Gordion

Gordion, the capital of ancient Phrygia, lies at the village of Yassıhüyük, north-west of the town of Polatlı in Ankara province. A visit has three parts, all close together: the Midas Mound, the Gordion Museum opposite it, and a little further on the citadel mound of the Phrygian city. The site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023.

Start at the Midas Mound, a huge earth tumulus beside the village. A tunnel leads you inside to the burial chamber, among the oldest surviving wooden buildings anywhere; you look in from the end of the tunnel rather than entering. The museum across the road displays Phrygian brooches, bronze vessels and an early pebble mosaic floor taken from a building on the citadel. From there a short drive brings you to the citadel mound, with its monumental Phrygian gate and excavation areas. Two to three hours covers all three. Note that many of the finest finds from Gordion are in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara.

Gordion is an easy day trip from Ankara by car: main road to Polatlı, then a country road. Getting there by public transport is awkward. The steppe is hot and shadeless in summer and windy in winter, so bring a hat and water. The site is usually quiet. Check the hours on the museum page.