The Roman Baths of Ankara (Roma Hamamı) are the excavated remains of a large public bath complex from ancient Ancyra, now an open-air museum on Çankırı Caddesi in the old Ulus district. You walk among the brick foundations of the hot, warm and cold rooms and a colonnaded exercise yard lined with inscriptions, tombstones and column fragments.
It is a quick, inexpensive stop that fits easily between the Temple of Augustus and Ankara Castle.
Plan your visit to Roman Baths of Ankara
- Entry: about TRY 220 (check for increases); Museum Pass valid
- Daily 08:30–19:00 (summer), 08:30–17:00 (winter)
- Time needed: 30–60 minutes
History of Roman Baths of Ankara
The baths were built under Emperor Caracalla between about 212 and 217 AD, when Ancyra was the capital of the Roman province of Galatia, and are thought to have been dedicated to Asklepios, the god of healing. They remained in use for several centuries before falling into ruin.
The site was excavated between 1937 and 1943, revealing the bath building and its palaestra (sports ground). It was later arranged as an open-air museum displaying around 1,000 stone pieces found in and around Ankara.
Attractions at Roman Baths of Ankara
- The bath building: the foundations and hypocaust (underfloor heating) pillars of the caldarium (hot room), tepidarium (warm room) and frigidarium (cold room).
- The palaestra: the colonnaded exercise yard, now lined with columns and stone finds.
- Open-air collection: about 1,000 objects in three groups: funerary monuments, inscriptions and architectural fragments, including sarcophagi and lion statues.
Things to Do at Roman Baths of Ankara
- Walk the site: follow the paths around the bath rooms and palaestra and read the information panels.
- Read the inscriptions: Greek and Latin epitaphs give glimpses of everyday life in Roman Ancyra.
- Make a Roman Ankara trail: combine the baths with the Temple of Augustus and the Column of Julian in Ulus.
Roman Baths of Ankara – Entry Eligibility and Open Timings
- Hours: open daily, 08:30–19:00 in summer (mid-April to early October) and 08:30–17:00 in winter.
- Tickets: a modest fee (about TRY 220 in 2025; check for increases); Museum Pass Türkiye is valid.
- Access: mostly level paths on gravel and grass; there is little shade in summer.
How Long to Spend at Roman Baths of Ankara
Allow 30–60 minutes for the site, or half a day if you combine it with the other sights of Ulus.
How to Get There
- Metro: take the M1 line to Ulus; the baths are about 10 minutes’ walk north along Çankırı Caddesi.
- Bus: many city buses stop in Ulus; check routes in the EGO Cep’te or Moovit apps.
- Taxi: about 10–15 minutes from Kızılay, depending on traffic.
Arriving at Ankara Esenboğa Airport? Book a fixed-price airport transfer straight to your hotel.
Eateries Nearby Roman Baths of Ankara
Ulus has many simple, traditional restaurants (lokanta) serving kebabs, soups and home-style stews, and the cafés in the restored houses around Ankara Castle are a pleasant walk away. Check current reviews before you go, as places change often.
Other Attractions Nearby Roman Baths of Ankara
- Temple of Augustus and Hacı Bayram Mosque: a few minutes’ walk away in Ulus.
- Ankara Castle: the walled citadel with city views, about 20 minutes on foot.
- Museum of Anatolian Civilizations: Türkiye’s leading archaeology museum, below the castle.
- Column of Julian: a Roman column in a square near the Hacı Bayram Mosque.
Before your trip
- Find hotels in Ankara: Ulus is closest to the castle and museums, while Kızılay and Çankaya have more restaurants and nightlife.
- Get a Turkey eSIM before you land, for maps and ride-hailing apps.
The Roman Baths of Ankara are the remains of a 3rd-century bath complex built under Emperor Caracalla, now an open-air museum of foundations, columns and inscriptions from Roman Ancyra in the Ulus district. A visit takes under an hour.
Continue your walk to Ankara Castle, and see our Ankara travel guide for the rest of the city.
