Best Things to Do in Canakkale: Troy, Gallipoli and Assos

Best Things to Do in Canakkale: Troy, Gallipoli and Assos

To remember Canakkale by a single war would be wrong; this is where two epics stand stacked on the same strait. On one side is Troy, told in Homer's Iliad and dug from the earth by Schliemann; on the other are the memorials of the 1915 Gallipoli campaign, which changed the fate of the world. Between them are Assos, where Aristotle taught, the vineyards of Bozcaada and the Kaz Mountains. Canakkale is not a waypoint but a corridor of three thousand years of history; the real task is to plan the two sides of the strait and the south correctly.

This guide is written for a first visit, but not for the one who wants to pass Canakkale in "half a day at Troy, half a day at the memorials." The Gallipoli peninsula is across the strait, reached by ferry; Assos is 74 km south; the islands need a separate ferry. This guide groups places as city-Troy, Gallipoli and the south, and you should build your days around this geography.

The distances below are measured straight-line from central Canakkale; the strait crossing and mountain roads extend the real time. The numbers match the pins on the map exactly.

Quick Answer

Central Canakkale and Troy fit into one day, the Gallipoli peninsula (the far side by ferry) into one day. Assos and the islands are separate days; do not squeeze them together.

• **First visit:** Day 1 the centre and Troy, Day 2 the Gallipoli memorials (by ferry to Eceabat).
• **Base:** Central Canakkale (the promenade, the ferry); Assos/Behramkale an alternative for the south.
• **Car-free:** The centre and Troy work by minibus; a tour or car is easier for Gallipoli and Assos.

Understanding Canakkale in Five Minutes

Canakkale's power comes from two wars meeting on the same ground. South of the strait, on the hill now called Hisarlik, stands Troy; the city of the Trojan War told in Homer's Iliad. Heinrich Schliemann excavated it between 1870 and 1874 and tied the legend to the earth; on the same site, nine different cities were built one over another, from 3200 BC to the Roman period (1st century AD). Troy has been a National Park since 1996 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. Whether the Trojan Horse really existed is unknown, but the city itself is real.

Three thousand years later, another epic was written on the same strait. In 1915 the Allied fleet forced the Canakkale Strait to reach Istanbul; the naval assault was repelled on 18 March 1915, a landing was made on the Gallipoli peninsula on 25 April, and hundreds of thousands of soldiers died in trenches over months. Anzac Cove, Chunuk Bair and the Martyrs' Memorial are the memory of this war. In the south, Assos is the city where Aristotle taught for three years in the 4th century BC; the philosopher left here in 344 BC to become the tutor of Alexander the Great.

Knowing these layers changes the visit. At Troy you walk the earth of a legend; at Chunuk Bair you look at the trenches where a nation's fate turned; at Assos you stand on the acropolis where Aristotle looked out over the Aegean. Canakkale lays its history not over a single age but over three thousand years.

The Centre and Troy

The city centre is toured along its promenade; Troy is to the south, reached by minibus or car. The stops below fit into one day.

1. Canakkale City Centre and the Promenade

The lively city centre facing the strait. The walk along the promenade, the clock tower, the cafes and the Trojan Horse prop known from the film are here. Ferries cross the strait constantly; across, Kilitbahir castle is in view. Walking the promenade in the evening, watching the traffic of this narrow water between two continents, is the city's pulse.

• **Getting there:** The centre's ground zero; buses and the ferry are near the promenade (0 km).
• **Best time:** Late afternoon; the promenade comes alive, the sunset falls on the strait.
• **While you're here:** Cimenlik Castle (2) is within walking distance; the ferry crosses to Eceabat/Kilitbahir.
• **Budget:** The promenade is free; cafes are mid-range.
• **Common mistake:** Taking the Trojan Horse prop for the real Troy; it is a film prop, and the actual ancient city is 27 km south.

2. Cimenlik Castle and the Naval Museum

The Ottoman castle at the end of the promenade and a naval museum. Dating from the reign of Mehmed the Conqueror, the castle hosts a museum telling the naval front of the 1915 Canakkale battles; a replica of the Nusrat minelayer and war relics are here. The story of the batteries that defended the strait begins in this castle.

