Removals to Turkey | A Guide to Life in Ankara

Many thousands of people from the UK have already undertaken removals to Turkey, with the capital, Ankara, being one of the most popular areas to live. If you are considering moving house to Ankara, Hamiltons can advise you and arrange your relocation, providing all the services you need. We regularly organise overseas moves to Turkey and know the country well.

Located in the heart of the country, Ankara is one of the largest Turkish cities, second only to Istanbul. The city itself has a population of more than 4.5 million, while the figure including the surrounding metropolitan area is higher still at over 5.1 million.

Ankara is a fascinating blend of ancient and modern. On the one hand, it is a historic city with monuments dating from the Roman and Ottoman empires, which help to draw large numbers of tourists. On the other, it is a fast-moving business centre where many major companies and organisations are based. It also offers a wide choice of entertainment venues, restaurants, bars and nightspots.

One of the city’s main landmarks is the Atatürk mausoleum, a spectacular building on a hill with an attached museum paying tribute to the founder of the Republic of Turkey. The Kocatepe Mosque, which is the largest mosque in Turkey, and the ancient Ankara Castle also draw large numbers of visitors. Shopping facilities range from traditional craft shops and bazaars to large modern malls, with the Kizilay district being one of the top destinations for shoppers.

Popular Neighbourhoods of Ankara

Many of the most popular areas to live in Ankara are within the central metropolitan district, meaning they are within easy reach of the main sights and facilities. Some expats choose to live in the heart of the city, the Cankaya district, alongside many top politicians and other wealthy individuals live. The Atakule communications tower is a major landmark here.

Bilkent is another prestigious area, where property has become increasingly in demand over recent years. There are many green open spaces between the housing areas in this district, contributing to a high quality of life. There is also student accommodation in this area catering for the nearby Bilkent University. Bahçelievler is another district with many green spaces, as its name, derived from “garden houses”, suggests. Most of the accommodation in this area is in apartment buildings.

Just to the south of the city centre, Gaziosmanpaşa is home to several embassies, and is a very fashionable neighbourhood with luxury housing. There are also many attractive upmarket villas in Mustafa Kemal, a district where a number of private and international schools are based, adding to its appeal for expats. 

There are various clubs and social activities for the expat community in Ankara, ranging from bridge to quilting and amateur dramatics, and there are also British-style pubs in the city.

Education

Ankara has a number of private and international schools where many UK expats enrol their children. The British Embassy School, based in the grounds of the British Embassy in Cankaya, teaches the UK national curriculum and has around 200 pupils aged from three to fourteen from many different countries.

Bilkent Laboratory and International School (BLIS) is a popular international school in landscaped grounds close to Bilkent University. It has about 1,000 pupils aged from four right up to 19, from over 50 different countries, who study for the International Baccalaureate Diploma and iGCSEs. It also offers a range of sporting and after-school activities.

Oasis International School, in Cankaya, also gives English-language tuition, offering an American curriculum, while Kids International Pre-School, also in Cankaya, caters for younger children. Ankara has a number of universities, including the highly-rated Bilkent University and Middle East Technical University, which both offer courses in English.

Career Options

If you are looking for a job in Turkey, it is very helpful if you have some knowledge of Turkish, as this will be expected in most fields. However, there are a number of jobs where English is the main language used, and there are websites which specialise in finding jobs for English speakers.
Popular career options for expats include working as an English teacher in private language or embassy schools or working for one of the many international organisations and companies which have bases in Ankara. There are also various opportunities within the tourism industry.

nce you have a job offer, it is important to comply with Turkish work visa requirements. Your employer should be able to help you with this and information is also available from the Consulate General of Turkey. 

Removals to Turkey with Hamiltons

If you are looking for movers to arrange your relocation from the UK to Turkey, you will want to be sure you are choosing a professional company with extensive experience of organising similar international removals. At Hamiltons, we have arranged many removals to Turkey, including overseas moves to Ankara. We will discuss your requirements in detail and give you a quote tailored to your specific move. We can also arrange moves from Turkey to the UK.

Removals to Turkey - Follow the link to get a detailed quote and find out how Hamiltons can arrange your house move.