"A 70-hectare green valley through central Ankara, free to enter, busy with locals."
Dikmen Valley (Dikmen Vadisi), Ankara Overview
Dikmen Valley (Dikmen Vadisi) is a 70.7-hectare park in Ankara's Çankaya district, built along a former stream bed between the Dikmen and Ayrancı neighborhoods. Developed in three phases from 1996 to 2009, it holds two swimming pools, two sports centers, around 68 shops and coffee houses, a 3-kilometer trekking trail, a climbing wall, a children's village, an observation terrace and a mosque. Entry is free and the park is open 24 hours. It holds a 4.5-star rating from close to 9,800 Google reviews, mostly from Ankara residents.
Dikmen Valley follows a dried-up stream bed between the Dikmen and Ayrancı districts of Çankaya. Ankara's municipality converted it into public parkland in partnership with local villagers, opening the first phase on September 13, 1996, with later stages completed in 2002 and 2009. The finished park covers 70.7 hectares and includes fountains, ponds, a Ferris wheel, a mosque, and a small "Turkmenistan Park" section with a statue of the Turkmen poet Magtymguly Pyragy. Its shaded paths, playgrounds, sports facilities and picnic areas draw heavy local use for walking, exercise and family outings, making it more a neighborhood green space than a stop on typical tourist itineraries.
