Ankara, Turkey

Ankara is the capital city of Turkey and the second largest city in the country after Istanbul. It is located at the heart of both Turkey and Central Anatolia. The population is around 3.5 million. The locals are generally helpful to tourists, and many young people can communicate in English. Although most people will try to speak English with you, it's a good idea to bring a Turkish phrasebook or dictionary. Ankara is the administrative center of Turkey and a huge university town such that most of its inhabitants consist of civil servants, students and academics. Don't forget to bring your pullover too - the weather can be chilly! These days just about everyone could name the capital of Turkey correctly in a pub quiz, which goes to show how far Ankara has come in the public consciousness since the days when ‘Ýstanbul' seemed like the only possible answer. In the 80 years since independence the once anonymous provincial capital has really grown into its role as an international city, assuming a very modern air of sophistication. Café culture in particular has transformed the city, breathing full-on life into its wide, open streets.As the city expands, everything that's new and now tends to pop up at random points across the lattice of suburbs, making it tricky for short-term visitors to track down the latest hotspots. If you really want to keep up with the thriving city scene, get used to asking locals for tips and taking taxis to find them.