• **Getting there:** On foot from the city centre (1); 2 km from the centre.
• **Best time:** Daytime; the museum and castle together.
• **While you're here:** The promenade (1) and ferry pier are nearby.
• **Budget:** Paid entry, cheap.
• **Common mistake:** Skipping the naval museum and seeing only the castle; the Nusrat and war relics are valuable for understanding 1915.

3. Troy Ancient City

The city of Homer's Iliad and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This site on Hisarlik hill carries nine settlement layers from 3200 BC to the Roman period; its walls, ramp, temple and house remains show different ages stacked over one another. The excavation pits Schliemann opened in the 1870s are still visible. Walking the earth of the legend is the moment a reading list turns real.

• **Getting there:** By minibus or car south from the centre (1); 27 km from the centre.
• **Best time:** Morning; the site is shadeless, and midday heat is hard.
• **While you're here:** The Troy Museum (4) is at the entrance; the two are toured together.
• **Budget:** Paid entry; Museum Pass valid.
• **Common mistake:** Touring without a guide or information; the nine layers are complex, and seeing the museum first makes sense of them.

4. Troy Museum

The modern museum at the entrance to the ancient city; home to the most precious finds of the Troy excavations. Notable for its award-winning architecture, the museum tells Troy's nine layers, the region's archaeology and the background of the legend chronologically. Stopping here before touring the site opens the story behind the stones.

• **Getting there:** At the entrance to Troy (3), side by side; 26 km from the centre.
• **Best time:** In the midday heat; enclosed and cool, before the site.
• **While you're here:** Troy Ancient City (3) adjoins it.
• **Budget:** Paid entry; Museum Pass valid.
• **Common mistake:** Leaving the museum for after the site; museum first, then the site's layers make more sense.

The Gallipoli Peninsula: The Memory of 1915

On the far side of the strait, toured by crossing to Eceabat by ferry. The memorials and trenches spread over a wide area; it needs a full day and a car.

5. Canakkale Martyrs' Memorial

The monument above Morto Bay; a 41.7-metre memorial raised in memory of the soldiers who fell in 1915. The symbol of the Gallipoli Historical Area, the monument faces the strait and the open sea. The surrounding cemetery and museum convey the scale and human weight of the war. It calls for a quiet, respectful visit.

• **Getting there:** Ferry to Eceabat, then by car south; 22 km from the centre (including the strait crossing).
• **Best time:** Morning or afternoon; it is crowded on ceremony days.
• **While you're here:** Kilitbahir (8) and Anzac Cove (6) are on the same peninsula.
• **Budget:** The area is free; ferry and parking separate.
• **Common mistake:** Trying to tour the peninsula on foot; the memorials spread over kilometres, so a car or tour is essential.

6. Anzac Cove and Kabatepe

The cove where the Anzac troops landed on 25 April 1915, and its surroundings. The Kabatepe Information Centre tells the Anzac front of the war; the cemeteries on the cove's shore hold the memory of Australian and New Zealand soldiers. Every year on 25 April, Anzac Day ceremonies are held here; the centre of the war's international memory.

• **Getting there:** By car from Eceabat; 15 km from the centre (including the strait crossing).
• **Best time:** Morning; calm outside the ceremony period (April).
• **While you're here:** Chunuk Bair (7) is above; the Martyrs' Memorial (5) to the south.
• **Budget:** The area is free.
• **Common mistake:** Not allowing for the Anzac Day crowd; around 25 April it is very busy.

7. Chunuk Bair

On the peninsula's summit, one of the war's most critical points. This is the ridge where Mustafa Kemal's words "I do not order you to attack, I order you to die" were spoken; with its monuments, trenches and view over the strait, it is the turning point of 1915. From the summit both the Anzac front and the strait are in view; you grasp the geography of the war from here.

• **Getting there:** By car up via Kabatepe (6); 13 km from the centre (including the strait crossing).
• **Best time:** Morning; the ridge is windy, the view clear.
• **While you're here:** Anzac Cove (6) is below.
• **Budget:** The area is free.
• **Common mistake:** Passing without understanding the real position of the trenches; seeing the closeness of the two fronts from the summit tells the war.

