Anıtkabir is the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Türkiye, on a hill in Ankara. Completed in 1953, it is reached by the Road of Lions, lined with stone lions, which opens onto a vast ceremonial square. The great colonnaded hall holds his symbolic tomb. A museum covers Atatürk's life and the War of Independence. The changing of the guard draws visitors.

The Kocatepe Mosque is the largest mosque in Ankara, completed in 1987. Its design follows classical Ottoman mosques such as the Blue Mosque, with a large central dome and four minarets about 88 metres high. Its interior is decorated with gold leaf, stained glass and a large chandelier. A shopping centre lies beneath it.

Ankara Castle stands on a steep hill above the old quarter of Ankara. Its walls date back to Roman and Byzantine times and were strengthened by the Seljuks and Ottomans. Inside the walls, narrow streets of old Ottoman houses have been restored, with cafes and shops. The top of the citadel gives a wide view over the city.

The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara is housed in a restored 15th-century covered market and caravanserai near Ankara Castle. Its collection traces the history of Anatolia from the Palaeolithic through the Neolithic, Hittite, Phrygian and Urartian eras. Highlights include finds from Çatalhöyük and Hittite reliefs. It was named European Museum of the Year in 1997.

Hattusa was the capital of the Hittite Empire in the late Bronze Age, near the village of Boğazkale. Its ruins cover a large area with long city walls, temples and gates, including the Lion Gate and the King's Gate. Thousands of clay tablets found here include records of a peace treaty with Egypt. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.

The Tombs of the Kings in Amasya are rock tombs carved into the cliffs of Harşena Mountain, high above the Yeşilırmak river. They were made for the kings of Pontus between the 3rd and 1st centuries BC. At night they are lit up above the river. Old Ottoman wooden houses line the riverbank below them.

Safranbolu is a town in Karabük province that kept its Ottoman character. Its name comes from saffron, once grown here. Hundreds of old timber-framed houses with white walls and tiled roofs line its valleys, along with a covered market, a large caravanserai and a hamam. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994. Local Turkish delight is famous.

Amasra is a small town on the Black Sea coast in Bartın province. It stands on a peninsula with two harbours and a small island linked by a stone bridge. Genoese walls and a castle remind of its past as a trading port. The town is known for its fish restaurants and souvenirs carved from local wood.