Anadolu Medeniyetleri Muzesi

The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara is one of the finest archaeology museums in the world, a beautifully arranged collection tracing the deep human history of Anatolia (Asia Minor) from the Palaeolithic through the Hittites, Phrygians, and beyond. Housed in a restored 15th-century Ottoman covered bazaar and inn near Ankara Castle, it holds treasures including extraordinary Çatalhöyük Neolithic finds (among the world's oldest 'town' artefacts), striking Hittite reliefs and sculpture, and Phrygian goldwork, laid out chronologically so you walk through millennia of civilisation.

It's an internationally awarded museum (named European Museum of the Year) and the cultural highlight of Ankara, repaying an unhurried visit. It sits just below Ankara Castle in the atmospheric old town, easy to combine. For anyone interested in ancient history, it's unmissable.

Don't miss

• World-class Hittite reliefs and sculpture
• Neolithic Çatalhöyük finds among the world's oldest
• Phrygian goldwork and artefacts
• Chronological journey through Anatolian civilisations
• The restored 15th-century Ottoman building

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Anadolu Medeniyetleri Muzesi

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Know before you go

• It's chronological, follow the route from the Stone Age through the Hittites for the full story.
• Combine it with Ankara Castle, just above it in the old town.
• A guide or audio guide enriches the ancient context.
• Allow unhurried time, it's a world-class collection.

A bit of history

The museum was established in the 1920s–30s at the behest of Atatürk to gather Anatolia's archaeological heritage, housed in two restored Ottoman buildings (a covered bazaar and a caravanserai). It won the European Museum of the Year Award in 1997 for its exceptional collection and presentation.