Canakkale, Dardanelles
Canakkale is your best base for visiting the Gallipoli battlefields and the ruins of Troy (although you can visit on a whirlwind day-trip from Istanbul, or a more comfortable overnight excursion by car or bus.
Located on the southern shore of the Dardanelles strait (Hellespont), Canakkale was the major strong-point in the defense of the Dardanelles from the time of the Trojans through World War I.
Today Canakkale is a pleasant town with adequate hotels to serve travelers using the Dardanelles car ferries (Canakkale-Eceabat and Gelibolu-Lapseki).
The local museum is fairly good.
Canakkale's hotels are especially crowded on ANZAC Day (April 25th) when the World War I campaign is commemorated.
It's possible to visit Canakkale, Troy and the Gallipoli battlefields in one day from Istanbul, but the travel time between Istanbul and Canakkale is between five and six hours (340 km/211 miles), meaning that you may be traveling for 12 hours and visiting the sights for much less than that. An overnight excursion makes more sense, and a two-night trip is even better.
Atlasjet has a daily flight from Istanbul to Canakkale, but it's usually at night—and only one flight a day—so it doesn't help much if you want to make the excursion in one day. By the time you go to Istanbul airport, pass through two security checks, check in and wait for your flight, collect your luggage in Canakkale, and make your way from Canakkale airport (CKZ) into town, I wonder if it's worth it.
Distances & Travel TimesAssos (Behramkale): 79 km (49 miles) S, 1.5 hours
Ayvalik: 200 km (124 miles) S, 3-1/2 hours
Bandirma: 190 km (118 miles) E, 3 hours
Bergama (Pergamum): 250 km (155 miles) S, 4 hours
Bursa: 310 km (193 miles) E, 5 hours
Dikili: 245 km (152 miles) S, 4 hours
Edirne: 230 km (143) N, 4 hours
Gallipoli Battlefields: ferry & taxi, about 30 minutes (to Kabatepe Information Center & Museum)
Istanbul: 340 km (211 miles) E, 6 hours
Istanbul's Ataturk Int'l Airport: 317 km (197 miles) E, 5 hours
Izmir: 340 km (211 miles) S, 5 hours
Troy (Truva): 30 km (19 miles) S, 30 minutes
Yalova: 365 km (227 miles) E, 6 hours
