Basin Conference Centre and HMCS Acadia, the Atlantic Region Sea Cadet Training Centre.

The old Dominion Atlantic Railway, which was completed in 1869 and ran through the Annapolis Valley, but was since abandoned between the 1980s and early 1990s has been converted to a multi-use trail (hiking, biking, horses, snowmobiles, quads/ATVs) from Bridgetown to Berwick. There's a three-way junction in the trail in Middleton, where another abandoned rail line goes as far south as New Germany.

In Kentville, the trail becomes part of the town's Parks and Recreation system, where use by motor vehicles (motorcycles, motorized scooters, ATVs, snowmobiles, etc.) is strictly prohibited under noise and trail use bylaws enforced by the Kentville Police Service. Similar bylaws apply within the Town of Wolfville, where it is part of the Millennium Trail's Rail Trail extension located beside the idled Windsor and Hantsport Railway Company's property. Noise and trail use regulations are enforced by town bylaw officers with the cooperation of the Wolfville detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

See
The Grand-Pré National Historic Site, near Wolfville, tells the story of the Great Upheaval (the deportation of the Acadian people by the British 1755–1764) through engaging multimedia. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Fort Anne in Annapolis Royal is Canada's oldest National Historic Site. Fort Anne was the site of thirteen attacks, seven changes of hands, and the ratification of the Treaty of Boston.

Do
Freeport Whale & Seabird Tours on Hwy 217 West in Freeport, provide whale watching boat tours into the Bay of Fundy.

Kejimkujik National Park has a fantastic lake for swimming, hiking trails that go for days, great backcountry camping (some sites accessible only by canoe or kayak), and some powered camping sites.

Events held around the region include:
 * Apple Blossom Festival, held in late spring
 * The Steer Bar-B-Que in Kingston in July
 * The Heart of the Valley Festival in Middleton in July
 * Mud Creek Days in Wolfville in August
 * The Annapolis Valley Exhibition in Lawrencetown in August
 * Bridgetown's Cider Festival comes in mid-September
 * The Canadian Deep Roots Music Festival at the end of September in Wolfville
 * Devour the Food Film Fest, an annual international film festival celebrating all things culinary, in late October in Wolfville and Kings County

Eat

 * Farmers markets in Annapolis Royal, Bridgetown, Middleton, Kentville, Kingsport, Berwick and Wolfville bring a wealth of fresh produce and other fine goods to the public every week.

Drink
Since the late 20th century, a wine industry has developed, with such notable wineries as Gaspereau Vineyards winning national and international awards for their product.

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 * Yarmouth and Digby. The town of Digby is well known for its scallops.

title: Annapolis Valley


text:
Annapurna

The Annapurna region is an area in western Nepal where some of the most popular treks are located. The region is generally taken to include areas around the Annapurna Range (Annapurna Himal), the Dhaulagiri Range and the Kali Gandaki River valley. Peaks in the Annapurnas include 8,091m Annapurna I, Nilgiri (7,061 m) and Machhapuchchhre (6,993 m). Dhaulagiri I (8,167 m) is just to the west of the Annapurnas, Most of these peaks are visible throughout the region on clear days.

The Annapurna Conservation Area is also located in the region.

Among the popular treks in the region are the Annapurna Circuit trek which circles the Annapurna Range, the Kali Gandaki River Valley trek which brings you up the world's deepest valley and the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek up to the Annapurna Base Camp. There are many more trails for shorter treks. The region includes the Trans-Himalayan areas north of the main Himalayan Ranges, where the land is arid and the culture more Tibetan than Hindu.

Regions
The Annapurna region, as travellers know it, is not an administrative region. The area is located in two zones - Gandaki and Dhaulagiri. The districts in the Annapurna region are Baglung, Kaski, Lamjung, Manang, Mustang and Myagdi.

Mustang (pronounced as "Moo stung") is located in the western part of Nepal and is officially the name of the district having a Tibet like region. The area is divided into two parts: Upper Mustang and Lower Mustang. Upper Mustang is largely occupied by Manangi people and goes up to the ancient capital of Lo Manthang. Whereas Lower Mustang covers the part of lower valley along the Kali Gandaki river. Mustang is the only district in Nepal with its own King. The citizens of Mustang call themselves Lobas. "Mustang" is a Tibetan lost valley and stands as a hidden treasure of Nepal. A vast breadth of rock; wilderness of huge proportions, Mustang opened only for selected organized groups since 1992. Mustang offers a truly outstanding opportunity to travel around an area rich in ancient tradition and mythology. An almost treeless, barren landscape with a countryside similar to Tibetan plateau. In lower Mustang the hills tend to be great, red fluted cliffs, while upper Mustang offers an endless expanse of yellow and gray rolling hills, eroded by the wind, which is prevalent in this area. The trek takes you to the walled town of Lo-Manthang, a visually extraordinary place, home of the present Mustang's King and full of beautiful temples and a Gompa.

