Sharing is caring!

Turkey has so much to offer than just the massive concrete jungle of Istanbul. During my time living here, I’ve come to realize that little nature escapes from the city are a must. Through conversations with other people, and through my own research, I discovered a little coastal city called Canakkale. I later learned that everyone from Istanbul secretly wants to move to this region of Turkey. So obviously I had to see why. These are the top 5 things to do in Canakkale for a relaxing city getaway.

This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase using a link, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keeps this blog going!

How to Get to Canakkale

It’s fairly easy to get to Canakkale from Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir.

Istanbul to Canakkale

Buses run daily between Istanbul and Canakkale. There are 2 main bus terminals in Istanbul. One on the European side and one on the Asian side. Personally, I used the bus terminal on the Asia side because it’s more centrally located.

You can reach the Greater Istanbul Bus Station located in Bayrampasa by public bus, metro, or taxi. It is about 10 km from the Old City.

The bus terminal on the Asian side is located in Harem just along the Bosphorus. It is between the major districts of Kadikoy and Uskudar which both have ferry terminals.

There are 3 bus companies that have routes to Canakkale: Pamukkale, Truva, and Metro. On average prices are 110 TRY. It takes about 5-6 hours to reach Canakkale. Along the way, the bus will stop once every hour to pick up and drop off passengers in smaller towns. You are able to use the toilet and get some food during these 10-15 minute stops. Snacks and drinks are provided on the bus free of charge.

There is no direct flight from Istanbul to Canakkale. However, you can still fly with a layover in Ankara. Prices are much more expensive but take about the same amount of time as a bus trip.

Ankara to Canakkale

Ankara also has daily buses to Canakkale; however, it will take about 9 hours. I don’t know about you but 9 hours on a bus is a long time! The same bus companies that operate in Istanbul also have routes from Ankara. The average price is 160 TRY.

There is a direct flight from Ankara to Canakkale with Turkish Airlines. It is priced high at about 500 TRY return and 250 TRY one-way.

Izmir to Canakkale

Buses from Izmir to Canakkale run daily as well. This is a much more popular route since you are already along the Mediterranean. The price of a bus ticket is about 105 TRY and takes 4-5 hours. It’s very similar going from Istanbul to Canakkale.

Things to do in Canakkale

Canakkale is a cute little coastal town that still has that small-town charm. The walking streets are full of cafes and restaurants and unique boutique shops. I came to realize it’s a sleepy town as most shops and cafes don’t open until 9 or 10 in the morning. So if you’re looking for a 7 am coffee run, you won’t find it here.

Along the waterfront, there is a bike path and a park where many locals hang out. It is also lined with restaurants and ice cream shops that are packed during the warmer months.

In the morning, when it wasn’t so crowded, I like getting a coffee and simit (Turkish bagel) to take with me to sit by the water. It’s a great people-watching spot and you can look at all the big shipping boats that pass through the Dardanelles Strait on their way to Istanbul or the Black Sea.

The main attraction is the giant wooden horse located along the water. If it looks familiar to you, it’s because it was used in the Hollywood movie, Troy. After filming, it was given as a gift to the city. Behind the horse is a small display of a miniature model of the city of Troy.

One of the popular things to do in Canakkale is meet up with friends by the old clock tower. This clock tower is 20 meters tall and is a square design. It was built with local ayvalik stone in 1896. Surrounding the clock tower are restaurants and cafes with the coastline just a short walk away.

Visiting the Ancient City of Troy

What is believed to be the city of Troy is located near the small village of Tevfikiye. It is one of the main things to do in Canakkale.

The tales of this ancient city are popular from the famous story written by Homer called The Iliad.

How to Get to Troy from Canakkale

Most people will book a tour which includes sightseeing of Troy and the Gallipoli Battlefields. These tours are very expensive and can cost close to $100 USD.

The less popular way to get to Troy is by taking a dolumus or shared taxi that only costs 10 TL one way. Now, since this is less popular, it was very hard to find information about this dolumus online. Luckily, I was staying at an Airbnb and my host was very helpful in giving directions.

So, to take the dolumus you are going to want to find the bridge on Ataturk Cd. The dolumus will be underneath the bridge. Find the sign for the dolumus with Troya/Tevfikiye. You can also put Uygur Bufe into your phone and follow the directions to this corner shop.

The times that the dolumus leaves from Canakkale are: 8:00, 9:30, 11:30, 13:30, 15:30, and 18:00.

The times to come back to Canakkale from Troy are: 8:00, 9:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, and 18:00.

Troy Museum and Archaeological Site

The Troy Museum houses artifacts found at the archaeological site. It explains how the city developed giving detailed explanations about how Troy expanded and controlled a key part of the region. You will get to see how the people lived within the city. Scientists even managed to discover the monetary system they used with coins made of gold, silver, and bronze. I thought it was particularly interesting how they found brain surgery tools from so long ago.

There are also a few sculptures and tombs that have been excavated as well as fragments of buildings with some Greek writing on them.

