Getting to Çanakkale: 1915 Çanakkale Bridge, Coaches, Airports and Ferries

Since the inauguration of the monumental 1915 Çanakkale Bridge (1915 Çanakkale Köprüsü) in March 2022, whose 2,023-metre main span between Gelibolu and Lapseki makes it the longest suspension bridge in the world, painted in the red-and-white colours of the Turkish flag with 318-metre towers symbolising 18 March (3/18), reaching Çanakkale by road from Istanbul and Europe has never been faster.

1. From Istanbul to Çanakkale by Intercity Coach or Car (4 to 4.5 Hours)

Direct coaches operated by Truva Turizm (Çanakkale's flagship local bus company), Kamil Koç, Pamukkale and Metro depart every 30 to 45 minutes around the clock from Istanbul Esenler and Alibeyköy Bus Terminals (as well as from Istanbul Airport, IST via Truva/Havaş coaches). Coaches follow the northern Sea of Marmara highway through Tekirdağ and Malkara and reach central Çanakkale via two routes:

• Via the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge (at Lapseki): crosses directly onto the Asian mainland and drives 25 minutes south into Çanakkale Intercity Bus Terminal (Otogar) without waiting for a boat.
• Via the Classic Eceabat / Kilitbahir Car Ferry: drives down the Gallipoli Peninsula to Eceabat, rolls straight onto the 20-minute GESTAŞ ferry across the Dardanelles, and lets foot passengers step off right at the Central Çanakkale Ferry Pier (İskele) in the middle of the hotel district. (From the main Çanakkale Otogar 5 km east of the harbour, municipal Bus Ç1, Ç3 and Ç8 run every 10 minutes right down to the Ferry Pier).

2. Arriving by Air: Çanakkale Airport (CKZ) vs Balıkesir Edremit Airport (EDO)

• Çanakkale Airport (CKZ, 5 km from the Harbour): sits right inside the southern edge of the city; direct Turkish Airlines / AJet flights connect from Ankara and Istanbul, and municipal Bus Ç8 or a 7-minute taxi takes you straight to the Kordon.
• Balıkesir Koca Seyit Airport (EDO, In Edremit, 1.5 hours south): if you are starting your trip in Assos, Mount Ida or Bozcaada, flying into Edremit Airport (which has more frequent daily flights from both Istanbul IST and SAW) puts you only 45 minutes from Assos and Adatepe.