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Ankara Tours & Trips

Find the right tour for you through Ankara. We've got 165 adventures going to Ankara, starting from just 5 days in length, and the longest tour is 22 days. The most popular month to go is September, which has the largest number of tour departures.

165 Ankara tour packages with 1,108 reviews

• Christmas & New Year

Turkey Classics Tour

Our tour guide Goksu and driver Yemas was outstanding! It exceeded our expectations from airport transportation to hotel accommodations and the whole tour were all excellent. Goksu is expert and passionate about his work. He indeed delivered all the classic highlights about his country.

• In-depth Cultural

Absolutely Turkey

The tour while being short took us through most of the icons of turkey and gave me an insight into the culture and the history of the nation. The tour guide, Emre was the highlight of the trip. Extremely knowledgable about the history and passionate about the subject. I would highly recommend him to everyone i know.

Absolute Turkey

I want to thank Gonca so much for being our tour guide. She has made me fall in love once again with Turkey. I cannot fault anything for this trip. I recommend it to everyone.

Anatolian Civilizations | 10 Days

Very good Tour. Good guide good driver. Only criticisms is that a lot of the food was the same, and the last two hotels could've been closer to the sea where the amazing atmosphere was but we were half an hour walk away This would've made it the perfect holiday. Other than that it was great

• Coach / Bus

Magic Carpet Tour

Airport pickup was very sketchy due to a 1 hour delayed flight. After arriving we waited for 2 hours outside before someone came to pick us up, and then was treated like it was our fault for not communicating the correct arrival time. How were we supposed to do that if we were in the air? What was the point of entering our flight information beforehand if no one was willing to check to see what time our flight was arriving when we were not there are the original time? Additionally, when we did arrive and saw that no one was there to pick us up I had to purchase a travel pass on my phone plan and called the Fez office. They were apparently closed and no one answered. Luckily we booked through TourRadar and were able to get ahold of them right away. The agent at TourRadar was very helpful and lined up transportation for us and made sure we felt comfortable. 2 hours later we were connected with Fez and en route to the hotel. From there the tour went really smoothly. We felt like we were taken care of and experienced a lot with an informative guide. We had a great experience in Turkey.

• Sightseeing

Turkish Secrets

We had a great time for our 7 nights on this tour, the hotel accommodation was excellent as was the food. Our guide Sedar made sure vegetarian options were available. Sedar was a fantastic guy, funny and informative. Our group at times was challenging for him, and us to be honest, yet he dealt with everyone really well and thanks to his humour and management we had a great time. Our driver was brilliant, drove safely and the coach was 1st class. Vert comfortable. I really do recommend this tour

Turkish Colours ( 8 days )

I have taken this tour in conjunction with TourRadar and EuropaMundo in Nov/Dec 2023. From booking to payment went very well and EuropaMundo conducted the tour in a professional way. Accommodations, meals, couch were excellent. A very good tour to remember. I will recommend it to others.

Turkey Backroads

Turkey Explored

It was an excellent trip with an excellent guide Two issues foe me were 1 I missed out on a balloon trip over Capadocia. On the first day the weather was deemed too windy and on the second the Intrepid balloon was full . However other totally adequate balloons went up and had spaces to filI. I understand it is not Intrepids policy to encourage it's clients use other companies, and as a result I missed out . 2 The Museum card was not the money saver we had expected it to be For example it could only be used on one turnstile every five days inTopcapi Palace leaving us with extra unexpected costs

Turkey Unplugged - 10 Days

It was good overall and Turkey is the best place to experience variety and never be bored.

Timeless Cities in Modern Transportation: Turkey Unleashed 10 Day Tour

Simply top!!!! ???????? Even though I was a bit skeptical at first, since I had never heard of this travel company before, I have to say: WOW! ???? Here everything was just right! The service was top and you always got an answer immediately! Thanks to Marcos for his effort to offer us a suitable trip after the actually planned was not possible. Also the tour itself was simply breathtakingly beautiful! ???? We experienced and discovered so much of Turkey and had to worry about absolutely nothing during our trip. Thanks again to our great guide Gökalp and also to Hassan, our bus driver, who always brought us safely from place to place. ????

Turkey in a Nutshell 7 Day Tour

It was a marvellous adventure and worth every single minute. Also our guide was awesome.

Discover Turkey

Impressive Turkey by train - 8 days

Classical Turkey

What an excellent experience, unforgettable sites, incredible country with the great guide called Engin Palabiyik or a.k.a. Mr google. His knowledge of history, anthropology, philosophy regarding Turkey is incredible. Because of him I learned how to admire an respect Turkey and its fantastic history

What people love about Ankara Tours

We did a private, personalised tour, with a driver and guide. We were in Turkey for over a week and were amazed at how much our guide Halil, knew. Being a personal tour with just my husband and I, Halil was able to change things around if we had enough in a day. Even though he was only 27, he had unlimited knowledge and we came away with such a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of his country. Thankyou, Fez, and Halil

Had a great time! The tour guide, Eray, was knowledgeable and attentive, ensuring a smooth journey. Although there were several commercial stops, they added an local flavor. The hotels were of good standard, and the sights, especially in Cappadocia, were breathtaking. A well-organized and memorable trip!

Very good trip. The leader Engin was excellent and was at our Bec and call 24/7. I feel for his sanity he needs some nights off and just tell us about a few restaurants but not take us there - do his own thing. The whole group doesn’t need to always be together. We had one person that struggled to keep up with group and I felt some pressure to wait for her or help her- I don’t think she had much insight into the affect she was having on group. Otherwise was a great and diverse group.

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Ankara Reviews & Ratings

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Turkey in Depth

Less bus travel- I feel like we saw every service station and especially on the marathon day and this precluded longer stops at sites as were on a schedule. Swap the...

This was an extensive tour giving a very good overview of the country. Mehmet our guide/leader was excellent in every way making it both interesting and fun with in...

My first experience of this type of holiday. Very full on, but had an amazing experience. Packed everything in, and shared it with a lovely group of people. Very kno...

Turkey is a huge, fascinating country and this in depth tour gets many things right, but there is inevitably, a lot of travelling by coach. However, the itinerary is...

