Capital of Turkey: Why Ankara, Not Istanbul, Is the Capital

The capital of Turkey is Ankara -- NOT Istanbul. Although Istanbul is Turkey's largest, most famous, and most historic city, Ankara has been the capital since 1923.

Introduction

Istanbul, straddling Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus, is one of the world's great cities. It was the capital of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires for over 1,600 years. With its Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Grand Bazaar, it dominates perceptions of Turkey. Yet Istanbul is not the capital -- Ankara is, and this was a deliberate and revolutionary choice by the founder of modern Turkey.

When Mustafa Kemal Ataturk proclaimed the Republic of Turkey on October 29, 1923, he chose Ankara as the capital to make a clean break from the Ottoman past. Istanbul represented the old imperial order; Ankara would symbolize a new, secular, westward-looking republic. This decision transformed a small Anatolian town of about 30,000 people into a modern capital of over 5.7 million.

Why Ankara Was Chosen as Capital

Ataturk's choice of Ankara was driven by multiple factors. First, it was symbolic: Istanbul was the seat of the Ottoman sultans and caliphs, representing the old order that Ataturk was determined to replace with a modern secular republic. Moving the capital to Ankara was a decisive break from 600 years of Ottoman imperial tradition.

Second, Ankara was strategically located in the center of Anatolia, far from the vulnerable coastlines. During the Turkish War of Independence (1919-1923), Ataturk had established his headquarters in Ankara precisely because it was difficult for foreign powers to reach. Istanbul, by contrast, had been occupied by Allied forces after World War I and was exposed to naval attack from the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, and the straits.

Third, choosing Ankara signaled that the new republic's identity was rooted in Anatolia -- the heartland of the Turkish nation -- rather than in the cosmopolitan, multi-ethnic imperial capital of Istanbul. Ataturk wanted to develop Anatolia, which had been neglected under Ottoman rule, and placing the capital there would drive investment and infrastructure into the interior.

History of Turkey's Capital

Ankara's history stretches back thousands of years. Known in antiquity as Ancyra, it was a major city of the Galatians (Celtic people who migrated to Anatolia in the 3rd century BC), then became an important Roman provincial capital. The Temple of Augustus in Ankara contains the most complete surviving copy of the Res Gestae Divi Augusti -- Emperor Augustus's account of his achievements.

Under Byzantine and later Seljuk and Ottoman rule, Ankara served as a regional center but never approached Istanbul's importance. By the early 20th century, it was a modest Anatolian town known primarily for its Angora goats (source of mohair wool) and Angora cats.

The transformation began in 1920 when Ataturk established the Grand National Assembly in Ankara during the War of Independence. After the republic was proclaimed in 1923, German urban planner Hermann Jansen was hired to design a modern capital. Wide boulevards, government buildings, and new residential districts replaced the old town. The city grew rapidly throughout the 20th century, from 75,000 in 1927 to over 5.7 million today, making it Turkey's second-largest city.

Geography and Climate

Ankara is located in the northwestern part of the Central Anatolian Plateau at an elevation of approximately 938 meters (3,077 feet). The city sits along the Ankara River, a tributary of the Sakarya, and is surrounded by steppe landscape typical of central Anatolia.

The climate is continental semi-arid, with cold, snowy winters and hot, dry summers. January temperatures average around -1°C (30°F) with lows frequently dropping below -10°C (14°F). Summer temperatures in July and August average 30°C (86°F) and can exceed 38°C (100°F). Annual rainfall is about 400 mm, with most falling in spring and autumn. The dry summers and cold winters contrast sharply with Istanbul's milder maritime climate.

The surrounding landscape is largely flat or gently rolling steppe, though hills and ridges within the city create varied terrain. The Ankara Citadel (Kale), perched on a rocky hill in the old city center, has been a fortified site since at least the Bronze Age and offers panoramic views across the modern capital.

Key Landmarks

• Anitkabir: The monumental mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, completed in 1953, is the most visited site in Ankara and a powerful symbol of the Turkish Republic.
• Ankara Citadel (Kale): An ancient fortification crowning the old city, with walls dating to Roman, Byzantine, and Seljuk periods. The surrounding old town retains traditional Ottoman houses.
• Grand National Assembly: Turkey's parliament building, where the legislature has met since 1920, making it one of the oldest continuously operating national assemblies.
• Museum of Anatolian Civilizations: Housed in a restored Ottoman bazaar, this world-class museum displays artifacts spanning 10,000 years of Anatolian history, from Paleolithic tools to Ottoman manuscripts.
• Kocatepe Mosque: The largest mosque in Ankara, completed in 1987, blending Ottoman classical architecture with modern construction techniques.

Key Facts

• The capital of Turkey is Ankara, located in the center of the Anatolian plateau.
• Ankara became the capital in 1923 when Ataturk founded the Republic of Turkey.
• The city's population is approximately 5.7 million, making it Turkey's second-largest city after Istanbul.
• Ankara was chosen to symbolize a break from the Ottoman past and to develop Anatolia's interior.
• The ancient city was known as Ancyra and has been continuously inhabited for thousands of years.
• Ankara sits at 938 meters elevation with a continental semi-arid climate -- cold winters and hot, dry summers.

Fun Facts

• Angora wool (mohair), Angora cats, and Angora rabbits all take their name from Ankara -- "Angora" is the old European name for the city.
• Ataturk's mausoleum, Anitkabir, sits on a hill called Rasattepe and was designed to be visible from almost anywhere in the city.
• The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations has won the European Museum of the Year award, housing one of the world's finest collections of Hittite artifacts.
• Despite being the capital, Ankara's economy is only about one-fifth the size of Istanbul's, which generates roughly 31% of Turkey's GDP.