Ankara

Beypazarı

to northwest is famous with its traditional houses, mineral water, bazaar, and of course bakery which is called Beypazari Kurusu. It is a quite a lot for a small Anatolian town which make them tourism attraction of the area. You must spare a weekend. You will not regret it.

Gordion

is one of the most important ancient cities in Turkey and is 96 km west from Ankara in Yassihoyuk, near Polatlı off the highway to Eskişehir. The city had been home for Hittites, Phyrigians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans since 3000 B.C. The remnants of the city are displayed in Gordion Museum and Anatolian Civilizations Museum in Ulus.

Kızılcahamam

to north is a town with many thermal springs, surrounded by forests—a welcome retreat from the arid landscapes around Ankara.

Boğazkale

to northeast is the hub for visiting ancient Hattuşaş, the capital of Hittites.

Ankara is a reasonably convenient place to base yourself if you want to travel around Anatolia, Cappadocia or the Black Sea coast and a growing number of tour operators and related service industries are catering to tourists. There is accommodation here at all levels, with prices pegged below those of Istanbul or the south coast, and the new bus station AŞTİ is probably the most useful transport hub in Turkey with services to just about anywhere that's feasible Lebanon is only 16 hours away, if you're feeling adventurous.