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Private Tour: Ankara Sightseeing

Turkey Exclusive Tour

Private Guided Walking Tour in Ankara

Full Day Cappadocia Private Tour

Private transfer: Ankara Airport (ESB) to Ankara

Cappadocia and Central Anatolia Tour with Professional Tour Guide

Private Tour of the Hittite Sites

Daily Hattusas / Boğazköy Tour

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ANKARA TOURS

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The Capitol city of Ankara has a population of over 5 and a half million people and with so much to see and do let us here at Farout organise your fantastic package and day tours giving you time to just enjoy your time here stress-free. Day Tours: whilst staying in the amazing capital city, we have day tours that will show you the most important sites in the heart of Ankara, you might also want to venture a little further afield and see other places such as Hattusa, Yazilikaya and Alacahoyuk. Package Tours: Ankara is also the perfect starting point due to its central location for many great package tours. Ankara has so much to see but is also the gateway to the rest of Turkey. from here a multitude of different destinations are available for you to discover, whether by plane, overnight bus, private transfer or tour bus our nationwide travel services will get you there. If you would like to explore more of Turkey, we have a wide range of extensive Turkey Package Tours available.

Ankara day tours

Ancient hittite kingdoms tour, ankara sightseeing tour, cappadocia day tour starting in ankara.

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Turkey's 'other' city may not have showy Ottoman palaces or regal facades, but Ankara thrums to a vivacious, youthful beat unmarred by the tug of history. Drawing comparisons with İstanbul is pointless – the flat, modest surroundings are hardly the stuff of national poetry – but the civic success of this dynamic city is assured thanks to student panache and foreign-embassy intrigue.

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Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Museum of Anatolian Civilisations

The best place in the country to get to grips with the complex weave of Turkey's history, the exhibits here house artefacts cherry-picked from just about…

The monumental mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881–1938), the founder of modern Turkey, sits high above the city with its abundance of marble and air…

Erimtan Archaeology & Arts Museum

Ankara's newest museum houses the astounding collection of mostly Roman (but also Bronze Age, Hittite and Byzantine) artefacts collected over the years by…

The imposing hisar (citadel) is the most interesting part of Ankara to poke about in. This well-preserved quarter of thick walls and winding streets took…

Ethnography Museum

Housed inside the building (built 1927) that served as Atatürk's mausoleum until the Anıt Kabir was built, the Ethnography Museum has a small but well…

Vakıf Eserleri Müzesi

The tradition of carpets being gifted to mosques has helped preserve many of Turkey's finest specimens. This extensive collection – which once graced the…

Hacı Bayram Cami

Ankara's most revered mosque is Hacı Bayram Cami. Hacı Bayram Veli was a Muslim 'saint' who founded the Bayramiye dervish order around 1400. Ankara was…

Rahmi M Koç Industrial Museum

The surprisingly absorbing Rahmi M Koç Industrial Museum, located inside the beautifully restored Çengelhan caravanserai building, has three floors…

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Train Travel

Oct 23, 2019 • 5 min read

The Dogu – or Eastern – Express train runs almost a thousand miles from the east to the west of Turkey. Here's our guide to this scenic journey.

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TOUR CODE:ANK-TOUR

• Full-day tour of Ankara
• Visiting historic Ankara sites with a professional guide
• See the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and Ataturk Mausoleum
• Learn all history about Ataturk, founder of the modern Turkey
• Professional guide
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Entrance fees
• Ratuities (optional)
• Drinks, unless specified
• Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
• Not recommended for children aged 4 and under
• Children 18 years and under must be accompanied by an adult

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Top 10 Tourist Attractions In Ankara, Turkey’s Cosmopolitan Capital

Come explore Ankara, an iconic city full of Turkish vibes with our list of most outstanding tourist spots for a jaw-dropping experience.

Ankara, Turkey’s capital and second-largest city which is home to a host of ancient civilizations is an attraction in itself. But sadly the city that’s packed with history and culture is often overlooked. How can this place be skipped when two of Turkey’s most important tourist attractions are here? From stunning landscapes to Ottoman castles, from wonderful architectural design to jaw-dropping experience, Ankara has everything to tick off as a top tourist destination. Here’s a list of some of the prominent attractions which will prove that Ankara is definitely worth a visit.

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Top Places To Visit In Ankara For A Wholesome Experience

With so many places to see in Ankara, it might get a little overwhelming to pick the best. So here we are to help you choose the best that Ankara tourism has to offer. Here’s our pick of the top Ankara attractions that you just cannot miss. 

Ankara Castle

Ankara Castle is one of the oldest sights and the most prominent landmark in the capital city of Turkey. No one knows exactly when the castle was built, but it’s believed that the castle was constructed somewhere after the 7th century. The castle is strategically located on a hilltop, both for defense and settlement purposes. The outer surrounding walls are almost three stories high and the inner section of the castle has two historic mosques (Alaaddin Mosque and Ramazan Semseddin Mosque), a white castle, and a museum. The epic views of the capital city from above make the visit to Ankara Castle completely worthwhile. 

Anitkabir Mausoleum

This is where Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the leader of the Turkish War of Independence who led the people to fight for their liberation was buried. Millions of people from all over Turkey come to pay their respect to the great Turkish leader every year. The lavish architecture and grand feat of design stand proudly against a backdrop of clear blue sky. It is Turkey’s most important modern pilgrimage site and has even been featured on several Turkish banknotes. Apart from the tomb it also contains exhibits of the War of Independence and displays focused on Atatürk’s life. Anitkabir is one of the most significant architectural examples that Turkey has ever seen. 

Anatolian Civilizations Museum

Anatolian Civilizations Museum is one of Ankara’s most prominent tourist spots. The Museum is home to thousands of interesting Anatolian archaeology items including the Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Bronze, Seljuq, Byzantine, and Ottoman eras. The beautifully arranged exhibits from the Paleolithic era to the present day take one through every aspect of Turkey and Ankara’s human history. Remains of Anatolian civilizations like earthenware receptacles, stamps and artifacts from all eras can be seen in the museum. In 1997 the Museum was also bestowed with the title of ‘Museum of the Year’ in Switzerland. This museum alone is reason enough to add Ankara to your itinerary.

Genclik Park

Located in the Ulus district of Ankara is the spectacular Genclik Park, another iconic tourist attraction. The vast 69 acres are home to an amusement park, a swimming pool, walking paths, a Ferris wheel, two small trains, and a unique open-air theater. Once the sun is down the entire park gets lit with colorful lights, so an entire day and night of fun can be experienced at Gençlik Park! Not just the tourists but also the permanent residents prefer spending time in Gençlik Park as it is a great place to take a breather from the capital’s hustle. Apart from the many restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues within the park, Gençlik Park also puts on many festivals and events throughout the year. Hence check for festive dates before booking your tickets. 

