Kırıkkale is a mid-sized industrial city and province in Central Anatolia, situated approximately 80 km northeast of Ankara along the Kızılırmak River. Known primarily for its defense and steel industries — home to the MKEK (Makina ve Kimya Endüstrisi Kurumu) complex — the city offers an authentic glimpse into modern Turkish working-class life away from tourist crowds. The surrounding province features rugged river valleys, historic castles, and natural areas perfect for off-the-beaten-path exploration.
Kırıkkale sits on Turkey's main E89 highway corridor and has direct bus connections to Ankara (80 km, 1–1.5 hrs) and most major Turkish cities. No airport or railway passenger service operates directly in the city; Ankara Esenboğa Airport (ESB) serves as the nearest air hub. Local transport consists of municipal (belediye) buses, shared minibuses (dolmuş), and metered taxis.
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Buy a Kent Kart for discounted city bus fares; available at municipal service offices on Cumhuriyet Caddesi
For trips to outlying villages, negotiate taxi fares in advance — a half-day rental costs 300–500 TRY (~$9–$15 USD)
The bus terminal (otogar) is on Ankara Caddesi, 1 km from city center; dolmuş from center costs 15 TRY (~$0.45 USD)
There is no Uber in Kırıkkale; BiTaksi is the app-based alternative
Ankara is the main hub for onward travel by rail (Ankara Garı train station)