The archaeological site is about 500 meters from the museum. If you’re expecting fabulous ruins like from Greece or Rome, you will be very disappointed. At most, you will see the remains of the wall that surrounded Troy and the foundation of many buildings. You will have to use your imagination to really visualize what the city looked like.

The surrounding area of the site is very beautiful. It stretches all the way to the coastline that you can see on a clear day. There are plenty of sheep and goats and most of the land is used for farming.

I still would recommend going for a visit especially if you’re interested in the history of the place. A combined ticket for the museum and archaeological site is 80 TL. Both places open at 9am and close at 5pm.

Wander Through Kilitbahir Castle

Kilitbahir Castle is located on the European side of Canakkale. A quick 10-minute ferry ride away.

The village of Kilitbahir is very small and there isn’t much to do there besides the castle. There are plenty of local fishermen down by the water hoping to catch some fish for the day. Along the way to the castle, you’ll see a line of fish restaurants that have a nice view of the Dardanelles Strait.

During the reign of Fatih Sultan Mehmet II, or Mehmet the Conqueror, Kilitbahir Castle was built. After Mehmet II conquered Constantinople in 1453, he realized that his newfound capital was vulnerable to attack by the Venetians through the Dardanelles Strait.

So what was the young ruler to do? Build a castle of course!

Kilitbahir Castle, which was completed in 1462, worked with Cimenlik Castle, which is directly across the water, to defend the passageway.

The castle is shaped like a clover and kilitbahir means ‘lock of the sea.’ Some think that the clover shape was to resemble a key. Inside the castle, you can walk around and discover what life was like at that time. The center tower is a museum that displays artifacts used in the castle. I liked going all the way up the castle walls and walking around the perimeter.

The entrance to the castle is 20 TL. There is an optional audio guide for 5 TL.

Take a Ferry Ride to Eceabat

Just like Istanbul, the region of Canakkale also has an Asian side and European side. There is no bridge that connects the two continents together, so a ferry is the only way to get across.

These ferries carry vehicles and passengers and leave hourly from the port terminals. The company that operates these ferries is called Gestas. As far as I could tell they are the sole ferry company for Canakkale. A ticket for a passenger costs between 2-5 TL depending on your destination. If you want to bring a car across it is 75 TL including 1-7 passengers.

A ride to Eceabat should be included in your list of things to do in Canakkale for the sole purpose of visiting the winery.

Okay, okay, it’s not the only reason, but it’s a pretty good reason!

The ferry ride takes about 25 minutes. You are able to get some great views from the very top of the boat. On the boat, you can enjoy some Turkish tea or tost (basically grilled cheese) while taking in the scenery.

Once the boat docks and you enter the small town, on your left will be a big war memorial from the WWI battle that took place here. It was called the Battle of Gallipoli which took place between 1915-1916. The battle was won by the Ottomans. The memorial takes up most of the coastline of the town with a model of the battlefield and map. If you are interested in learning more about the Battle of Gallipoli, there are many designated tours and more memorials along the Gallipoli peninsula.

Across the street from the memorial are many local restaurants with friendly locals who are happy to serve you a fresh fish sandwich, Turkish meatballs, pide, soup, kebabs, and of course, a hot cup of tea.

Enjoy a Tasting at Suvla Winery

I honestly didn’t know this winery existed before my trip, and I’m definitely happy I found it while I was there. It turns out, that this region is quite known for winemaking.

Suvla Winery is located about a 15-20 minute walk from the ferry port in Eceabat. It is kind of down a dirt road hidden behind the industrial part of town. Don’t worry though, it was perfectly safe to walk around.

When you enter the Sulva grounds and go inside, you are greeted with an impressive floor-to-ceiling wine display. This is what they call part of their concept store. They, of course, sell their wines along with olive oil, tomato sauces, homemade crackers, and candles.

Guests can tour the facilities with a minimum group of 6 people. So, unfortunately, I couldn’t go, since I was just by myself and no other guests were around at the time. The organic vineyard sits on 60 hectares of land on the Gallipoli peninsula. They have been organic since 2013. Its unique location gives a special flavor to the grapes.

I decided to sit outside in the garden of the bistro to have a white wine tasting. I imagine this garden would be a popular place to hang out on the weekends. However, due to the COVID circumstances, I had it all to myself. My tasting included a Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay.

The bistro also serves up some delicious dishes. I had already eaten by the water, so I didn’t order any food. I was able to try the homemade crackers and some cheese with my wine tasting.

Suvla Wines has stores in Istanbul in Fenerbahce Kadikoy, Cihangir, and Okmeydani.

And that sums up the best things to do in Canakkale! What do you think of the area? Does it sound like a place you want to visit too?

More Places to Visit in Turkey

Travel around the Mediterranean Coast starting in Antalya and ending in Izmir.

Explore Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey.

Check out all the things to do on the Asian side of Istanbul.

Download these apps to help you while you’re traveling around the country.