Kizilay Square

Kizilay, a neighboring town of Ankara is the main center of the town as this place is always bustling with activities. This is the favorite place for the city’s youth and party lovers as it is the epicenter of the different social hubs. If you are looking to experience the amazing nightlife, then this is the place to be as Kizilay Square is the hub for meet-ups and hangouts. The best part about this square is that it is easily accessible by bus as well as the metro. So the connectivity to other important tourist areas of the city like Guven Park, Ataturk Boulevard, and Selanik Street is great from here.

Atakule Tower

Atakule is derived from two independent words, ‘Ata’ which means ancestor, and ‘Kule’ which means tower. The 125-meter-high tower from where you can enjoy a spectacular view of Ankara is another top destination you should visit while here. Built-in 1989 by the country’s first president Ataturk, this tower is Ankara’s oldest and Turkey’s second-oldest shopping mall. The highlight of this modern shopping and entertainment complex is its open terrace with an observation deck and a 360-degree revolving restaurant. If the weather is in your favor you can also see the snow-capped mountains of the nearby Anatolia region. The spellbinding panoramic view of the city from above is totally worth the visit. 

Just 17 kilometers from the Ankara city center brings you to this beautiful lake that is sheltered inside a natural park. Its calm natural environment makes it a paradise for nature lovers. From cycling to jogging, walking to having a picnic, bird watching to fishing, all these exciting activities make this place the most popular spot for a nature break. The many restaurants and cafés along the lake provide great space to enjoy some lazy breakfast feasts. Some even set up tables near the lake and bonfires during the winter for a great lakeside dining experience. Eymir Lake is so beautiful that not just tourists but even locals love to come here for a walk week after week. 

Aqua Vega Aquarium

Visiting the Aqua Vega Aquarium with your family and friends is one of the best indoor activities that you can do in Ankara. If you are interested in the aquatic world and want to know more about them, this is the place to be. Located on the 2nd floor of Nata Vega Outlet (one of the largest malls in Turkey) the aquarium is home to over 12,000 sea creatures. The thematic salt and freshwater tanks with underwater tunnels have different species of fish and sharks. The entire place is well organized and professionally run, making the experience very wholesome. 

Kocatepe Mosque

Standing 288 feet tall, the Kocatepe Mosque (the largest mosque in Ankara) is visible from most parts of the city on a clear day. The mosque is so huge that it can accommodate around 24,000 worshipers at one time. It is stunning Islamic art and intricate carvings are what enchant the visitors. With lavish decor, stunning marble interiors, gold plates, tinted windows, stylish steps, decorative tiles, and large crystal chandeliers is what makes the interior of the mosque looks strikingly rich. The mosque’s four minarets, a large central dome, and the mosque’s terrace from where you can enjoy panoramic views of the city are the highlights of this place. The well-illuminated Kocatepe Mosque at night is a treat for the eyes.

Old Quarter

End your tour with a visit to the Old Quarter which is a great shopping destination. The place is filled with charming alleyways, bustling shops, and old-fashioned markets which is nothing short of paradise for shopaholics. Is a great place to find unique items, enchanting décor, utility products, and souvenirs to take back home. This is where you can purchase things at a reasonable price if you have great bargaining skills. Apart from being a great shopping point, the Old Quarter is also known for its glorious and rich history. Just a walk in the quarter will introduce you to the different historical structures which have a blend of the old and the new. The Old Quarter is where one can experience real pictures of Ankara in Turkey.

Suggested Reads: Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride: All That You Need To Know And More

Packed with endless experiences and historical sites, Ankara is a destination that can change an ordinary experience into an extraordinary holiday. So, don’t wait any longer, visit this historic city on your next vacation and tell us which among the above list of top attractions is your favorite.

FAQs On Ankara City

Sitting in Turkey’s central Anatolia region, the cosmopolitan city is home to an impressive selection of attractions and experiences that is absolutely worth a visit from anywhere in the world. To top it all, the very reason that it is one of Europe’s less-explored tourist destinations makes it a top pick from your Turkey itinerary. 

Winters in Ankara can get cold, snowy, and cloudy, so it’s very important to pack right. With January being the coldest month, the temperature can go down to -5°C (23°F). The Institut Français de Turquie’s Christmas Market is a must-visit if you are planning a trip during this time. Other attractions during the Christmas time are the many book fairs, delicious food, and mulled wine. On the whole, winter is a good time to visit.

Istanbul which is the king of them all, Antalya which is the second most visited tourist destination, and Ankara which is the capital city are Turkey’s three most important cities.

How do you travel, where do you stay, where do you eat, and how many days? The cost of a trip depends on all these factors. However, a trip to Ankara can be cheaper than any other nearby European destinations if you travel on a budget. 

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Few cities have changed so much, so quickly, as the Turkish capital of ANKARA . When Atatürk declared it capital of his nascent republic in 1923, it was little more than a small provincial town, known chiefly for its production of angora, soft goat’s wool. Fast-forward to the present day, and it’s a bustling, modern city of well over four million souls, its buildings spreading to the horizon in each direction across what, not too long ago, was unspoiled steppe. This was, of course, Atatürk’s vision all along – a carefully planned attempt to create a seat of government worthy of a modern, Westernized state.

Festivals in Ankara

Museum of anatolian civilizations.

Many visitors to Turkey, of course, believe İstanbul to be the nation’s capital, and comparisons between the two cities are almost inevitable. While Ankara is never going to be as attractive a destination, it certainly holds enough to keep you occupied for a few days – diverting sights, good restaurants and pumping nightlife. Most visitors’ first taste of Ankara is Ulus , an area where a couple of Roman monuments lurk beneath the prevailing modernity. Heading east you’ll pass the superb Museum of Anatolian Civilizations before heading up to Hisar , the oldest part of the city. Here, the walls of a Byzantine citadel enclose an Ottoman-era village of cobbled streets; climbing on up will buy you a jaw-dropping city view. Heading south of Ulus you’ll soon come to studenty Kızılay , filled with bars and cheap restaurants; real-estate values increase exponentially as you move south again towards Kavaklıdere and Çankaya , where the cafés and restaurants are somewhat more salubrious.

