Rising proudly above the Ankara skyline, the Atakule Tower is an icon. The skyscraper, at a height of 410 feet (125 metres), stands on a hill as an ever-present guardian of the city. Dine at the revolving restaurant at the summit for 360-degree views of the historic city. The tower has two restaurants and a café.
Architect Ragip Buluç designed the site in the 1980s and it was completed in 1989.
Gaze up to see the giant tower from almost anywhere in Ankara on a clear day. Admire the city’s grand emblem, from its round cupola at the top and crisscrossed window design to the narrow modernist column that rises to the peak.
As you ride up to the observation point, look out the elevator’s windows to see the city draw farther away. If you feel particularly energetic, take the open stairs on the side of the building.
The observation deck at the top has many chairs where you can relax on a sunny day. Visit the tower at night for romantic views of the city’s lights against a mountainous backdrop. Use the binoculars to view Ankara’s main attractions, such as the Ankara Citadel and the Anitkabir.
Stay for dinner at the revolving restaurant just below the dome at the top. Enjoy the changing faces of Ankara as the semi-spherical room slowly rotates during your meal. There are also a motionless bistro and a café near the observation deck for those who like to sip their coffee in the sky without the rotating motion.
Atakule Tower sits next to the Botanical Park in the Çankaya region of the city. It is a 2.5-mile (4-kilometre) drive south from the city centre. Take a bus to one of the stops near the skyscraper. Nearby, you can see the Constitutional Court of Turkey and several charming parks.