Cities

 * - A village on the way to Annapurna Base Camp with stunning views of the Annapurnas and Machapuchre.
 * - guesthouses & restaurants at upper end of the Kali Gandaki's steep gorge between the Annapurnas and Dhaulagiris. If you stay here, you can see wonderful natural sights and village life of Nepal. It is better to use only locally produced foods as much as possible as this will contribute more to improve the local economy.
 * - "Horse Water" - guesthouses; the high point on the way to Tatopani on the Kali Gandaki River from Pokhara.  Base for day trips to Poon Hill. Poon Hill Tower is about 30 minutes upward from Ghorepani.
 * - Often used as the end (or, less commonly, the start) of the Annapurna Trek. It has an airport with a paved runway with service to Pokhara. Most basic services can be found here with trekker hotels near the airport.  Bus travel south to Pokhara is also available (NPR300 for Nepali and NPR600 for foreigners).
 * - monastery in Kali Gandaki valley half-a-day from Jomsom
 * - guesthouses & restaurants
 * - usual stopping point for elevation-acclimation on the Annapurna circuit trek.
 * - half a dozen guesthouses and restaurants, and a small store with basic supplies; center of apple growing in the region.
 * - pilgrimage site for Buddhists and Hindus high above Kali Gandaki valley several kilometers and 1700 m in elevation below the Thorong La pass from Manang. Jomsom to Muktinath bus fee: NPR150 (for Nepali), NPR300 (for foreigners).
 * - Manang's airport, an hour or two walk east of Manang.
 * - "Hot Water" - named for its hot springs; several hotels by the river at the lower end of the Kali Gandaki's steep gorge through the main Himalayan range. Entrance Fee for hot bathing: for Nepalese: NPR10, foreigners: NPR40.
 * - guesthouses
 * - Center of Thakkali culture, important trading village, hotels and restaurants.
 * - guesthouses; second-night stopping point for Jomsom trek.
 * - Center of Thakkali culture, important trading village, hotels and restaurants.
 * - guesthouses; second-night stopping point for Jomsom trek.

Other destinations

 * - Between the upper valley of the Kali Gandaki and the Annapurna Range, this pilgrimage objective has 108 fountains where the faithful bathe and perpetual flames fed by natural gas. This region is also famous for Shaligrams - fossil ammonites said to be a manifestation of the god Vishnu. If you are coming down from the Thorung La, this village has some decent accommodation and good food.
 *  is the eighth highest mountain in the world. The two-week Manaslu Circuit Trek receives around 2,000 visitors per year which is small compared to Annapurna or Everest. The trek is similar in many ways to the Annapurna Circuit in that it circumnavigates the peak of Manaslu, travels a long steep, verdant river gorge (the Buddhi Gandaki River), encounters glaciers and other spectacular high-mountain scenery. Only in 2010 were enough tea-houses built so that trekkers could complete the circuit without camping. It is now a tea-house trek, though some lodges on the way are still very simple compared to their present-day Annapurna counterparts. Some liken it to the Annapurna Circuit as it used to be in the past. The trek can be done almost all year round, though it is very cold from late December to February and too hot and hazy in May to be pleasant. Unlike the Annapurna Circuit the Manaslu Circuit Trek requires US$50 Restricted Area Permit (RAP) which requires that trekkers be in a group of two or more and travel with a guide. This is mainly due to the proximity of the area to the Tibetan border. Trekkers must also pay a Manaslu Conservation Area entrance fee of NPR2000.
 * – Nepal's largest conservation area.

Understand
Annapurna is a subrange of the Himalayas. Annapurna I reaches 8,091 m (26,538 ft), making it the 10th-highest summit in the world, one of fourteen over 8000 meters in the Himalaya and Karakoram ranges. It extends east from a huge gorge cut through the Himalayas by the Kali Gandaki River to the Marsyangdi River. The Dhaulagiri Range rises west of the Kali Gandaki. 8,167 m Dhaulagiri I is only 34 km from Annapurna I, making the valley between over 6,000 m deep.

Annapurna is a Sanskrit name, literally "full of grain" which can also be translated as "Goddess of the Harvests". She is an avatar (alternative form) of the goddess Durga.

Talk
"Namaste" is the greeting word in Nepali. People greet others with this word and expect it in return. People along the trail generally can understand English but might not reply fluently.

Get in
A permit is required to enter the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) which encompasses most of the region. Permits are issued in Pokhara and Kathmandu. You will need to show the permit at police stations in several towns along the trail.

By taxi
A taxi from Pokhara to NayaPul is the most convenient way.

By bus
Most buses into the area arrive from Pokhara and drop off at Birethanti.

By plane
The only other option for entering the area is by plane to Jomsom. There are several daily flights to/from Pokhara but they are very dependent on weather, particularly the wind, and are generally early in the morning. The airport is quite basic but does have a paved runway.

