Canakkale’s European and Asian sides are separated by the Dardanelles strait, which connects the Sea of Marmara to the Aegean Sea. And although it’s an area that’s still actively being discovered, whatever progress made so far has revealed a deep history and some exciting attractions.
Speaking of history, Canakkale’s human past stretches as far back as 4000 BCE. Settlements were relatively small back then, and it wasn’t until the rise of Troy a millennia later that the first city showed up in the region. It was immortalized in Homer’s widely famous Iliad on the Trojan war, which ancient Greek historians dated back to the 13th or 12th century BCE.
At around 1000 BCE, new settlers came and founded the city of Assos. The city may not be as famous as Troy in classic mythology, but at some point, it was one of the most important cities in Asia minor.
Another significant historical event to happen in the province is the Gallipoli campaign. It happened in WWI, when the Allied forces of Britain, New Zealand, and Australia invaded the Ottoman Empire for its support of the Allied Powers. The Gallipoli peninsula has since been converted to a national park and memorial.
Canakkale center is the most popular base for exploring Canakkale province. And given a large number of attractions at your disposal, you’ll want to book your accommodation in the area before arrival, especially during the Anzac Day calendar. If you contact us in advance, we will be able to offer you a complete service covering it all. So, you don’t have to worry about a single detail.
The months of June-August have comfortable weather with warm temperatures ideal for exploration. Unfortunately, this is also the busiest tourist season so the accommodation may cost a little higher than usual.
A tour of Turkey isn’t complete without experiencing the local cuisine. In Canakkale, you will enjoy the region’s famous local olive oil, seafood, pastries, homemade bread, and delicious cheeses. You’ll also get to taste delicious local wine of the region.
Given the significant distance between Istanbul and Canakkale, making a single-day trip from the capital is exhausting. It’s best to stay at least for a night and take your time exploring the region at a comfortable pace.
Canakkale province is a region rich in history. However, discoveries are still ongoing, and the province is yet to explode in the international tourism industry. This means that you’ll rarely encounter crowds of tourists getting in the way of you experiencing a particular attraction to the fullest during your tour.
Canakkale city will serve as your base of explorations.
Canakkale city sits on the narrowest point of the Dardanelles’ southern coast. And although the city is typically used as a base to explore the surrounding area, it’s an attraction in itself. It has a beautiful marina decorated with colorful yachts whose owners dock here for an opportunity to explore the history-rich interior. In addition to the colorful display, the marina provides impressive views of the open sea.
Another place you’ll want to explore is the local archeological museum, which is home to thousands of artifacts gotten from the surrounding area. One of the most impressive collections contains beautiful ceramics from the 17th to 20th centuries. These were made when the city was still one of the most important ceramic producers in the Ottoman empire. There are also artifacts from Troy, Assos, Gulpinar, and other ancient sites in the region.
You can also wander around the city and take in the fresh Aegean air. During your strolls, you’ll probably come across one of the most intriguing structures in Canakkale, the wooden Trojan horse from the movie’ Troy.’ It’s an impressive work of art that sits on the famous waterfront plaza.
Once you’ve had enough of the city, you can go ahead and explore the region.
Much of what Canakkale has to offer sits in the areas outside the city center. However, if you’re a history/movie/mythology buff, you’ll want to head to the ancient city of Troy as fast as possible. Excavations have uncovered nine cities stacked on top of each other, from 3500 BCE all the way to 550. At its height of success, the city was surrounded by massive walls 12 meters high and 6 meters wide.
But of significant interest to visitors is whether the legendary war of Troy actually happened? Well, it depends on who you ask. There is proof that wars were fought here, including one particularly violent conflict. Was this over Helen of Sparta? We don’t know for sure. Still, visiting the site of Troy is a fun and educational experience.
To learn more about the city, head over to the Troy Museum, where artifacts, jewelry, and weapons uncovered in the ancient city are displayed.
Your tour may also take you to Assos. Explore its impressive theater that offers incredible views of the sea and visit the Temple of Athena at the top of the acropolis for more views and a moment among iconic greek columns.
Another great city you’ll want to see during your tour is Alexandria Troas, one of the biggest cities in the history of Asia Minor. Unfortunately, much of its remains are underground, but it still offers an incredible view into Hellenistic and Roman life.
The region’s biggest attraction is Gallipoli National Park in the Gallipoli Peninsula. The park is dotted with dozens of memorials dedicated to the 500,000 or so fallen warriors of the Gallipoli Campaign.
After a day or two of exploration, you want to find a nice spot where you can relax away from the noise and hustle. For this, head over to the idyllic Bozcaada Island, home to a thriving Greek and Turkish community. You’ll enjoy peaceful walks, delicious seafood, wine, and warm beaches in a picturesque setting.
From Canakkale, you can proceed to the beautiful provinces of Tekirdag (Thrace) on the way back to Istanbul or keep exploring the down the west covering Assos, Mt. Ida, Pergamon, and down to Bodrum.
