Ani sits about 45 kilometres east of Kars, close to the modern border with Armenia. The vast ruined city spreads across a plateau beside a deep gorge, with medieval churches and city walls still standing across the landscape. If you are visiting this part of Turkey, Ani should be high on your list.
For historical context, please see my YouTube video…
How to get to Ani
The easiest way to visit Ani is by joining a minibus tour from Kars. We booked a tour that cost 750 TL (about €8) per person via our hotel front desk. It included transport to Ani plus stops at Lake Çıldır and the Kars Cheese Museum.
We enjoyed the tour and it was a convenient way to see several places in one day – but everything was conducted entirely in Turkish, so if you are looking for an English-language guide you may need to arrange something privately.
Another option is to hire a taxi for the day. Drivers in Kars regularly take visitors to Ani and nearby sites. Expect to pay roughly €60–€80 for the day, depending on negotiation and how many stops you make.
There is also a tourist bus from Kars which leaves the city at 9:00am and returns from Ani around midday. This is the cheapest way to visit if you just want to see the ruins and head back to the city afterwards.
Entrance fee and visiting tips
Entrance to the site costs €8. Once inside, you can walk freely around the ruins and explore the remains of churches, mosques and city walls scattered across the plateau.
The site is very open and exposed, so bring water and sturdy shoes (and layers if you’re visiting in the winter!) Distances between monuments can be larger than they appear on the map!
Getting to Kars
Most international travellers reach Kars by taking the Eastern Express train from Ankara, one of Turkey’s most scenic rail journeys. The train crosses central and eastern Anatolia before arriving in the city after an overnight journey.
You can read more about that journey in my Eastern Express guide.
Kars also has domestic flights from Istanbul and Ankara, and it can be reached by long-distance buses from cities such as Van or from the Black Sea coast via Hopa.
Other things to do in Kars
While Ani is the main attraction in the region, Kars itself is worth spending time in. The city still shows clear traces of its Russian imperial architecture, with wide streets and stone buildings from the late 19th century.
Nearby Lake Çıldır is another highlight, especially in winter when it freezes and locals fish through holes in the ice. The Kars Cheese Museum is also worth a stop if you are interested in the region’s famous dairy traditions.
You can find more ideas in my guide to things to do in Kars.
Possible future tours
We are currently looking at launching a small group tour to Eastern Turkey, including Kars and Ani, as part of a wider route through the region.
If that sounds interesting, you can register your interest via our Google form.
