Fast Facts

Airline Information -- For information on flight arrivals or lost baggage, call the Esenboga Airport information line (tel. 0312/398-0100). Because the information line is in Turkish, have the hotel concierge call for you. Turkish Airlines has a downtown office at Atatürk Bulv. 154, Kavaklidere (tel. 0312/428-1700).

Ambulance -- The national number for an ambulance is tel. 112, but for emergency assistance from a private company, call Bayindir Hospital Ambulance (tel. 0312/287-9000) or Özel (Private) Ambulans Servisi (tel. 0312/425-1565).

American Express -- Turk Ekspres at Cinnah Cad. 9/4, in Çankaya (tel. 0312/467-7334), is the local travel service representative of American Express in Ankara. For customer assistance, you must contact the Istanbul number.

Bus Companies -- Companies include Kamil Koç (tel. 0312/417-3936), Pamukkale (tel. 0312/433-0470), Ulusoy (tel. 0312/440-1468), and Varan (tel. 0312/426-9753).

Car Rental -- The following car-rental agencies have locations at the airport, as well as downtown (Kavaklidere) offices: Avis, Tunus Cad. 68/2, Kavaklidere (tel. 0312/467-2313); Europcar, Koza Sok 142/17, Gaziosmanpasa (tel. 0312/448-2747); Hertz, Tahran Cad, 18 (tel. 0312/446-5048); Budget, Tunus Cad. 39/A (tel. 0312/417-5952) and the Turkish company, De-Car, Tunus Cad. 77/1 (tel. 0312/426-9737) as well as in the Dedeman Hotel. Don't underestimate the need for an English-speaking sales representative, and compare your receipt with your credit card bill when it arrives.

Courier Services -- DHL Worldwide (tel. 0312/318-6800), FedEx (tel. 0312/442-2686), TNT (tel. 0312/285-7394), and UPS (tel. 0312/318-6729) all have locations in Ankara, and offer convenient pickup services.

Currency Exchange -- Rates at foreign currency exchange offices are better than those at the banks and hotels. There are several in Kizilay at Mesrutiyet Cad. 2/91, Mesrutiyet Cad. 3/25, Mesrutiyet Cad. Kok Han 2/90, and Atatürk Bulv. 73. In Çankaya you'll find offices at Çankaya Cad. 6/1, Çankaya Cad. 6/B, and in the Atakule Tower.

Hospitals -- Among the private hospitals in town are Çankaya Hospital, Bulten Sok. 44, Kavaklidere (tel. 0312/426-1450); Baskent University Hospital, Fevzi Çakmak Cad. 10, Sok. 45, Bahçelievler (tel. 0312/212-6868); and Bayindir Hospital, Kizilirmak Mahallesi 28, Sok. 2, Sögütözü (tel. 0312/287-9000). The last also has a dental clinic on the premises.

Post Office -- The main post office is located in Ulus on Atatürk Bulvari. There is another branch in Kizilay Square and countless others around town, all open from 8:30am to 5:30pm, Monday through Friday.

Telephone -- Dial tel. 115 for an international operator (and remember to dial 0 before a city's prefix). For calling cards and collect calls via ATT, dial tel. 00/800-122-77.

Turkish Railways -- The number for Ankara's Gar or train station, located at Talatpasa Bulvari at the bottom of Cumhuriyet Bulvari, is tel. 0312/0312-6708. For information on schedules and trains, call tel. 0312/311-0620; for tickets and reservations, call tel. 0312/310-6515. You can also check out their website for information and schedules (in Turkish only) at www.tcdd.gov.tr/yolcu/trenler.htm.