Ulucanlar Prison Museum
Ulucanlar Prison Museum
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
The area
How to get there
- Dikimevi • 10 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
1,792 within 3 miles
Attractions
194 within 6 miles
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
390 reviews
Excellent
248
Very good
113
Average
24
Poor
3
Terrible
2
Traveler from Finland
Orimattila, Tavastia Proper38 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
Not a nice place, but interesting place to visit. The prison was very well planned. The worst cells were without any windows or beds, just pure stone. There were no toilets for prisoners in the cells. There are also examples of famous Turkish people being in that prison, their personal belongings are on display. One prison department is made with sounds: people shouting or screaming. Quite a terrifying but interesting experience.
Written September 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
COYDRCOY
Izmir, Türkiye110 contributions
Sep 2013 • Couples
The most popular prison open to public is in USA,this recently opened prison deserves to be visited too,I worked for 24 years next door to this shaming building,watched the machine gunned guards,seen lots of popular Turkish victicms in and out,rebellions,amnesty holidays, demonstrations, memories of ex Prime minister Menderes and Ecevit, hundreds of political leaders,The beginning is through a very dark corridor and mannequins of first comer rooms with cries of them at dark rooms,it is really annoying,When getting out to sunshine it helps a lot,The primitive furniture is kept on,potraits of popular prisioners and their stories just in Turkish,Personal items are in display of a tiny museum corner.We met a guy who had spent 5 years here and guided us around,Bring a torch for the corridor and a transleter for Turkish texts......
Written October 28, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
simyager
Sivas Province, Türkiye159 contributions
Feb 2019 • Friends
It is easy to find by navigation.
There is a Parking place inside Thé campus of prisoners - museum
Museum staff are good. They are ready for Helping.
Price is very reasonable.
Besides All of these, people they ı know Who are scholar and intellectual whether they are democratic or conservational or religious, are All innocent. They came there jut because of Their thoughts.
It was hard to imaging thier time. Walls and beds have Their own language to say many stories.
There is a Parking place inside Thé campus of prisoners - museum
Museum staff are good. They are ready for Helping.
Price is very reasonable.
Besides All of these, people they ı know Who are scholar and intellectual whether they are democratic or conservational or religious, are All innocent. They came there jut because of Their thoughts.
It was hard to imaging thier time. Walls and beds have Their own language to say many stories.
Written February 25, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Orlando D
Bursa, Türkiye80 contributions
Feb 2020
Unfortunately I can not say that this place is wonderful to visit...But it is an experience not to forget the dark years of Turkey...
Written February 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
GokhanOktar
Ankara, Türkiye25 contributions
Sep 2017
It is an ordinary old prison. If you haven't seen any before you may visit. But if you have an idea about the previous events and related people who has a connection with this prison then you will certainly be in some sad feelings.
Written July 12, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Haluk
Ankara, Türkiye163 contributions
Jun 2014 • Family
Excellent idea to turn a jail with lot of sad memories and site for political prisoners and executions. Unfortunately exhibitions are very poor and consist of empty bunk beds and photos of prisoners. There is also artists street in the Museum grounds.
Hopefully the museum will be developed further in the coming years. Still it is worth visiting.
Hopefully the museum will be developed further in the coming years. Still it is worth visiting.
Written July 22, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
B1714D
Belgrade, Serbia16,212 contributions
Oct 2022
If Ankara had more to offer I'd rate this 3 stars (presuming you've visited such establishments across eastern Europe), but having very scarce things to do in the Turkish capital I advise going here, specially if you're staying more than a day.
One star deduction is certainly for the total absence of English - not a single word on plaques, no brochures anywhere to explain what you're visiting. Audio guide does not exist also. So, learn beforehand what you're about to see.
Ulucanlar was a political prison established in 1925 and served as such until the early 2000's. It's located in downtown, some 15 min walk from the Ankara Castle. It was interesting seeing the old pics showing how the area looked like in 1930's with nothing around - a desert like area which is densely populated today.
As you might conclude the inmates were political opponents - intellectuals, writers, journalists,....
Walking the grounds you'll spot the difference of imprisonment levels from low security with only 4 inmates in room (Hilton cells - 9 & 10 ward), over medium with many inmates but with radio, TV, music instruments and other social things to do, to solitary confinement cells without a window and toilet.
