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Esenboğa International Airport

Ankara, Turkey
Explore Ankara city guide Navigate to this airport
52
Routes out
43
Destinations
LTAC
ICAO
3125 ft
Elevation
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Turkey's capital gateway serving Ankara and Central Anatolia.

Opened
1955
Location
Ankara, Turkey
Esenboğa International Airport is the primary commercial airport serving Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. Located approximately 28 kilometres north of the city centre, it handles both domestic and international traffic and serves as a key hub for Turkish Airlines and other carriers operating within Turkey and across Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. The airport underwent significant modernisation and expansion in the 2000s, with a new terminal building opening in 2006 to greatly increase capacity and improve passenger experience. It is operated by TAV Airports, a major Turkish airport management company, under a long-term concession agreement. As the capital's main airport, Esenboğa plays an important strategic role in Turkey's aviation network, complementing Istanbul's airports by serving government, business, and leisure travellers throughout Central Anatolia.
Terminals
The airport operates a single integrated terminal building opened in 2006, handling both domestic and international departures and arrivals.
Getting to & from
Ground transport options include the Ankara Intercity Terminal (AŞTİ) bus service, private shuttles, taxis, and a direct rail link connecting the airport to Ankara's city centre.
Airlines here
Turkish Airlines uses Esenboğa as a secondary hub, and the airport is also served by SunExpress, Pegasus Airlines, and various European and Middle Eastern carriers.
Notable facts
  • ›TAV Airports has operated Esenboğa under a build-operate-transfer model since 2006.
  • ›The new terminal opened in 2006 increased annual passenger capacity significantly beyond the original facility.
  • ›The airport is located about 28 km north of central Ankara in the Esenboğa district.
  • ›It serves as a key alternative hub to Istanbul's airports for domestic Turkish routes.
  • ›The airport's name comes from the Esenboğa district, with 'esenboğa' meaning 'healthy bull' in Turkish.
Official website Wikipedia
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.

Route map (43 destinations)

Leaflet © OpenStreetMap © CARTO

Routes

ESB → ISTFG · 734
ESB → IKAIR · 320
ESB → GYDJ2 · 320 319
ESB → EBLKK · 320
ESB → MUCLH · 321 320
ESB → BJVPC · 738
ESB → DUSPC · 738
ESB → SAWPC · 738 320
ESB → BEGQR · 320
ESB → EBLPC · 738
ESB → ECNPC · 738
ESB → STRPC · 738
ESB → ADBPC · 738
ESB → CGNPC · 738
ESB → VIEPC · 738
ESB → DOHQR · 320
ESB → CKZTK · 73G
ESB → ECNTK · 738
ESB → ISTTK · 738 320 739 330 321 319 343
ESB → KCOTK · 73W
ESB → KSYTK · 738
ESB → VIETK · 738
ESB → VKOTK · 738
ESB → AJITK · 73W
ESB → AYTTK · 738
ESB → BALTK · 73W
ESB → BGGTK · 738
ESB → ERCTK · 73W
ESB → FRATK · 738
ESB → SAWTK · 738
ESB → TEQTK · 73W
ESB → VANTK · 738
ESB → ADBTK · 738 73G
ESB → ADFTK · 738
ESB → DIYTK · 738
ESB → ERZTK · 738
ESB → EZSTK · 738
ESB → GNYTK · 73W 738
ESB → GZPTK · 73G
ESB → GZTTK · 73W 738 73G
ESB → IGDTK · 738
ESB → KCMTK · 738
ESB → MLXTK · 73W
ESB → MQMTK · 738
ESB → MSRTK · 738
ESB → TZXTK · 738
ESB → ADATK · 738 73W
ESB → BGWTK · 738
ESB → BJVTK · 73G
ESB → HTYTK · 738
ESB → IKAW5 · 313
ESB → EBLZ4 · 321
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City & Place Guide

Turkey's stoic capital where history meets modern governance

Ankara is Turkey's capital city, situated on the central Anatolian plateau at roughly 900 meters elevation. Often overshadowed by Istanbul, it rewards visitors with world-class museums, ancient ruins, and a distinctly unhurried pace compared to its famous counterpart.

The city blends Ottoman heritage with bold 20th-century Republican architecture commissioned after Mustafa Kemal Atatürk moved the capital here in 1923. Wide boulevards, manicured parks, and a thriving university scene give Ankara a confident, cosmopolitan character. It is also a far more affordable destination than Istanbul for accommodation and dining.

  • •Anıtkabir — Atatürk's grand mausoleum, an unmissable symbol of the Turkish Republic
  • •Museum of Anatolian Civilizations — one of the world's finest collections of prehistoric and Hittite artifacts
  • •Ankara Citadel (Hisar) — Byzantine and Ottoman fortress with sweeping city views and craft shops
  • •Hacı Bayram Mosque — elegant 15th-century mosque adjacent to the Roman Temple of Augustus
  • •Kocatepe Mosque — massive neo-Ottoman landmark dominating the modern city skyline
  • •Gençlik Park — beloved green retreat with an amusement park, lake, and teahouses

Getting around: Ankara has an efficient public transit network anchored by two metro lines (M1 and M4) and the Ankaray light rail, all using the rechargeable Ankarakart contactless card. City buses extend coverage to outer districts. Taxis are metered and widely available, while the BiTaksi app helps hail licensed cabs; Uber also operates in limited capacity.

Best time: Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) offer mild temperatures and clear skies, making them the most comfortable seasons to explore the city on foot.

Local food: Don't miss Ankara tava (slow-roasted lamb with vegetables), döner served the Central Anatolian way, and the city's distinctive take on çorba (lentil soup) at traditional lokanta restaurants.

This guide is provided for general information only. Verify details locally before making travel decisions.

Passport, Visa & Immigration

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Ankara Esenboğa Airport
Encyclopaedia

Ankara Esenboğa Airport is an international airport of Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. In 2025, the airport served more than 13 million passengers, 10 million of which were domestic passengers. It ranked 4th in terms of total passenger traffic, 3rd in terms of domestic passenger traffic among airports in Turkey as well as being the 13th busiest airport in the Middle East.

Read full article on Wikipedia

Entity data from open aviation datasets (OurAirports, OpenFlights) with AI-assisted editorial clearly marked. Always confirm time-sensitive details with the official airport website. Sources & verification