Gallipoli Travel Guide

Gallipoli (Gelibolu in Turkish) is the long, narrow peninsula on the European side of the Dardanelles. In 1915 Allied forces landed here to open the strait to Istanbul, and after eight months of fighting they withdrew. More than 100,000 soldiers from both sides died. Today most of the peninsula is a historical national park, with cemeteries and memorials spread along roads through pine forest and farmland.

Why visit Gallipoli

For many Australian and New Zealand visitors this is a family pilgrimage, a chance to find a name on a headstone or a memorial wall. For Turks it is where the country's modern story began: Mustafa Kemal, later Atatürk, made his name as a commander on these ridges. What surprises most people is how close the lines were. At some points the trenches were only a few metres apart, and you can still see the shallow outlines of them in the ground.

How many days you need

One long day from Istanbul is enough to see the main Anzac sector with a guide, and our Gallipoli private tour from Istanbul is built for that. Two days is more comfortable: you can visit both the Anzac area and the southern Helles sector, and add the ancient city of Troy across the strait. Our 2-day Gallipoli and Troy private tour follows that plan.

Best time to visit

April to June and September to October are best, with mild weather for walking between the cemeteries. 25 April, Anzac Day, brings the Dawn Service at Anzac Commemorative Site. It is a very special experience, but attendance requires planning, security checks and a long night outdoors, and accommodation around Canakkale and Eceabat fills months ahead. Summer is hot and dry; winter can be windy and wet.

Getting there from Istanbul

The drive from Istanbul to the Anzac area is roughly 300 km and usually takes 4 to 5 hours each way, depending on traffic leaving the city. The route runs along the Sea of Marmara. Since 2022, the 1915 Canakkale Bridge links the peninsula with Canakkale city on the Asian side; car ferries between Eceabat and Canakkale also still run. The nearest airport is Canakkale, with limited flights, so most people come by road.

Top experiences

• Anzac Cove and Ari Burnu, where the Australian and New Zealand troops landed on 25 April 1915.
• Lone Pine, the main Australian memorial, and the Turkish 57th Regiment memorial nearby.
• Chunuk Bair, with the New Zealand memorial and wide views over both seas.
• The Canakkale Epic Promotion Centre at Kabatepe, a modern museum on the campaign.
• Cape Helles and the British memorial at the tip of the peninsula.
• The Canakkale Martyrs' Memorial, the main Turkish monument.

Where to stay

Canakkale city, across the strait, has the widest choice of hotels and a lively waterfront. Eceabat, on the peninsula itself, is small and closer to the battlefields. Both work well as a base for Gallipoli and Troy.

What to eat

Canakkale is a fishing town, so grilled fish and meze are the thing to order on the waterfront. Try peynir helvasi, a warm cheese dessert that is a local speciality, and the local tomatoes and olive oil.

Practical tips

• Bring details of any relative you want to find: name, unit and date of death. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website shows the cemetery and plot.
• The sites are spread out; you need a vehicle.
• Wear comfortable shoes and bring water; there are few shops inside the park.

Gallipoli also fits into longer routes, such as our 3-day tour of Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamon and Ephesus. See all Gallipoli tours.