The Ankara Castle (Ankara Kalesi) sits on a volcanic outcrop in Ulus, the oldest inhabited part of the city. The present walls are largely Byzantine, built in the 9th century on earlier foundations, with additions from the Seljuk and Ottoman periods. The castle is still partly inhabited — families live within the inner walls in traditional stone houses, some of which have been converted into restaurants, cafes, and small shops.
From the ramparts, the view over the city is excellent: old Ulus in the foreground, the wide modern avenues of the republican city beyond, and the hills stretching out to the horizon. The climb to the top is short and the interior of the outer walls, with its mixture of Byzantine stonework, Ottoman wooden houses, and cats, is one of the more atmospheric corners of Ankara. Allow an hour to explore.