Brief history

After the Hittites founded Ankara around 1200 BC, naming it Ankuwash, the town prospered due to its position on the royal road running from Sardis to their capital at Hattuşa. Their successors, the Phrygians , called the city Ankyra, and left behind a huge necropolis that was uncovered near the train station in 1925. They, in turn, were followed by the Lydians and the Persians . Alexander the Great passed through on his way east, while in the third century BC invading Galatians (Gauls) held sway for a while.

By the start of the first century BC, the Romans had made substantial inroads into Asia Minor. In 24 BC Ankara was officially absorbed into the empire under Augustus and renamed Sebaste (Greek for Augustus). The city thrived under the Romans, but the later Byzantine era ushered in a period of decline. Arabs, Persians, Crusaders and Mongols stormed the city en route to greater prizes, but only the Selçuks were to settle, taking control in 1071. By 1361 Ankara had been incorporated into the burgeoning Ottoman state and went into another decline; only its famous wool stopped it disappearing altogether.

After Atatürk’s final victory, and despite being little more than a backward provincial centre, Ankara was made the official capital of the Turkish Republic . Turkey’s vociferous pro-İstanbul lobby was dismayed by the choice of capital, and many foreign governments also baulked at the idea of establishing embassies here. People were drawn to Ankara from the Anatolian countryside in search of work and a higher standard of living, and the city’s population of 30,000 swiftly swelled.

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Sensational landscapes of Cappadocia

3 different modes of transportation to explore Cappadocia - by hot air balloon, on the back of a camel as well as on an ATV quad. Why choose if you can have it all? Four days filled with fun and adventure in the volcanic valleys around Cappadocia make an unforgettable trip.

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City & culture - Istanbul and Cappadocia

Explore two absolute highlights in Turkey - Istanbul, the former capital of the Ottoman Empire with its many landmarks. After a few days in the city, fly to Cappadocia and explore the surreal surroundings, either on day tours or from above in a hot air balloon.

9 days  / from 2500 USD

Magical Turkey

Visit Gobekli Tepe and Mount Nemrut in Southeastern Anatolia before proceeding to Cappadocia with its volcanic scenery. After a few days in the valleys, continue to Pamukkale and the ancient city of Ephesus. Your tour starts and ends in Istanbul.

Ankara Film Festival

w www.filmfestankara.org.tr . The city’s main film festival, taking place over ten days each March.

Ankara Music Festival

w www.ankarafestival.com . Now well over thirty years old, this major classical music festival takes place in the spring (usually April), and is spread across three weeks or so.

Büyük Ankara Festival

A fun, family-friendly series of events taking place over one week each July – ask the tourist office for the latest plans.

Flying Broom

w ucansupurge.org.tr . Women’s film festival hosted by a feminist organization, taking place each May.

International Cartoon Film Festival

Cartoon festival aimed at children, but inevitably enjoyed by older folk too. Lasts for a few days each April – ask at the tourist office for info.

From the upper fortifications of Ankara’s citadel , you’ll see the city spread out in all its glory. Many of the nearby buildings look less than glorious, however – these are referred to by locals as gece kondu , which loosely translates as “built overnight”. Though likely put together at sub-Amish speed, their hasty construction is all too apparent: after Ankara was declared national capital, Anatolians moved to the city in droves, and many erected their own houses around the citadel. Effectively shanty towns , these have remained the most impoverished parts of the city ever since; Ankara’s present-day rulers would, of course, prefer to see the back of them, and bit by bit, the old buildings are being replaced with rows of ugly high-rises. Mercifully, the former residents of the gece kondu are being moved here, rather than flung to the outskirts of the city.

Whenever you see a replica artefact at an archeological site in Turkey, you can bet the original lies under the protective wings of the unmissable Museum of Anatolian Civilizations . For most visitors, its outstanding archeological collection is the high point of a visit to Ankara, documenting the peoples and cultures of Anatolia from the late Stone Age through to Classical times.

The museum is housed in a restored fifteenth-century bedesten , which fell out of use after a catastrophic fire in 1881. Its vast cache of artefacts is laid out in chronological order, clockwise from the entrance, with large stone reliefs dating from the Hittite and Phrygian periods in the central chamber. Most exhibits are clearly labelled in English.

From the Paleolithic to the Bronze Age

The museum’s first four sections move visitors through Turkey-time from the Old Stone Age to 2000 BC. The Paleolithic section features assorted bone fragments and primitive stone tools and weapons from a cave site at Karain, 30km northwest of Antalya, while objects found at Çatal Höyük, a settlement of New Stone Age mud-brick houses 52km north of Konya, have yielded significant evidence about the Neolithic period (7000–5500 BC). The importance of agriculture in this era may account for the abundant fertility-goddess figures – represented by baked-clay female forms of ample proportions – that reappear throughout the museum.

Most of the objects in the Bronze Age section (3000–2000 BC) come from Alacahöyük; among the most striking exhibits are the pieces of gold jewellery unearthed in the royal tombs. There then follows a small Assyrian Trading Colony section (1950–1750 BC), with the most notable exhibits being well-preserved cuneiform tablets that rank among Anatolia’s earliest written records.

The Hittite sections

The Hittites (1700–700 BC) left spectacular sites at Boğazkale and nearby Yazılıkaya, east of Ankara. Most of the objects here are from Boğazkale and Alacahöyük, with the most sophisticated example being a vase with a relief depicting a lively wedding procession. Stelae carved with hieroglyphs have proved a valuable source of information about the Old Hittite kingdom (1700–1450 BC).

There’s even more to see from the Hittite Empire (1450–1200 BC) itself – elaborate reliefs from Alacahöyük indicate the sophistication of Hittite culture during this time, and if you’re planning to visit Hattuşa, look out for the lion and sphinx figures from the city gates. The originals are here, replaced with replicas at the site itself.

Phrygian and Urartian sections

Most of the museum’s Phrygian objects (1200–700 BC) were recovered from the royal tumulus at Gordion, capital of Phrygian Anatolia after the fall of the Hittites. The timber-framed chamber at the heart of the tumulus has been re-created and objects from it are on display nearby. Most impressive are a wooden table of intricate design and skilfully wrought bronze vessels.