Get around
There are no paved roads, only foot trails, through the area. Carry a good map or guidebook for reference as it can be difficult at times for foreigners to distinguish the trekking main trail from any number of local trails. You can see rivers flowing directly through the mountains and walk along with them. The trail goes through villages and forests.

Itineraries
Consider the Annapurna Circuit and the Annapurna Sanctuary trek.

Trekking
While the Everest range has higher mountains, the Annapurnas are far more accessible. The range rises a short distance north of Pokhara. Within a few days walk trekkers can be surrounded by high peaks. While the Himalayas and Nepal's northern border generally coincide east of Kathmandu, in western Nepal the mountains come farther south, giving trekkers opportunities to travel from low-lying forests into the mountains and on to the Tibetan plateau without leaving Nepal.

Biking
Biking in the region of Muktinath, Jomseom and down to Tatopani is becoming popular. With rental available in a number of places. Available mountain bikes are decent.

Eat
Dal-bhat-tarkari (lentils over boiled rice with curried vegetables) may be an acquired taste, but it is ubiquitous, safe, nutritious and cheap. You aren't limited to lentils, though. Common food items at most lodges (tea-houses) include potatoes, usually fried or boiled with spices, various rice dishes, noodles in some form (macaroni, spaghetti, or ramen-style), excellent oatmeal porridge, Tibetan fried bread, curries, good soups and even basic pizzas. What there isn't much of is meat, of any species. Chicken may appear when it's available.

Drink
Tea (with milk and sugar), Indian biscuits and noodles are available in most teahouses for quick snacks along the way. For something a little more indigenous try asking for "kha-ja" which is something near popcorn, although local varieties of maize don't always "pop". Nevertheless, it's cheap, filling and pretty tasty.

If you can find local spirits in the high valleys it's more likely to be "daru", distilled from grains and definitely less rough than normal raksi made from fruit. Chang (beer made from millet) is not to be passed up if you can get it made with boiling hot water. Otherwise you are taking a big chance. Beer (Everest, Ghorka or Toburg in 660 ml bottles) seems to be available almost everywhere ranging in price from NPR250 to NPR600.

Stay safe
The Jomosom trek is substantially protected from mountain sickness and hypothermia by not going over 3,000 m, and with comfortable lodging along the way. Treks into Annapurna Sanctuary and across the high Thorung La (5416 m) between the upper valley of the Kali Gandaki and Manang are more exposed to these risks. Trekkers should take precautions for themselves and all support staff. Specific concerns include physical fitness and altitude acclimatization. This is not a trivial concern. There have been deaths from altitude sickness (pulmonary or cerebral edema). Take time to acclimatize, consider using Diamox and watch for symptoms. Immunisations and vaccinations that should be considered include tuberculosis, diphtheria, typhoid, tetanus, meningococcal meningitis, polio, hepatitis A and Japanese encephalitis. While trekking, constant intake of treated water is essential to help avoid Advanced Mountain Sickness (AMS). At altitude where water boils at a lower temperature, consider filtering your water, or using a UV Steripen or add iodine (5 to 8 drops per litre) at least 20 minutes before drinking. A good practice would be to combine 2 of these treatment methods. Carry diarrhea medicine and beware of Giardia lamlia (a parasite common in glacial water of Nepal that infects trekkers).

Trekking through mountain passes in Annapurna, such as the Thorong pass at 5,000 m altitude, can be dangerous or deadly if the weather takes a turn for the worse; travellers may be trapped by blizzards or avalanches. In October 2014, at least 39 trekkers were killed in a single storm. Hôteliers, guides and other tourism promoters tend to downplay very real risks.

Flights to Jomosom are not completely risk free. The Kali Gandaki valley is subject to gusty winds. In 2022, a Tara Air flight crashed on approach to Jomsom, killing all on board.

There have been reports of robberies and fraud by locals against tourists in Manang. Manangis have a reputation as sharp businessmen and may not be averse to a quick profit by unethical means.

The Kali Gandaki is effectively a caravan route with a significant transient element in addition to local population. The sort of precautions one might take at a truck stop would not be out of order.

Go next
The various treks are about as out there as most people care to get. Circuit treks around the Dhaulagiri Range take things to a higher level but are only for the highly experienced, thoroughly conditioned and well acclimated.

Trekking west through Beni, up the Myagdi, across an easy pass and into the Dhorpatan area is less committing. From Dhorpatan it is possible to continue around the western extension of the Dhaulagiris into Dolpa, but that is extremely remote country where help might not be forthcoming in an emergency. Continuing west from Dhorpatan to Jumla is less committing and there are air connections from Jumla to Nepal's larger towns.

From the upper Kali Gandaki valley it is possible to trek up to base camps used to climb Annapurna I and Dhaulagiri I. This may involve altitudes over 5,000 m with significant risks of hypothermia and altitude sickness.

title: Annapurna