Closed to visit due to restoration

Ankara Palas opened as a hotel in 1927 and became one of the symbolic institutions in Ankara, capital of the Turkish Republic. For many years foreign delegations stayed here and it was a venue for international meetings. It was situated opposite the Second Assembling building in the central district of Ulus and became a political centre. In the 1930s, members of parliament, journalists and artists would gather here to discuss the latest political issues. Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic, would come here to relax after speaking in parliament or hold meetings, and he described Ankara Palas as “a window opening from the East onto the West”. Atatürk’s adopted daughter Nebile Hanım’s wedding was held here and his dance with his daughter on this occasion is still remembered.

The building was originally designed as a parliamentary club and state guest house by the architect Vedat Tek and its foundations were laid in 1924. However, when Vedat Tek abandoned the project halfway through, it was completed according to a new design by the architect Kemalettin Bey. The building was transferred to the Department of Pious Endowments and opened as a hotel with 120 beds on 17 April 1927. Official delegations and state guests were entertained here and in the 1930s politicians, journalists and artists used to meet here. In particular, politicians such as İsmet İnönü, Celal Bayar and Adnan Menderes frequently gave receptions at Ankara Palas, which continued to operate as a hotel until 1975. From 1976 to 1982, the building was used as offices and for exhibitions by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

In 1982 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had the building extensively restored and on 29 October 1983 it reopened as the Ankara Palas State Guest House. Ankara Palas was the setting for many significant events in Turkish political history. In 2018 it was transferred to the Directorate of National Palaces Administration, which is attached to the Presidential Office. Restoration work is still underway and when completed the building will become the new Presidential Museum.

Among the famous guests who stayed at Ankara Palas are Shah Reza Pahlavi of Iran, King Amanullah Khan of Afghanistan, King Faisal of Iraq, Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos of Greece and President of the United States Dwight Eisenhower.