Modern knowledge of the Urartians largely derives from clay tablets listing military successes. On the evidence of such artefacts here, their culture was less sophisticated than that of the Phrygians, though the large bronze cauldron resting on a tripod with cloven bronze feet is austerely beautiful.

Ankara section

Downstairs, towards the exit, a section details finds from Ankara itself. While it can’t really compete with the bounty upstairs, the collections of Roman coins are of interest – as are the remains of Ankarapithecus , a 9.8-million-year-old ape named after the city of its discovery.

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Hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia and staying in a cave hotel are the main highlights of our tours.

Our tour programs include top   UNESCO  World Heritage sites,  Gobekli Tepe , Istanbul old city, Troy, Pergamon, Ephesus , Aphrodisias,  Pamukkale – Hierapolis, amazing Cappadocia, and Mount Nemrut.

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Turkey has many UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Turkey tours to   Gobekli Tepe ,  the old city of Istanbul , Troy , Pergamon, Ephesus , Aphrodisias,   Pamukkale – Hierapolis,  Antalya, amazing Cappadocia and Mound Nemrut are included in our tour programs.

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1. Ankara : Private Walking Tour With A Guide ( Private Tour )

2. Daily Hattusas / Boğazköy Tour

3. Half Day Private Tour in Ankara

4. Private Tour: Ankara Sightseeing

5. Cappadocia and Central Anatolia Tour with Professional Tour Guide

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27. Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers to Polatlı Hotels

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Vice President Kamala   Harris Launches Nationwide Economic Opportunity   Tour

The Vice President will kick off her multi-state tour with a moderated conversation in Atlanta, GA on April 29 and an event in Detroit, MI during the following week

WASHINGTON – Vice President Kamala Harris announced today that she will embark on a nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour with a series of events focused on investing in communities, building wealth, and ensuring every American has the freedom to thrive. The Vice President’s tour will take her back to several states across the country as she highlights how the Biden-Harris Administration has built economic opportunity and delivered for the American people. The Economic Opportunity Tour will kick off with a moderated conversation in Atlanta, GA on April 29 and an event in Detroit, MI during the following week. Additional dates and locations will be announced soon.

“President Biden and I are committed to creating an economy in which every person has the freedom to thrive. That is why we have taken historic steps to advance economic opportunity by increasing access to capital, investing in small businesses, addressing housing costs, forgiving student loans and medical debt, investing in infrastructure, and championing additional policies that put money in people’s pockets and build wealth,” said Vice President Harris.   “Our economic approach has delivered great progress, and we will continue to invest in you, your family, and your future.”

During the Vice President’s Economic Opportunity Tour, she will highlight how the Biden-Harris Administration has delivered historic investments that have supported communities and helped people thrive. This includes making unprecedented investments in small businesses and achieving the fastest creation of Black-owned small businesses in more than 30 years, creating a record number of jobs, increasing access to capital for underserved communities, investing in infrastructure, cutting the price of insulin and expanding access to health care, erasing medical debt, forgiving more student loan debt than any administration in history and boosting investments in education, making housing more affordable, lowering child care costs, and increasing the wealth of American families. Vice President Harris will also outline additional steps that she and President Biden are taking to expand this work. She will be joined on the tour by Administration officials, members of Congress, local leaders, and other special guests.

The Vice President’s tour is a continuation of her nonstop travel to communities across the country. She has made more than 35 trips to 16 states since the beginning of 2024. This includes consistent travel to meet with small business owners and entrepreneurs in underserved communities to discuss challenges and opportunities they face. In March, she traveled to Black Wall Street in Durham, NC to announce $32 million in funds to support historically underserved entrepreneurs. She began the year in Las Vegas, NV where she announced an SBA rule that will ensure millions of Americans who have served time are eligible for SBA loan programs that help individuals start and run small businesses.

The Vice President has long been focused on ensuring that minority, rural, and low-income communities have the capital and resources they need to thrive and support small businesses. Last year, she announced that Treasury’s CDFI Fund has awarded over $1.73 billion in grants to 603 Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) across the country. In 2022, the Vice President also announced a first-of-its-kind public-private sector initiative — the Economic Opportunity Coalition (EOC) — that is a historic public-private partnership of more than 20 private sector organizations that will invest tens of billions of dollars to create opportunity and grow wealth in historically underserved communities. The EOC has already surpassed over $1 billion in increased member company deposits into community finance institutions. As a Senator, the Vice President partnered with key Congressional stakeholders to secure a transformative $12 billion investment for CDFIs and MDIs in December 2020. Since that time, she has worked to ensure these programs are as successful as possible.

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Looking for cheaper Eras Tour tickets? See Taylor Swift at these 10 international cities.

Swifties who want to snag tickets to Taylor Swift’s colossal Eras Tour know the experience won’t come cheap.  

This year, the billionaire will only visit three U.S. cities – Miami, New Orleans and Indianapolis – and prices for the in-demand shows are astronomical . For the Oct. 18 show in Miami, for example, cost of a single ticket ranged between $1,615 and $8,524 on StubHub.com as of Wednesday afternoon.

So, how else can fans see one of the world’s biggest singers? Go abroad .

In the past 30 days, searches for ‘Taylor Swift Europe tour 2024 tickets’ have increased by 300% in the U.S., indicating that some people are ready to take a long-haul flight to see the wildly popular artist live, according to travel website Islands.com .

Concert-goers who head to Europe for their Swift experience may actually save more money in the long-run . Not only are ticket prices across the pond cheaper, but many European cities, like Warsaw and Lisbon, are also budget-friendly, offering inexpensive food and lodging. 

Learn more: Best travel insurance

Was the travel worth it? Beyoncé and Taylor Swift's summer concerts drew fans from afar

To determine the most affordable Eras Tour stops, Islands.com researchers compared the cost of a two-night trip, including one cheap ticket on StubHub.com, two nights at a four-star hotel, six inexpensive meals, two five-mile taxi rides, and one domestic beer. However, researchers didn’t account for airline tickets or concert merchandise.

With safety at the top of travelers' minds, the researchers also factored in the city’s safety rating out of 100. 

To stay extra safe, the State Department encourages travelers to register with the U.S. embassy in the country they're visiting any time they travel abroad. That can be done at step.state.gov .

