MTA Şehit Cuma Dağ Natural History Museum

The MTA Şehit Cuma Dağ Natural History Museum maintains its characteristic as the first national museum established in Turkey in the field of natural history. The museum, which started its activities under the roof of the MTA General Directorate in 1968, moved to its modern building on Dumlupınar Boulevard in 2003, gaining the opportunity to exhibit its collection in a much larger area. The four-story structure, including the ground floor, presents examples from different scientific branches such as geology, paleontology, mineralogy, and astronomy. The museum is named in honor of Cuma Dağ, who was martyred within the MTA.

Since the museum is open all year round, there is no specific seasonal restriction for visiting. However, it is important to consider that student groups are often numerous during school terms, especially in the mornings. Visiting before noon on weekdays is advantageous for both a quieter environment and the opportunity to get more information from museum staff. If visiting with families during summer holidays, avoiding weekend afternoons might provide a better experience. The museum is closed on Mondays.

The museum is located at Dumlupınar Bulvarı No:11 in Ankara's Çankaya district. Many municipal buses departing from Kızılay and Çankaya use this route; getting off at the MTA General Directorate stop is sufficient. For those arriving by private car, access via ring roads is quite easy; parking is also available around the museum. It can also be easily reached by taxi or ride-hailing apps from different parts of Ankara.

To explore the museum most efficiently, it's logical to start from the ground floor. The exhibition, opening with the solar system and space-origin rocks, takes the visitor on a journey from the depths of the universe towards the Earth. As you ascend to the upper floors, you'll encounter fossil and mineral collections, followed by dinosaur skeletons. After finishing the museum, moving on to the Şehit Mehmet Alan Energy Park right next door is a nice additional stop that completes the day, especially for children. It would be appropriate to allocate approximately 2–3 hours to comfortably explore the entire area.

Among the most striking photo spots in the museum are the dinosaur skeleton exhibits; it's possible to capture impressive shots with a wide-angle lens or your smartphone's ultra-wide mode. The planet models and moon rock exhibits on the ground floor are also suitable for interesting compositions. The colorful stone specimens in the mineral gallery are a treasure for those who enjoy close-up photography. We recommend asking staff about current flash usage rules during your visit.

Dumlupınar Boulevard and the area around MTA, near the museum, offer various food and drink options catering to different budgets. As you venture into the inner streets of Çankaya, you can find small eateries and cafes serving home-cooked meals. On the other hand, Kızılay and Tunalı Hilmi Street, due to their proximity to the museum, offer a much wider selection of restaurants; heading in this direction after your visit might be a good choice. We recommend confirming with MTA in advance whether there is a cafeteria in the museum.

The museum is closed on Mondays; it is important to plan your visit accordingly. Especially during school trip seasons (October–May), it can be crowded in the mornings; it would be beneficial to get information in advance or check the MTA's official website for a reservation system. Since entrance fees and opening hours may change from time to time, confirm the current information directly with the museum before your visit. Special arrangements are available for visually impaired visitors, so calling the museum in advance if needed will provide convenience.