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Çanakkale is often overlooked by visitors to the Gallipoli battlefields and the ancient city of Troy. People usually pass through and don’t bother to take a look around.
In all honesty, there really isn’t a whole lot to do in Çanakkale, but if you find yourself in this Turkish city on the narrowest part of the Dardanelles, give it a couple hours (that’s all it’ll take to see it).
Military Presence
Çanakkale has a very long history and military tradition and there is a huge military presence in the city. It has been a strategic area since ancient times because whoever controls the Dardanelles controls access to the Black Sea.
History
In ancient times, the Aeolian Greek city of Abydos (Άβυδος) was located just north of the moderncity. During Byzantine times, it was known as Dardanéllia (Δαρδανέλλια) and was an important defensive area for Constantinople.
In 1915, one of the most important battles of World War I took place in the Dardanelles and across the straights in Gallipoli. The British, trying to capture Constantinople to secure a sea route to Russia, were beaten back by Ottoman troops commanded by Mustafa Kemal. This battle has been glorified in many films, the most popular being Gallipoli starring Mel Gibson.
Getting There
I used Çanakkale as a stopover on my way to the island of Bozcaada. To get there, I took a bus from Istanbul using Metro Turizm. The ride took almost eight hours. The last part of the journey had the bus crossing the Dardanelles by ferry from Eceabat to the Çanakkale city center. The ferry actually runs 24 hours a day and costs only a few lira to board. Since March 18, 2022, however, travelers can skip the ferry and cross the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge (1915 Çanakkale Köprüsü), saving plenty of time on the journey.
Egem Pansiyon
I stayed at Egem Pansiyon. It was centrally located and on a quiet street in the city center. The staff was very helpful and the room was simple, clean, and comfortable. It was the perfect place for a short overnight stay.
Getting to Bozcaada / Bus Terminal
When I was leaving Çanakkale, I needed to get to Geyikli to catch the ferry to Bozcaada. I was told to go to the river to find a minibus there. At this little minibus station, I asked around and nobody knew of any minibus to Geyikli. I was then directed to the Çanakkale bus terminal (Çanakkale Otogarı), which is on the outskirts of town.
I screwed up trying to get to the bus terminal so I ended up taking a taxi and paying much more than I had expected. Once I made it there, it was possible to find a minibus to smaller towns and villages or a bus to bigger cities.
If traveling to Istanbul, there’s no need to go to the bus terminal. Buses can be boarded at the ferry terminal in the city center.
Airport
The city also has an airport, but flights are limited to Ankara on AnadoluJet (as of February 2024).