10 cheapest destinations for the Eras Tour in 2024

10. Vienna, Austria - total average cost: $1,089, safety score: 69.72

9. Cardiff, U.K. - total average cost: $1,061, safety score: 61.83

8. Lyon, France - total average cost: $1,047, safety score: 44.3

7. Lisbon, Portugal - total average cost: $1,028, safety score: 70.15

6. Munich, Germany - total average cost: $1,000, safety score: 78.88

5. Paris, France - total average cost: $971, safety score: 41.83

4. Stockholm, Sweden - total average cost: $935, safety score: 53.86

3. Hamburg, Germany - total average cost: $903, safety score: 57.51

2. Gelsenkirchen, Germany - total average cost: $749, safety score: 51.33

1. Warsaw, Poland - total average cost: $712, safety score: 72.98

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5-Day Pamukkale, Ephesus, Cappadocia and Ankara Tour

$ 1,185.00   per person

Embark on a 5-day journey from Istanbul, exploring Turkey’s marvels: Pamukkale’s thermal waters, Ephesus’ ancient ruins, Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys, and Ankara’s rich history. Uncover the blend of natural wonders and cultural heritage, making each day a new adventure. Ready to dive into Turkey’s treasures? Book now for an unforgettable experience!

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Day 1: Fly from Istanbul to Denizli for the Pamukkale & Hierapolis Tour

You will be picked up from your hotel in Istanbul at approximately 4:00 AM for the transfer to the airport, in time for your early morning flight to Denizli. Your flight from Istanbul to Denizli Airport is scheduled between 6:00 AM and 7:00 AM, as indicated on your e-ticket. Upon arrival at the Denizli airport, you will be picked up at the airport and transferred to Pamukkale  where you will meet your professional tour guide to begin your tour with a professional guide to begin your full-day tour of Pamukkale. Around 10:45 am you will visit the first destination of Karahayit to see the  Red Spring Waters . After Karahayit we will drive to Pamukkale and begin the visit to the ancient city of  Hierapolis  around 11:30 am. The highlights of Hierapolis are Necropolis,  Roman Baths , Domitian Gate, Latrina, Oil Factory, Frontinious Street, Agora, Byzantium Gate, Triton Fountain, Cathedral, Apollon Temple, Plutonium,  Theater , and  Cleopatra’s Ancient Pool . You will also be able to take some photos from the nicest corners of Pamukkale.  Around 12:30 pm you will be given some free time for approximately 60 minutes to explore the natural beauties of Pamukkale. As an option, you may choose to swim in the  Pamukkale Antique Pools  (at your own expense) during this free time.  At 1:30 pm you will meet the guide and will get a chance to walk in the middle of the  Pamukkale travertines (White Cliffs)  from top to down without shoes and socks. At 2:30 pm you will be taken for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch at approximately 3:30 pm, you will visit an Onyx Factory for approximately 30 minutes. Upon completing the tour at approximately 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to Kusadasi and are expected to arrive around 7:30 pm.

• Overnight in Kusadasi
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Efe Boutique Hotel OR Neopol Hotel Deluxe OR Derici Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 2: Ephesus Tour, then Fly to Kayseri/Nevşehir from Izmir

After breakfast at the hotel around 8:30 am you will be picked up and met by your tour guide to begin your full-day tour of  Ephesus . Your tour guide will brief you on the day’s activities. You will first visit the  Temple of Artemis  which was once one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Next, you will visit the world-famous ancient  Greco-Roman City of Ephesus , the most well-preserved example in the world. After visiting this impressive site, you will have a break for lunch. After lunch, you will visit the  House of the Virgin Mary , where it is believed she spent her last days. This is a holy place for both Christians and Muslims. Afterwards, you will visit the  Isabey Mosque . Next, you will be taken to the  Sirince Village; which is an old Greek village and is well-known for its quaint beauty and wine tasting and production. Here you will have one hour free to explore on your own without a guide the different foods and wines of the area and visit various small traditional village shops. At the end of the tour around approximately 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to Izmir airport for your late evening flight to Kayseri or Nevsehir through Istanbul. Upon your arrival at the Kayseri or Nevsehir airport, a representative will be present holding your name sign to pick you up and transfer you to your hotel in  Cappadocia .

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Accommodation: Heaven Cave House OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel OR Holiday Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 3: North Cappadocia Tour

For an additional option, you can book an early morning  hot air balloon ride  and enjoy breathtaking aerial views of the valleys. Please be aware that this activity comes at an extra cost.

After breakfast around 9:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel to join the full-day tour of North Cappadocia. Your tour will start with a visit to the  Devrent Valley  to see the unique fairy chimneys. Next, you will visit the  Pasabag Valley  (Monks Valley) to see the mushroom-shaped pinnacles. After this visit, you will drive to the city of  Avanos . After lunch, you will visit the  Zelve Open Air Museum  in Cappadocia. The museum features a series of carved caves and ancient churches, providing a glimpse into the region’s monastic history. Finally, towards the end of the day tour before returning to your hotel, you will have around 15 minutes to take panoramic pictures of the natural  castles of Uchisar . After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel around 4:00 pm. You will have the rest of the day free to relax, explore the city on your own, or take part in any optional activities that are offered.

• Overnight in Cappadocia

Day 4: South Cappadocia Tour, then by intercity bus to Ankara (299 km)

After breakfast at the hotel around 9:30 am you will be picked up and met by your tour guide to begin your full-day tour of South Cappadocia. Your tour guide will brief you on the day’s activities. Your tour will begin with a visit to the  Red Valley  where you will be able to explore the famous rock-cut churches and hike approximately 5 km through the  Rose Valley  (Gulludere Vadisi). Next, you will visit  Cavusin Village  which is famous for its houses and churches of Christian Clergymen. We will take a break for lunch around noon. After lunch, you will drive to the  Pigeon Valley  (Guvercinlik Vadisi). In the afternoon you will visit the  Kaymakli Underground City  or  Ozkonak Underground City where early Christians lived. After your tour ends around 4:00 PM, we’ll take you to Göreme’s main bus station. You’ll then catch a 5-hour intercity bus to Ankara. When you arrive, we’ll arrange for your hotel transfer, where you’ll check in for the night.