Also, you can visit a hammam they had and common outdoor grounds all along with the gallows where 19 inmates were executed.
Due to lack of English count on around 1 hour for a visit.
One star deduction is certainly for the total absence of English - not a single word on plaques, no brochures anywhere to explain what you're visiting. Audio guide does not exist also. So, learn beforehand what you're about to see.
Ulucanlar was a political prison established in 1925 and served as such until the early 2000's. It's located in downtown, some 15 min walk from the Ankara Castle. It was interesting seeing the old pics showing how the area looked like in 1930's with nothing around - a desert like area which is densely populated today.
As you might conclude the inmates were political opponents - intellectuals, writers, journalists,....
Walking the grounds you'll spot the difference of imprisonment levels from low security with only 4 inmates in room (Hilton cells - 9 & 10 ward), over medium with many inmates but with radio, TV, music instruments and other social things to do, to solitary confinement cells without a window and toilet.
Also, you can visit a hammam they had and common outdoor grounds all along with the gallows where 19 inmates were executed.
Due to lack of English count on around 1 hour for a visit.
Written October 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Isil B
Ankara, Türkiye31 contributions
Sep 2018
The Ulucanlar Prison Museum is a former state prison in Ankara, Turkey that was converted into a prison museum following restoration by Altındağ Municipality. The museum was opened in 2011. It is the first museum of its kind in Turkey
When you are walking around you can see how bad it is these young people suffered from what they were told about and their thoughts.
When you are walking around you can see how bad it is these young people suffered from what they were told about and their thoughts.
Written August 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ferudun Babacan
Türkiye136 contributions
Jan 2019 • Business
God created different human beings from animals by with brain.
When you visit the museum
You see that mostly all thinkers are put in prison.
Whoever has the power put the oppositions in prisions.
Is that good?
No.
When you visit the museum
You see that mostly all thinkers are put in prison.
Whoever has the power put the oppositions in prisions.
Is that good?
No.
Written February 11, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1Travelmum
Stafford, VA317 contributions
Jan 2018 • Friends
This was an interesting place to visit in light of political events. I appreciated the English brochure but signage throughout is only in Turkish. There is a decent website that could be studied before a visit to make it more meaningful. Hopefully English translation will be added to the signs on site at some point.
Written February 13, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Candemir A
Afyonkarahisar, Türkiye677 contributions
Arkadaşlar merhaba, müze Pazar günleri açık mı, açıksa saat kaça kadar ve giriş ücreti be kadar?
mervesel
Ankara, Türkiye2 contributions
Merhabalar
Müzemiz Pazartesi günü hariç, hergun acıktır.
Tam :7 TL
Ogrenci: 2 TL
Çocuk ziyaret edebiliyor mu?
mervesel
Ankara, Türkiye2 contributions
Merhabalar
13 yaş altı çocukların tek başına girmelerine izin vermiyoruz fakat aileler sorumluluk bizimdir bizimle beraber gezebilirler derlerse çocuklar aileleriyle beraber gezebiliyorlar.
Ulucanlar Prison Museum, Ankara
Frequently Asked Questions about Ulucanlar Prison Museum
- Ulucanlar Prison Museum is open:
- Tue - Sun 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Hotels near Ulucanlar Prison Museum:
- (0.13 mi) An Grand Hotel
- (0.51 mi) Divan Çukurhan
- (0.44 mi) Angora House Hotel
- (1.15 mi) Radisson Blu Hotel, Ankara
- (1.52 mi) Alba Ankara Hotel
- Restaurants near Ulucanlar Prison Museum:
- (0.16 mi) Meshur Oltu Kebapcisi
- (0.22 mi) Tadan Pide
- (0.22 mi) Dicle Pide ve Kebap Salonu
- (0.27 mi) Oltu Kebap
- (0.31 mi) Meshur Erzurum Oltu Kebap
- Attractions near Ulucanlar Prison Museum:
- (0.51 mi) Rahmi M. Koc Muzesi
- (0.59 mi) Anadolu Medeniyetleri Muzesi
- (0.44 mi) Hamamonu Restored Area
- (0.52 mi) Erimtan Arkeoloji ve Sanat Müzesi
- (0.26 mi) Abdurrahman Tatlıcı