Troy and the Gallipoli peninsula (Gelibolu) are the two great sites of the west of the Dardanelles, on either side of the strait, around the town of Çanakkale. Troy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998, is the city of Homer's Iliad; Gallipoli, a national historical park, is the setting of the 1915 Dardanelles campaign, in which the Ottoman army fought the Allied troops, including the Australian and New Zealand corps (ANZAC). Çanakkale is more than 300 kilometres from Istanbul, about five hours by road. Organised tours offer to see everything in one very long day; a night on the spot is far more comfortable.
Highlights
The site of Troy
On the Hisarlık hill, excavators have identified nine cities built one on top of another, spanning more than three millennia. A marked trail leads to the walls, the remains of houses and the sanctuary. The wooden horse at the entrance is a modern replica that you can climb into.
The Çanakkale Martyrs' Memorial
This monument of 1960, at the tip of the peninsula, overlooks the strait. It honours the Ottoman soldiers who died in 1915; Turks commemorate the naval victory of 18 March 1915.
The Troy Museum
Opened in 2018 a few hundred metres from the site, this museum displays the objects found during the excavations and places the city in context: it is the best introduction before climbing the hill.
The ANZAC beaches and cemeteries
On the west coast of the peninsula, Anzac Cove, Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair (Conkbayırı) preserve cemeteries and memorials of both sides, among pine-covered hills. On 25 April, ANZAC Day, the commemoration draws thousands of visitors.
Crossing the strait
The ferry between Eceabat and Çanakkale, about twenty minutes, gives a direct view of the Dardanelles strait. Since 2022 the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge also links the two shores for cars.
Infos pratiques
Tips
Before leaving, check admission fees, opening hours and closing days for Troy, its museum and the Gallipoli sites, as well as ferry and coach timetables: they change from season to season. Day tours from Istanbul are very long, with nearly ten hours on the road: if you have the choice, sleep in Çanakkale, so you can start with Troy early in the morning and spend the second day on the peninsula. With a guide, the Gallipoli battlefields take on a meaning you do not get driving round alone; without one, the signs are in English and Turkish. The cemeteries are places of remembrance: dress discreetly. Bring walking shoes for Troy, where the site has no shade.
How to get there
Troy (Truva), about thirty kilometres south of Çanakkale. From Istanbul, coaches leave from the big Esenler bus station (Büyük İstanbul Otogarı), served by metro line M1, for Çanakkale, in about five to six hours. On the spot, minibuses (dolmuş) link Çanakkale to Troy; for the Gallipoli peninsula, take the ferry to Eceabat, then a taxi or guided tour, as public transport there is limited. Organised tours from Istanbul include transport. More details in our guide to getting around Istanbul.
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