• Overnight in Ankara
• Accommodation: Best Western Plus Center Hotel OR Holiday Inn Ankara OR The Wings Hotels Neva Palas or similar (Standard quality)

Day 5: Ankara Tour – Return Flight to Istanbul

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel at 9:00 am. Today, you will visit key attractions in Ankara, including the Mausoleum of Ataturk , which honors the founder of the Turkish Republic, and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations , showcasing exhibitions from central Anatolia’s Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Hittite, and Phrygian Urartu periods. At the end of your tour, a transfer to Ankara airport will be arranged for your flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival in Istanbul, our representative will meet you and arrange your transfer to your hotel.

• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: No accommodation is included on this day

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• Pick-up from city center hotels on the European side of Istanbul and transfer to the airport.
• Domestic flight tickets as per the itinerary, including flights from Istanbul to Denizli, Izmir to Kayseri, and Ankara to Istanbul.
• Intercity coach ticket from Göreme/Cappadocia to Ankara.
• Accommodation for 1 night in Kusadasi at a 4-star hotel, inclusive of breakfast.
• Accommodation for 2 nights in Cappadocia at a cave hotel, inclusive of breakfast.
• Accommodation for 1 night in Ankara at a 4-star hotel, inclusive of breakfast.
• English-speaking guide during the tours.
• Meals as specified in the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch).
• All entrance fees are as indicated in the itinerary.
• Local taxes and service charges.

NOT INCLUDED:

• International Flight Tickets.
• Visa to enter Turkey.
• Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride.
• Optional tours mentioned in the program, they will be provided at an additional cost.
• Drinks with meals.
• Escorting tour guide.
• Services not mentioned in the program.
• Travel insurance (recommended).

IMPORTANT INFO:

• The order of the itinerary is indicative and subject to change, but all visits described will take place.
• This is a regular group tour, but if requested at cost can be provided as a private tour.
• The regular group tour has shopping stops included in the tour.
• Vegetarian lunch option available upon request.
• For 1 traveler: 1 Single Room Accommodation
• For 2 travelers: 1 Double/Twin Room Accommodation
• For 3 travelers: 1 Triple Room Accommodation
• For 4 travelers: 2 Double/Twin Rooms Accommodation
• For 5 travelers: 1 Double/Twin Room and 1 Triple Room Accommodation
• On flights luggage allowance is 15 kg per person for checked in luggage. For carry-on, you can take up to 8 kg per person. One carry-on is allowed per person.

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Parking, Travel & Free Public Shuttle

Find out more about parking, travel and the free public bus shuttle service to the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club.

Travel By Car

We have directions from five nearby cities to The Renaissance Club which can help you whether you plan on travelling by car or public transport. 

Click here if travelling from Edinburgh. Click here if travelling from Falkirk. Click here if travelling from Glasgow. Click here if Travelling from Kirkcaldy. Click here if travelling from Newcastle upon Tyne.

Spectators should follow the yellow AA event signage which will direct you to the public car park. 

There will be no access to The Renaissance Club for spectators’ vehicles, except those with valid car park labels.

Travel By Train & Free Public Shuttle

Spectators travelling by train should stop at the Longniddry Rail Station. All ticket holders will be able to use the free bus service, which will drop you off at the entrance to the Genesis Scottish Open. Shuttles will meet each train at Longniddry travelling both from Edinburgh and to Edinburgh.

Please find below the times for trains and buses travelling from Longniddry and North Berwick to Edinburgh Waverley: (note: timings subject to change).

North Berwick to Edinburgh Waverley

Saturday: 18:24, 18:52, 19:33

Sunday: 18:20, 19:25, 20:19**

Longniddry to Edinburgh Waverley

Saturday: 18:37 19:05, 19:45

Sunday: 18:33, 19:38, 20:33

124 Bus Times

Saturday: 18:30, 19:30, 20:00,.20:45, 21:55, 23:00

Sunday: Same as Above

Click here to view the free shuttle bus timetable.

Accessibility Information

There will be dedicated disabled spaces on site for spectators whose vehicles display a blue badge. The disabled car park is situated in Car Park 2. Wheelchair users will need to contact [email protected] in order to make arrangements in advance and gain admission to the site.

Spectators wanting to rent an electric scooter will be able to do so at the Event Mobility tent located in the village. Event Mobility is a charity and kindly asks for a donation of £35 for using electric scooters and £15 for the manual wheelchairs. These can be pre-booked on their website with the link here .

Spectators can also pick them up on the day and these are available on a first come first served basis.

Click here for more information.

Taxi and Uber drop off and collection is available and will be at the public car park only. There is strictly no Taxi/Uber drop off at The Renaissance Club for General ticket holders. 

For more information on local transport, please download the Transport for Edinburgh App.

Southeast Scotland Transport Partnership

Go ahead and download off the  Apple App Store  or the  Google Play Store  now!

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D-day veterans and an Indian election: photos of the day – Friday

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Anne Kyle: 'People want to know what life actually is like here’

Anne Kyle , 46, is the founder and CEO of Arigato Travel, which specializes in gastronomy-themed tours and customized travel curation focusing on cultural experiences around Japan. Growing from a one-woman operation in 2016 to a team that now numbers more than 100, Arigato Travel has been recognized by CNN Travel as one of Japan’s “most authentic experience” companies.

2. Did you begin leading food tours right away? No, I started out teaching English and then transitioned into selling beauty products to Filipinos living in Japan. I had always been entrepreneurial, even as a child, so launching a business was a natural progression for me. I also loved traveling and being exposed to new people, cultures and foods, so after I joined a market tour and cooking class while on a trip to France, I had the idea to merge all of these interests by starting my own cooking school for tourists in Azabu-Juban. These were the roots of Arigato Travel.

3. Did you launch the business on your own? I hired Japanese chefs to teach the classes, while I began leading food tours in Tokyo a few months later. My then-boyfriend (now husband) was also on board. He demanded to see a business plan, so I told him to find the money and I would take care of the rest! He’s the operations guy, while I handle the ideas. He ended up getting a loan from his boss; I knew the timing was right, and indeed everything worked out to plan.

4. And how did you branch out from Tokyo to other cities? Our dream was to expand to different regions, but after about six months we realized that it would be impossible to scale the company by opening kitchens in other cities — so we decided to shift business models by focusing exclusively on food tours rather than cooking lessons. We first branched out to Osaka, where we recruited tour guides without ourselves even yet being familiar with the local food scene. It was a risky thing to do, but it worked out because there were people who believed in us and our vision. Initially, we wanted to offer food tours in all 47 prefectures, but we ended up deciding to focus on a select few locations: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Nagoya and around Mount Fuji.

