Best Things to Do in Çanakkale

Çanakkale rewards travellers who give it at least three full days, one for the European peninsula of Gallipoli, one for Homeric Troy and the city waterfront, and a third for Bozcaada or Assos. Here are the ten experiences that define a visit.

1. Explore UNESCO-listed Ancient Troy and the Troy Museum. Walk the 3,300-year-old sloping stone ramparts of Troy II and Troy VI/VII before examining the gold treasures, Polyxena Sarcophagus and bronze weapons inside the soaring Corten-steel Troy Museum.
2. Tour the Gallipoli Battlefields, Anzac Cove and the Martyrs' Memorial. Cross the Dardanelles to stand at Anzac Cove, Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair (Conkbayırı), the 57th Regiment Memorial and Cape Helles.
3. Visit the twin Dardanelles fortresses of Çimenlik Castle, NUSRET Minelayer and Kilitbahir. Step aboard the replica of the historic 1915 minelayer Nusret beside Mehmed the Conqueror's 1462 Asian and European castles.
4. Stroll the Çanakkale Kordon, Clock Tower and Aynalı Çarşı. See the wooden Trojan Horse from the 2004 film Troy on the seafront and shop inside the 1890 Hall of Mirrors bazaar.
5. Take the ferry to Bozcaada Island (Tenedos). Wander cobbles between Greek and Turkish quarters, tour the 15th-century Genoese-Venetian castle, swim at Ayazma Beach and watch sunset at Polente Lighthouse with local wine.
6. Climb to the Temple of Athena at Assos (Behramkale). Stand among 530 BC Doric columns on a volcanic crag looking across the sea to Lesbos, then descend to the antique harbour.
7. Discover the stone villages of Gökçeada (Imbros). Visit the world's first Cittaslow island for dibek coffee in Zeytinli, Dereköy and golden Kefalos beach.
8. Taste warm oven-baked peynir helvası and grilled Dardanelles sardines. Sample Çanakkale's signature sweet cheese halva at Kadir Usta and vine-wrapped sardines on the quay.
9. Hike to the waterfalls and stone olive villages of Mount Ida (Kazdağları) and Adatepe. Stand at the Altar of Zeus above Edremit Bay and visit the Olive Oil Museum in Küçükkuyu.
10. Walk the uncrowded ruins of Alexandria Troas and Apollon Smintheus. Explore the Roman baths of Herodes Atticus and the Ionic temple of Apollo in Gülpınar.