Ankara Roman Ruins Walking Tour (Self Guided), Ankara

In 25 BC, Emperor Augustus annexed Ankara, then known as Ancyra, to the Roman Empire. Following that, the city, attached with considerable importance, was enhanced with fortifications and embellished with temples and elaborate civic buildings.

The most significant Roman landmarks, a testament to the Roman imperial cultural influence, survived to our days albeit ruined, include the Roman Theater which could once seat up to 15,000 spectators, and the Temple of Augustus and Rome, honoring the first Roman emperor, Augustus. The temple was turned into a church during the Byzantine period, and then a mosque, under the Ottomans, but today houses a museum.

The 15-meter-tall Column of Julian, erected in the 4th century AD, commemorates a visit to the city by Emperor Julian. Another relic, the Roman Baths, once used for socializing, relaxation, and hygiene, are among the most sizable remnants of Roman heritage in Ankara.

There is a popular saying, "Ankara is an open-air museum", which emphasizes the fact that the city has a rich historical background, a significant part of which comes from the Roman period. Should you wish to explore this museum yourself, at your own pace, and in your good time, feel free to give it a go on this self-guided walk.

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Bernard Gagnon.

How it works: Download the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store to your mobile phone or tablet. The app turns your mobile device into a personal tour guide and its built-in GPS navigation functions guide you from one tour stop to next. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walks in Ankara

Map Instructions: (1) Click the "Nearby Sights" button to view the nearby attractions; (2) click a map pin to see sight information.

Guide Name: Ankara Roman Ruins Walking Tour
Guide Location: Turkey » Ankara (See other walking tours in Ankara)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles

Sights Featured in This Walk

WalkBuilder (customize this walk or build your own)

Use the WalkBuilder tool below to customize this walk to suit your interests. Instructions: click

at the upper right corner in the map above to view other sights in the city. To learn more about a sight, click a map pin. Click the “+” or “–” to add or remove a sight from the walk. To reorder the selected sights, simply drag and move them up or down the list in the left column.

Click here to view route map

Enter a name for your custom walk, along with your email address, in the fields below. You will receive the instructions for retrieving your custom walk in the GPSmyCity app by email. The GPSmyCity app offers turn-by-turn travel directions to guide you from one attraction to the next.
Walk Name*:
Email*:

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I access my walking tour in Ankara?
Save your walking tour on the website. Then download the GPSmyCity app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and sign in to your GPSmyCity account. Next, download “Ankara Map and Walking Tours” within the app. Your walk will appear on the Walks screen.

2. How do I view other attractions in Ankara?
At the upper-right corner of the map above, click the “Nearby Sights” button to show or hide other sights in the city. Click a map pin to view details about a sight. To add a sight to your walk, find it in the right column of the WalkBuilder tool above and click the “+” button next to it.

3. How do I re-arrange the sight order?
In the left column of the WalkBuilder tool, drag a sight to move it up or down the list. Then click “Click here to view route map”. Repeat this process until the route meets your needs.

4. Can I add my hotel to a walking tour?
Yes. You can add your hotel as the starting point, the ending point, or both (creating a loop route). This feature is currently available only in the GPSmyCity app.

5. Can I add my own sights to a walking tour?
Yes. You can add sightss that are not in our database and include them in your walk. To do so, sign in to your GPSmyCity account on the website or use the GPSmyCity app.

6. How many sights can be included in a walking tour?
For technical reasons, the number of sights in a walking tour is currently capped at 20. This limit may be increased over time.

Walking Tours in Ankara, Turkey

Create Your Own Walk in Ankara

Creating your own self-guided walk in Ankara is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Ankara Introduction Walking Tour

Ankara, the capital of modern Turkey, is the heart of the country's central region of Anatolia. Apart from being an important center for politics, this cosmopolitan city – the second-largest in Turkey after Istanbul – plays a significant role in shaping the nation's cultural and economic landscape.

Ankara has a long and eventful history, dating back to the Bronze Age, circa 2,000... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles