39.9334°N, 32.8597°E

Ankara

Film in Turkey's capital — Anıtkabir's monumental modernism, Ottoman citadel hilltops, government quarters, and the Anatolian heartland's archaeological depth, with full production support across the city.

Plan Your Ankara Shoot Explore Locations

30% Cash Rebate

8 Filming Spots

6 Districts

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30% Cash Rebate

Capital Government Access

Anatolian Heartland

TRT HQ Broadcast Infrastructure

Scene 01 — Filmed Here

Notable Productions in Ankara

Take 01

2014-2019

Diriliş: Ertuğrul (Resurrection)

Ankara studios, Anatolian countryside surrounding the capital

Take 02

2017

Reis (The Chief)

Ankara political quarters — Erdoğan biopic

Take 03

2003-ongoing

Kurtlar Vadisi (Valley of the Wolves)

Ankara political and intelligence-themed sequences

Take 04

ongoing

Numerous Turkish political dramas & news productions

TRT (state broadcaster) HQ and Ankara government district

Take 05

ongoing

International documentary crews

Anıtkabir, Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Grand National Assembly

Scene 02 — Locations

Filming Locations in Ankara

From landmark monuments to hidden quarters — every district scouted and permit-mapped.

Complex

landmark

Anıtkabir (Atatürk Mausoleum)

Monumental hilltop complex honoring the founder of modern Turkey — colonnaded ceremonial avenue, Hall of Honor, and Independence Tower. Striking modernist architecture.

sunrisegolden hour No filming during ceremonial change of guardDress code enforced

Ankara Castle (Ankara Kalesi)

Byzantine-Ottoman citadel atop the city's tallest hill — stone walls, watchtowers, and panoramic views over Ankara. Surrounding Hisar quarter has restored konak houses.

Easy sunrisegolden hour

Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

Award-winning museum in a restored Ottoman bedesten housing the world's finest Hittite, Hatti, and Phrygian collections. Striking interior architecture.

Complex opening hourweekday mornings

Kocatepe Mosque

Largest mosque in Turkey — modern Ottoman-revival architecture, four minarets, vast prayer hall. Dominates the Ankara skyline.

Moderate between prayersblue hour exterior

Grand National Assembly (TBMM)

Turkey's parliament building — modernist 1960s complex. Exterior shots and the surrounding ceremonial avenue available with clearance.

Complex weekdays during session for activityweekends for empty exteriors

Hacı Bayram Mosque & Roman Temple of Augustus

Side-by-side Ottoman mosque and Roman imperial temple — 2,000 years of layered history in a single frame. Active pilgrimage site.

Moderate early morninggolden hour

Hattusa (Hittite Capital, UNESCO)

Ruins of the Bronze Age Hittite Empire's capital — Lion Gate, Sphinx Gate, royal acropolis. 200km east of Ankara, set in open steppe.

Moderate early morninggolden hour

Tuz Gölü (Salt Lake)

Turkey's second-largest lake — a vast white salt flat 100km south of Ankara. Pink water in summer, mirror-like reflections, Mars-on-Earth aesthetic.

Easy sunrisesunset

Anıtkabir & Tandoğan

Atatürk's monumental mausoleum on a hilltop — limestone colonnades, ceremonial avenue, and the Independence Tower. Turkey's most-visited monument.

Ulus & Ankara Castle (Old Quarter)

Ottoman citadel atop a hill, surrounding stone-and-timber houses, the Roman temple of Augustus, and Hacı Bayram Mosque.

Kızılay (Modern Center)

Ankara's commercial heart — wide boulevards, modernist architecture, government ministries, and the iconic red 'Kızılay' (Crescent) plaza.

Çankaya (Diplomatic Quarter)

Embassy row, Presidential Complex, Çankaya Mansion — Ankara's most exclusive district, leafy and elevated.

Kavaklıdere & Tunalı Hilmi

Upmarket cafés, boutiques, and tree-lined avenues — contemporary urban scenes for modern productions.

Hattusa & Gordion (1-2 hrs out)

Hittite imperial capital (UNESCO) and Phrygian royal tombs — surrounded by open Anatolian steppe.

Scene 03 — The Case for Ankara

Why Film in Ankara

✓ Closest production base to General Directorate of Cinema — fastest national-permit turnaround in Turkey
✓ Capital-city access to ministries, Grand National Assembly, and foreign embassies for political productions
✓ 30% national cash rebate with Ankara-based application processing
✓ TRT national broadcaster headquartered here — strong local crew base in news and serial drama
✓ Gateway to Hattusa, Gordion, and 4,000 years of Anatolian archaeology within 2-hour drive

Scene 04 — Logistics

Transport & Logistics

Ankara Esenboğa Airport (ESB) — 28km / 35-50 min to city center

Belko Air shuttle busTaxi (~₺500-700)Private transferRental car

metro

4 metro lines (M1-M4) covering Kızılay, Çankaya, the universities, and outer suburbs. Plus the Ankaray light rail through the center.

Crew tip: Metro filming requires Ankara Metropolitan Municipality permit (3+ weeks). Useful for crew movement.

car

Production vehicle essential for Anıtkabir, Çankaya diplomatic quarter, and trips to Hattusa or Tuz Gölü.

Crew tip: Wide boulevards and lower congestion than Istanbul make Ankara comparatively easy to drive.

taxi

Yellow taxis abundant. BiTaksi and iTaksi apps work well. Lower fares than Istanbul.

Crew tip: Many drivers speak limited English — have addresses in Turkish.

bus

EGO municipal buses cover all districts. Belko Air links the airport to Kızılay every 30 min.

Crew tip: Less practical for equipment than dedicated production vans.

Street parking limited in Kızılay and Çankaya. Public garages available. Free parking at outer-district sites.

Production vehicle permits via Ankara Film Commission and General Directorate of Cinema. Government-quarter access requires additional clearance.

Ankara is geographically larger than Istanbul but less congested — most central locations within 20-30 min. Allow 2 hrs to Hattusa, 1.5 hrs to Tuz Gölü, 4-5 hrs to Cappadocia (frequent dual-base productions).

Ready?

Plan Your Ankara Shoot

From permits and crew to equipment and logistics — we handle everything on the ground so you can focus on capturing the Anatolian capital.

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