8. Kilitbahir Castle

The Ottoman castle at the narrowest point of the strait, directly across from Canakkale. Built in the reign of the Conqueror to control the strait, the clover-plan castle locked the strait from both sides together with Cimenlik across the water. From the restored castle, the strait and the city of Canakkale are in one frame.

• **Getting there:** By ferry to Kilitbahir from the centre (1); 3 km from the centre (the far side).
• **Best time:** Afternoon; the strait view and sunset.
• **While you're here:** Eceabat and the Gallipoli memorials are to the north.
• **Budget:** Paid entry, cheap; ferry separate.
• **Common mistake:** Not checking the ferry times; crossing to the far side depends on the ferry.

The South and the Islands

South of the centre, Assos, ancient cities and the Aegean islands. Distant; a separate day and a car or ferry are needed.

9. Assos (Behramkale) Temple of Athena

The ancient city south of Ayvacik and the Temple of Athena on its acropolis. The 530 BC Doric temple stands on a hill facing the Aegean and the island of Lesbos across the water; at sunset the sea and the temple turn red together. Aristotle taught here for three years in the 4th century BC. The stone houses and narrow streets of Behramkale village climb to the acropolis.

• **Getting there:** By car south from the centre (1) via Ayvacik; 74 km from the centre.
• **Best time:** Sunset; the temple and sea catch the light at once.
• **While you're here:** The Behramkale Ancient Harbour (10) is below the hill.
• **Budget:** Paid entry; Museum Pass valid.
• **Common mistake:** Seeing only the temple and not going down to the harbour; Assos's two faces, the temple on the hill and the harbour below, complete each other.

10. Behramkale Ancient Harbour

The small ancient harbour cut into the rocks below the Assos acropolis. Today a calm shore of fish restaurants and boutique hotels; Lesbos across the water, the temple behind. Stone buildings on the sea and clear water are the restful second half of an Assos visit. A steep road descends from the temple.

• **Getting there:** Down the steep road from the Assos (9) hill; 75 km from the centre.
• **Best time:** Midday and afternoon; for swimming and food.
• **While you're here:** The Temple of Athena (9) is above.
• **Budget:** The harbour restaurants and hotels are mid-to-upper.
• **Common mistake:** Underestimating the steep road; the descent and climb to the harbour are tiring, so driving down is easier.

11. Bozcaada

The island of wine and wind southwest of the strait; reached by ferry. With its castle, stone-house centre, vineyards and beaches, it is a calm Aegean island. Famous for windsurfing and wine tasting; the island's vineyards have produced wine for centuries. The Venetian-Ottoman castle in the centre guards the harbour.

• **Getting there:** By ferry from the Geyikli/Yukyeri pier; 47 km from the centre (including the ferry).
• **Best time:** Summer; for the vineyards and beach. The ferry may be disrupted on a windy day.
• **While you're here:** Alexandria Troas (13) is on the ferry route.
• **Budget:** The island is mid-to-upper; accommodation is expensive in season.
• **Common mistake:** Missing the last ferry; the island is small, but the ferry times set the plan.

12. Gokceada

Turkey's largest island; wilder than Bozcaada, with its Greek villages, dive sites and quiet beaches. Known for its olive groves, organic farming and Cittaslow identity; the old Greek villages (Zeytinlikoy, Tepekoy) carry the island's multicultural past. Popular for diving and windsurfing.

• **Getting there:** By ferry from the Kabatepe pier; 44 km from the centre (including the ferry).
• **Best time:** Summer; for diving and the beach. The ferry depends on the weather.
• **While you're here:** The Gallipoli peninsula is on the ferry-route side.
• **Budget:** The island is mid-range; mostly guesthouses.
• **Common mistake:** Trying to tour it in one day; the island is large and needs at least a night.

13. Alexandria Troas (Ezine)

The ancient port city near Ezine; founded by one of Alexander's generals and grown in the Roman period. With its bath remains, aqueducts and scattered walls, it is a quiet, untouristy site. It is also remembered as the harbour St Paul visited; a good stop on the Bozcaada ferry route.

