Where to stay in Ankara
Central Ankara runs from the castle and Ulus in the north to Kızılay, Kavaklıdere and Çankaya in the south, all 27 to 34 km by road from Esenboğa Airport. With a car, the 2026 parking tariff decides more than the distance does.
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How the areas differ
Kızılay Square has buses, taxis and a metro entrance on the square, and the Ankara Metro opened between Kızılay and Batıkent in 1997. Ulus, about 3 km north by road in the Altındağ district, has the equestrian statue on its wide square.
East of Ulus, Ankara Castle stands on its rock above the walls, with red-roofed old houses on the slopes, and Hamamönü, to the south, keeps a group of historic houses. South of Kızılay, Kavaklıdere spreads around Tunalı Hilmi Caddesi, with shops under apartment blocks. Çankaya, around the Atakule tower and the Botanik Park, lies about 6 km from Kızılay by road.
Staying with a rental car
BELTAŞ, a company of the metropolitan municipality, runs the city's municipal parking. Its 2026 tariff, adopted by the city council on 12 December 2025, picks out three street areas: Necatibey Caddesi in Kızılay, the Ulus Rüzgârlı area and the castle historic quarter. There the first 15 minutes are free, then TRY 150 up to 2 hours, TRY 200 from 2 to 8 hours and TRY 250 after 8 hours.
The same decision sets the municipal car parks. Closed car parks charge TRY 100 for the first hour, TRY 130 up to 2 hours, TRY 140 up to 4, TRY 150 up to 6, TRY 200 up to 8 and TRY 250 for 8 to 24 hours. Open car parks run from TRY 100 to TRY 200 on the same bands.
EGO, the municipal transport authority, runs park and ride car parks that are free when the driver makes two full trips on public transport within 24 hours. They open from 07:00 to 23:00 and work only with a personalised Ankarakart, so they suit a resident more than a visitor.
Esenboğa Airport has HAVAŞ and Ankara AIR shuttle buses, taxis and car rental. GetCar's car rental page for Ankara lists the rental options.
Tax and registration rules for a guest
Ankara has no city tax. The national accommodation tax is 1% of the room price before VAT from 1 May to 31 December 2026, half the 2% in the law, and it appears as its own line on the invoice. When a booking site sold the stay without the tax, the hotel invoices it to the guest after the stay.
A flat let for up to 100 days needs a Ministry of Culture and Tourism permit. The listing must show the permit number and say whether parking is available, a plaque marked Turizm Amaçlı Konut hangs at the entrance, and all the flat owners in the building must have agreed. Hotels and permitted flats record each guest's passport or identity card and report it to the police at once.
When to book what
Settle the parking before the room. In Kızılay, Ulus and the castle quarter, a day of street parking costs TRY 250 under the 2026 tariff, so a hotel with its own parking or a flat whose listing states parking saves the most. Kavaklıdere and Çankaya fall outside the higher street tariff.
The 1% tax rate runs to 31 December 2026; from 1 January 2027 the 2% in the law applies unless a new decision extends the cut.
Compare prices for the area on this page once the dates are fixed. A stay near the airport is not the reason to choose Ulus: it is only about 3 km closer by road than Kızılay.
Which area for which trip
A short stay on the metro: Kızılay.
The old city and the castle on foot: Ulus, or the castle quarter and Hamamönü.
A week or a month in a flat near the centre: Kavaklıdere.
A base for drives out of the city, with parking at the hotel: Çankaya.
Questions
Which area of Ankara is best for a first visit?
Kızılay for the metro and the central square, or Ulus and the castle quarter for the old city on foot. All three are on the higher 2026 street parking tariff, so ask the hotel about parking.
How much is a day of street parking in central Ankara?
On Necatibey Caddesi, in Ulus Rüzgârlı and in the castle quarter, TRY 250 for more than 8 hours under the 2026 tariff, after TRY 150 up to 2 hours and TRY 200 up to 8.
Can visitors use the Ankara park and ride?
Only with a personalised Ankarakart, according to EGO. Parking is free when the card pays two full fares within 24 hours, and the car parks open from 07:00 to 23:00.
Is there a tourist tax on Ankara hotels?
Only the national accommodation tax: 1% of the price before VAT from 1 May to 31 December 2026, shown on the invoice. There is no city tax.
How do you get from Esenboğa Airport to the city?
By the HAVAŞ or Ankara AIR shuttle bus, by taxi or by rental car, according to the airports authority. The drive to Kızılay is about 30 km.