It’s easy to get a bit "stir crazy" in winter months or to look for different alternatives besides the beach clubs and resorts of the South during the summer as it can get quite "boring" after awhile - so much so that you find yourself longing to get away for that unique or special weekend.

The Guide Ankara has several suggestions that should satisfy even the most wanderlust among us.

Super winter fun in Kartalkaya
If you’re looking for the thrill of ski slopes and snowboarding then Kartalkaya is the perfect place to fulfill your winter fantasies. Set in the Koroglu Mountains, it’s one of the three top winter skiing centers in Turkey and is only a three hour drive from Ankara and constantly gets rave reviews from Ankara natives and foreigners. Kartalkaya offers alpine skiing; ski touring and cross-country skiing as well as excellent snowboarding with first aid facilities and medically trained personnel available at all hotels.

What makes skiing so perfect here is that all the hotels provide easy access to the slopes. All you have to do is ski down from the ski room just a few steps away from your hotel room. There are 4 main hotels offering accommodations during the winter months in Kartalkaya: The Grand Kartal, Hotel Kartal, Dorukkaya Hotel and Oberj Konuk Evi. All the hotels basically offer the following services: sauna, indoor swimming pool (with warm water), disco, bar, restaurant, billiards, TV room (with satellite), and open buffet meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner), complimentary domestic alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, along with coffee, tea and hot wine service in the afternoons. An additional note on the meals offered at these hotels should not go without being mentioned. All of the hotels offer a very wide selection of appetizers, salads, main courses and desserts which are all quite good. If you are not careful – it is very easy to put on a couple of extra kilos on your vacation! The Grand Kartal Hotel has 12 slopes and the Dorukkaya Hotel has 20 slopes, most with new lifts and services such as ski rentals and lessons available for beginners, intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders.
Each hotel offers package deals for 1, 2 or 3 nights - weekdays are less expensive since weekends book up in advance. For those going solo, there are good deals as well, along with one-day deals too.

Getting There

By Car
From Ankara, take Istanbul Highway to the Cagdurt Exit. Exit to the left, and drive for about 2 kilometers and check signs for Kartalkaya and all hotels.
By Bus
Bus transportation from Ankara to Bolu is available by most bus companies including Kamil Koç, Uludag, Metro, and Varan among others. From Bolu you can take a taxi to your hotel (current price is about 50 million TL) or if you arrange with the hotel in advance, they may provide a service bus.
By Tour
You may choose to book a tour with travel agencies booking to Kartalkaya (i.e., Asya Tur, ETS or Setur)

Hotels
Grand Kartal Hotel
Tel: (0374) 234 50 50
Hotel Kartal
Tel: (0374) 234 50 05
Hotel Dorukkaya
Tel: (0374) 234 50 26
Oberj Konuk Evi
Tel: (0374) 234 50 28

Hanging out in Elmadag
If you’re looking for something closer to Ankara with good ski facilities and at rock bottom prices, Elmadag is your spot! It is quite popular with students and those on a budget. It’s also popular the rest of the year as a hiking haven and quiet getaway.

Only 18 kms from Ankara, you can get there by either university or private vehicles. Since Middle East Technical University (METU) and Hacettepe University both have ski houses there, you are bound to see quite a few students enjoying themselves. There are no hotels in Elmadag, so you will need to make other arrangements either with the Elmadag Ski House (0312 210 36 10) or the Hacettepe Ski Facility (0312 305 23 35). Both require reservations.

Safranbolu
On UNESCO’s world heritage list as an international cultural area – Safranbolu is a well-kept secret in the tourism industry. A perfect example of what an Ottoman town must have looked like several centuries ago, it is the quintessential spot to get reacquainted with Ottoman history and experience a bit of the Ottoman past in Turkey.
In fact, Safranbolu, named as such for its saffron fields, is probably the only town in Turkey that still has unique, Ottoman houses in excellent condition with their original design intact. Safranbolu’s history dates back to at least 3,000 B.C. and during the Ottoman period was at its peak economic and cultural level. In the 17th century, Safranbolu was an important lodging place for traders, making it one of the most prosperous towns in the region.

Safranbolu’s main charm and attraction are its traditional Ottoman homes, each one noteworthy for its their excellent design and construction. What makes them so unique is how they reflect Turkish social life of the 18th and 19th centuries with each home displaying intricately detailed, delicate woodwork and carvings on the walls and ceilings.

Safranbolu is so full of interesting sites that it’s hard to decide where to begin. A good start would be with the castle on Hildirlik Hill with a quaint scenic view. Not to be missed are Cinci Inn and Hamam (17th century Turkish bath), Izzet Mehmet Pasa Mosque and Library (18th century), Koprulu Mosque (17th century), Dagdelen Mosque (18th century) and Kaçak Mosque (19th century). Also worth seeing are the more than 600 Ottoman fountains that dot the town, Incekaya Aqueduct, The Tennaries Clock Tower and the old City Hall.
You can be certain that in Safranbolu you will never run out of things to see. For those who prefer to combine sightseeing with trekking, the environs of Safranbolu are a display of wild pastures (yaylas), canyons, caverns, rock tombs and tumulus. Two spots of outstanding beauty include Ahmet Usta and Uluyayla where the magnificence of the forest seems to stretch toward the sky.

SHOPPING in Safranbolu
Arasta (Old Bazaar)
Local artisans practice traditional trades like metalworking, woodworking, saddlemaking and shoemaking.

What To Buy: Traditional handicrafts (Arasta – Old Bazaar); Safranbolu Turkish Delight (lokum); hazelnut sweets; saffron; local spices/herbs

Interesting Homes to Visit
Kaymakamlar
Aygiroglu
Mektepçiler
Haci Memisler House
Asmazlar Havuzlu Konak (historic hotel/operated by Turkish Tourism Auto Club)
Pasa House (lovely cafe/pension)

Unique Places to Stay
At least 80 homes serve as guesthouses in Safranbolu. Some suggestions include:

Havuzlu Konak Hotel
Haci Halil Mah. Beybag Sokak No. 18
Tel: (0370) 725 28 83/712 66 92
Historic, charming 23-room, Ottoman home featuring large Turkish pool and hamam. It’s unique since it is actually divided into three more historic hotels - Asmazlar, Cevizli and Kuçuk Konak hotels with a total of 11 rooms. Breakfast and dinner are included in the very affordable room rate.

Tahsinbey Mansion
Çesme Mah. Hukumet Sokak No. 46
Tel: (0370) 712 60 62
A charming 7-room restored, historic home. The very reasonable room rates include breakfast.

Hatice Hanim Residence
Babasultan Mah. Naip Tarla Sokak No. 4 Tel: (0370) 712 87 45
This is a historic and stately 28-room Ottoman style home where you remove your shoes before entering in traditional Turkish fashion. The host is the quintessential "Turkish mom" – talkative and worldly. A stay here is nothing short of a small adventure! Breakfast included in the most inexpensive rates imaginable. Pick-up from bus station is available at no charge with advance notice.

Pasha’s Residence
Baglarbasi Mah. Degirmenbasi Sok. No. 13 Tel: (0370) 712 63 72
A beautiful 18th century mansion whose original owner was Izzet Mehmed Pasha, a former prime minister to Selim III. Great rooms with a large garden. Breakfast is included in their reasonable rates.