5. What are some of your top Tokyo neighborhoods for food-related experiences? I love Azabu-Juban, where we first started the business. People think of it as being a trendy expat neighborhood, but in fact it is very historical. Many samurai once lived there, and it is a great place to find traditional Japanese foods at shops that have been in the neighborhood for multiple generations; plus more modern places like a fabulous cheese store. I also love Shinbashi, you can have super authentic experiences there drinking with local office workers.

6. What are some of your favorite food regions outside the capital? I love the tiny but flavorful shirasu (whitebait) and sakura ebi (pink shrimp) you can get in Shizuoka; they’re tiny but so flavorful. I also love the hōtō nabe from Yamanashi, and anything from Hokkaido, such as the thick stews.

7. Do you plan to expand the locations and themes of your tours? Yes, we would like to begin offering tours in locations including Yamagata and Sendai. We are particularly interested in focusing on places like family-run sake breweries and small-scale artisans, in addition to just food. Because the tourist infrastructure in many places is not ready yet, though, running these tours requires a balancing act between wanting to offer authentic experiences in places with interesting stories to tell; while also considering how to provide appropriate services for foreign visitors.

8. What types of stories would you be interested in featuring? Our network includes places like tea farmers and indigo dyers in Shizuoka with more than 200 years of history, for example. Many of these types of artisans want to preserve their craft but often don’t have anyone to carry on the family lineage, so the traditions are dying. In the Philippines, there is often a rush to expand and monetize aspects of traditional culture rather than protecting them. So my eyes really opened after meeting these types of artisans here in Japan.

9. You have an impressively large team. How do you find your tour guides and other associates? It’s a combination of advertising and referrals, but mostly it’s about attracting people with like-minded energy. I actually think that one aspect of our special sauce lies in having so many women, who represent such an untapped resource. I’ve always believed in supporting women, and I try to hire single mothers whenever I can. I’d say that women represent about 80% of our company.

10. Arigato Travel has achieved immense success. Did you have a supportive community along the way? Yes, we’ve received so much support from people who believed in us. At the same time, though, even as I was encountering many passionate people doing meaningful work in the travel and tourism community, there didn’t seem to be an easy mechanism for networking — so I decided to create one myself. I launched a Facebook group during the pandemic, and it’s been a wonderful way for people to support each other and share ideas.

11. So your whole ethos seems to be about supporting people, is that right? Absolutely. I wanted to take some of the bumps I’ve encountered along the way, and use them to help others who might be interested in starting their own tourism-related business. And because of my own economically tough upbringing, it’s personally meaningful for me to use the means I’ve achieved in order to give back to others.

12. What were some of those bumps? As a foreign woman giving Japan-related tours, I often had to prove my authenticity. Another issue was that we operated the business out of our home, and although this is now normal, it was pretty much unheard of prior to the pandemic. Some travel agencies, restaurants and hotels didn’t take the business seriously; so we ended up going around them and working with foreign companies connected to Japan, instead. I’d say that this foreign mindset, combined with local experience, ended up contributing to the company’s success but it was not always easy.

13. What advice would you offer? I think that sticking to timelines is key to success. It’s the difference between an idea turning into reality, or not. In my own case, I set a goal of moving to Japan by age 19 and opening my first business here by age 30, and staying closely focused on that helped me achieve those goals. Similarly, I aimed to launch my food tours within three months, expand to Kansai in six months, and assemble a team in a year; and I stuck to that plan. I’d also tell people to focus in on potential opportunities. Prior to starting the business, I would often help lost tourists find their way before eventually conceptualizing the idea of turning this action into a monetizable business model.

14. Besides Japanese cuisine, what other types of foods are your favorite? I love the aromas and flavors of Thai food, and the healthiness of Mediterranean cuisines like Greek and Italian. And I am equally drawn toward Michelin-starred restaurants and hole-in-the-wall joints. Food does not have to be expensive in order to be good quality. At home, I love having things like pasta and nabe, which are hearty meals that you can personalize based on the seasons, and whatever ingredients you’ve got on hand.

15. You have two children. How do you juggle family life with running a successful business? I’d say trying to maintain a strict sleep schedule is key. I normally wake up by 5 a.m. each day, since I find that having an early start gives me good momentum. My mind is like clear water when I wake up around that time.

16. Are your kids foodies? My son? Definitely. He is very tuned in to things like the freshness of foods such as strawberries, tomatoes and salmon, and I love exposing him to different food traditions. With my daughter, I am not so sure yet. She definitely has a sweet tooth, that is for sure.

17. Besides the great eats, what else do you love about living and working in Tokyo? Of course, I love the peace of mind from the safety here, and the stable systems of education and health care. When you’re raising children, these things are priceless. Tokyo is also an optimal place to run a business, since everything here runs on efficiency. I cannot imagine doing this work in a place with unstable systems of public transportation, for example.

18. Where’s another place (anywhere in the world) you’d love to try living? I think I’d love to live along the Amalfi Coast in Italy, or maybe in Croatia. The history and culture in those regions is so rich. Growing up in poverty myself, I used to watch movies from other regions around the world to get inspiration, so when I was actually able to visit these places as an adult, the feeling was exhilarating.

19. What is in the works for Arigato Travel’s future? In addition to expanding from exclusively gastronomical tours into cultural ones, and growing our regional tour area, we are also working on building a travel app to benefit global tour operators. This will involve identifying problems and needs, and then finding appropriate solutions. We are also obtaining a license to become a full-scale travel company, which will require expanding our team and operations. In doing so, we will continue to focus on growing our company organically, while cultivating relationships of trust with the people in our networks.

20. What would you say is the most fulfilling aspect of running your business? I think that food is actually a gateway into deeper aspects of a culture. People love the cuisine in Japan, but beyond this what they really want is to know more about what life is actually like here. I feel very honored to be able to share this, and I have also seen our tours actually change peoples’ lives. An Italian woman who booked several of our tours in different cities ended up moving here, and later marrying a Japanese man. And in another case, a 14-year-old boy who went on some of our tours later came back to study at Temple University. Travel is incredibly transformative, and helps fulfill peoples’ dreams — my own included. So I don’t at all take for granted the opportunity to be a part of someone else’s journey.

For more information on Arigato Japan’s culinary and cultural tours and customized travel experiences, visit https://arigatojapan.co.jp/ .

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