Hattuşa

Top choice in Central Anatolia

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In the Bronze Age, the Hittite kingdom encompassed an area that stretched west to the Aegean Sea and south into Syria with its command centre here in the Hittite capital of Hattuşa. This mountainous, isolated site had a population of 15,000. Today the remnants of its defensive walls, with their ceremonial gateways and concealed postern tunnel, which wrap around the scattered ruins, are the most impressive remaining feature.

If you're walking, a full circuit around the site with stops takes around three hours.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Boğazkale Museum

    Boğazkale Museum

    1.13 MILES

    Excellent information boards provide a thorough grounding in both Hittite history and culture while the pieces on display – all unearthed at Hattuşa –…

  • Yer Kapı

    Yer Kapı

    0.3 MILES

    Hattuşa's star attraction is this postern gate complex with an artificial mound pierced by a 70m-long tunnel. The Hittites built the tunnel using a…

  • Yazılıkaya

    Yazılıkaya

    1.33 MILES

    Yazılıkaya means 'Inscribed Rock', and that's exactly what you'll find in these outdoor rock galleries, around 2km from Hattuşa. There are two galleries:…

  • Alacahöyük Excavation Area

    Alacahöyük Excavation Area

    15.95 MILES

    One of Turkey's most important Bronze Age sites (though settlement here actually stretches from the Chalcolithic through to the Iron Age), Alacahöyük's…

  • Lower City & Temple

    Lower City & Temple

    0.62 MILES

    This vast complex, dating from the 14th century BC and destroyed around 1200 BC, is the closest archaeological site to the entrance gate and the best…

  • Aslanlı Kapı

    Aslanlı Kapı

    0.32 MILES

    At Aslanlı Kapı, two stone lions (one rather poorly reconstructed) protect the city from evil spirits. This is one of at least six gates in Hattuşa's 4000…

  • Alacahöyük Museum

    Alacahöyük Museum

    15.94 MILES

    This little museum does a good job of explaining Alacahöyük's history and significance despite comprising only two rooms. One room is dedicated to small…

  • Kral Kapı

    Kral Kapı

    0.37 MILES

    Kral Kapı is named after the regal-looking figure in the relief carving. The kingly character, a Hittite warrior god protecting the city, is (quite…

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Nearby Central Anatolia attractions

1. Yenıce Kale

0.16 MILES

Upon the top of this rock outcrop are the remains of the Yenıce Kale, which may have been a royal residence or small temple. You can climb to the summit…

2. Sarı Kale

0.16 MILES

About 250m south of the lower city and temple ruins the road forks; take the right fork and follow the winding road up the hillside. On your left in the…

3. Nişantaş

0.17 MILES

At Nişantaş a rock with a faintly visible Hittite inscription cut into it narrates the deeds of Suppiluliuma II (1215–1200 BC), the final Hittite king.

4. Upper City Temple District

0.17 MILES

Best viewed from atop the mound of Yer Kapı, Hattuşa's upper city temple district was once a grand centre of 24 temples dedicated to the Hittites' many…

5. Güney Kale

0.29 MILES

Immediately opposite Nişantaş, a path leads up to the excavated Güney Kale with a fine (fenced-off) hieroglyphics chamber with human figure reliefs.

6. Yer Kapı

0.3 MILES

Hattuşa's star attraction is this postern gate complex with an artificial mound pierced by a 70m-long tunnel. The Hittites built the tunnel using a…

7. Aslanlı Kapı

0.32 MILES

At Aslanlı Kapı, two stone lions (one rather poorly reconstructed) protect the city from evil spirits. This is one of at least six gates in Hattuşa's 4000…

8. Büyük Kale

0.33 MILES

Although most of the Büyük Kale site has been excavated, many of the older layers of development have been re-covered to protect them, so what you see…