• **Getting there:** By car south from the centre (1) via Ezine; 50 km from the centre.
• **Best time:** In the cool of the morning; the site is shadeless and scattered.
• **While you're here:** The Bozcaada (11) ferry is nearby.
• **Budget:** The area is usually free.
• **Common mistake:** Expecting a compact, tended site; Alexandria Troas is scattered and takes exploring.

14. Kaz Mountains National Park

Mount Ida by its ancient name; the legendary mountain from which the gods watched the Trojan War. With its waterfalls, oxygen-rich forests and highlands, it is a reward for hiking and camping. Known for the legend of Sarikiz and its endemic plants, the national park is a cool alternative for escaping the heat of the coast.

• **Getting there:** By car southeast from the centre (1); 62 km from the centre, mountain road.
• **Best time:** Spring and summer; for the waterfalls and hiking.
• **While you're here:** Assos (9) can be added to the southern route.
• **Budget:** National park entry is cheap.
• **Common mistake:** Setting out on a hike without proper shoes and water; the paths are steep and long.

How Many Days for Canakkale

• **1 day:** The centre, Cimenlik and Troy.
• **2 days:** Add the Gallipoli peninsula (by ferry to Eceabat, the memorials).
• **3 days:** Assos and the Behramkale harbour; the southern route.
• **5 days:** Add Bozcaada or Gokceada and the Kaz Mountains.

Classic Mistakes

• **Taking the Trojan Horse prop for the real Troy.** The prop on the promenade is from the film; the actual site is 27 km south, at Hisarlik.
• **Thinking Gallipoli is near the centre.** It is on the far side, crossed by ferry, and the memorials spread over kilometres; it needs a full day and a car.
• **Touring Troy without the museum.** The nine layers are complex; museum first, then the site.
• **Seeing only the temple at Assos.** The temple on the hill and the harbour below complete each other.
• **Going to an island without allowing for the last ferry.** Bozcaada and Gokceada depend on the ferry times.

Bad-Weather Plan

Canakkale is windy; the strait and islands are affected by the wind. On a stormy day the island ferries can be cancelled; the centre, the Cimenlik Naval Museum, the Troy Museum and indoor places offer a dry route. The Gallipoli memorials are open-air and hard in the rain; Troy and Assos are shadeless, so pull the summer noon to the morning. The Kaz Mountains are cool, a good escape on hot days.

Where to Stay

**Central Canakkale** is the most practical base for the ferry, the promenade and access to Troy and Gallipoli. **Eceabat** is an alternative for staying near the Gallipoli peninsula. **Behramkale/Assos** is a calm base for the south and the temple; **Bozcaada** is a separate experience for an island holiday.

Transport and Car-Free Canakkale

Canakkale is reached by bus and by the ferry road from the Istanbul-Bursa direction; the nearest airports are Edremit and Canakkale. The centre and Troy are toured by minibus. For the Gallipoli peninsula, you cross to Eceabat by ferry and need a tour or car; the memorials are too spread out to tour on foot. For Assos and the islands, a car and ferry are essential.

Frequently Asked Questions

**How many days do you need for Canakkale?** One day for the centre and Troy, another for the Gallipoli memorials; a classic visit is 2 days. With Assos and the islands it stretches to 4-5.

**Where is Troy, and is it a prop or real?** The Trojan Horse on the promenade is a prop from the film. The real ancient city of Troy is 27 km south of the centre, on Hisarlik hill, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

**How do you get to the Gallipoli memorials?** Cross from Canakkale to Eceabat by ferry, then go by car or tour. The memorials and trenches spread over a wide area; a full day and a car are needed.

**What is there to see at Assos?** The 530 BC Temple of Athena, the acropolis where Aristotle taught, and the ancient harbour below. At sunset the temple and sea are seen together.

**Can you reach Canakkale without a car?** The centre and Troy work by minibus. But for Gallipoli, Assos and the islands, a car or tour is almost essential; the distances and ferries make public transport hard.