Making the most of Canakkale
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Canakkale is a popular cruise destination, chiefly for ancient Troy and its World War I historical importance.
Most lines use shuttles from the new Kepez port and cruise terminal into central Canakkale. It is 3 km from Çanakkale city centre.
The quiet Turkish port of Canakkale stands on the Asian shore guarding the Dardanelles. History enthusiasts can visit legendary Troy, 18 km away.
A short taxi ride reaches Canakkale’s Archaeological Museum, with exhibits once belonging to Frank Calvert, assistant to lost-city discoverer Heinrich Schliemann.
Visit the vast memorial on Galipoli Peninsula, the site of the notorious World War I campaign.
Getting around
Canakkale excursions visit Troy, home to unhappy lovers Troilus and Cressida. Nine cities stand superimposed in rings on a huge mound above the windswept Plain. Paris brought beautiful Helene to one of these cities after her abduction, igniting the Trojan War.
Town taxis are cheap, regulated and easy to find. For longer journeys, drivers may charge above the meter, so agree the fare in advance. Turkey’s most unusual transport is Dolmus, used for routes buses do not take. The name means “To Fill”, and each dolmus leaves when full. They are usually minibuses, jeeps or vans, so fill quickly; a bonus is that they drop passengers anywhere along the route.
Nearby places
Çanakkale Kepez is also only 18 km from ancient Troy, making it the closest passenger terminal to a historical site visited by thousands each year.
Behramkale is a lovely small village facing the Gulf of Edremit. It was founded on the site of Assos, home to the famous 6th century BC Temple of Athena. From the top of the acropolis, the gulf panorama is breathtaking, and the Assos remains surrounding the acropolis are worth visiting.
Near Kalabakli stream in Maltepe district, Dardanos tumulus is about 11 km from Canakkale. Finds date to Archaic periods of the 7th and 6th centuries BC, and the Roman period around 11 A.D.
The region also includes Gökceada, Turkey’s largest island, and Bozcaada, both with many camping facilities.
Food and shopping
Along the seafront promenade, fish restaurants, bars and cyber cafés provide places to sit and watch traffic on the water.
Try haggling at souvenir shops and stalls. For food shopping, local mini markets cover basic essentials, while supermarkets close to larger resorts are similar to those used at home. Weekly resort markets sell local produce, crafts and textiles and are well worth visiting.
Turkish cuisine is among the world’s best, with enough climatic zones to grow most ingredients locally and a vast range of produce to excite and entice the palate. Alongside famous kebabs are many other traditional foods. Turkey is particularly famed for meze: hundreds of small appetiser dishes, from simple cheese with melon combinations to elaborately stuffed vegetables. All Turkish restaurants serve them traditionally with Raki, a clear anise-flavoured spirit claimed as the national alcoholic drink.
Money
Turkey uses the Turkish Lira. Many coastal-resort and big-city shops and restaurants accept foreign currency. If travelling to other parts of the country, it is advisable to carry some Turkish Lira.
Credit and debit cards can withdraw local money from cash machines in convenient city, town and resort locations.
Staying connected
Some hotels and restaurants/cafés, especially in big cities, provide free wireless connections.
In emergencies anywhere in Turkey, call Ambulance 112 or Police 155.
Opening Hours and
Tourist and coastal-area hours are flexible. During summer, many shops remain open late every evening, seven days a week, letting visitors browse at leisure and avoid the heat of the day.