Ankara

When Atatürk declared Ankara, known as Angora until the 1930s, the capital of the newly formed republic, it was a small provincial town known for its angora wool production. Ankara has since become a thriving economic and political centre and a fine capital city. With its predominantly modern architecture and relatively flat skyline, Ankara may lack Istanbul’s visual pizzaz, but it still has plenty to offer visitors.

Ankara is a bustling, forward-thinking city with a booming restaurant scene, excellent cafe culture and thriving nightlife. There are also some fascinating historical sites that are well worth visiting. The Byzantine citadel encloses an Ottoman-era labyrinth of winding streets; follow the road to the top for excellent city views and the nearby Museum of Anatolian Civilisation is one of Turkey’s best.