Troy Travel Guide

Troy lies about 30 km south of Canakkale, on a low hill a few kilometres from the Aegean. Visitors often arrive expecting grand walls and leave with something more interesting: a mound where at least nine cities were built one on top of another over roughly 4,000 years, from the early Bronze Age to Roman times. The site has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1998.

Why visit Troy

For most people it starts with Homer. The Iliad tells of a ten-year war over Helen, and archaeologists have argued for over a century about which layer, if any, matches that story. Heinrich Schliemann dug here in the 1870s, found gold jewellery he called "Priam's Treasure", and cut a deep trench straight through the mound in the process. That trench is still there, and a good guide can show you the different layers in its walls. You will also see ramparts, a ramp, houses, a sanctuary and a small Roman theatre.

How much time you need

The ruins take about 1.5 to 2 hours with a guide. Add another 1.5 hours for the Troy Museum, opened in 2018 near the site entrance. It is a large, modern museum with finds from Troy and the region, including some of the gold returned to Turkey. Many travellers see Troy on a day trip from Istanbul, or pair it with Gallipoli over two days.

Best time to visit

Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) are ideal. The site is open and exposed, so summer afternoons get hot, and winter brings strong north winds. In spring the fields around the mound are green and full of wild flowers.

Getting there from Istanbul

Troy is roughly 5 hours by road from Istanbul. You can drive along the northern shore of the Sea of Marmara and cross the 1915 Canakkale Bridge, or take the Asian-side route through Bursa and Balikesir. Some day trips use a fast ferry across the Marmara to shorten the drive; see our Troy day trip from Istanbul with ferry and lunch. For a fully private day, there is our Troy private tour from Istanbul. Canakkale airport has limited domestic flights.

Top experiences

• Walking the path around the mound and the city walls of Troy VI.
• Looking into Schliemann's trench, where several periods show in cross-section.
• The Troy Museum, especially the Polyxena sarcophagus and the gold jewellery.
• The replica wooden horse at the site, and the horse used in the 2004 film on the Canakkale waterfront.
• Assos, an hour south, with a temple of Athena above the sea.

Where to stay

Canakkale is the obvious base: hotels on or near the waterfront, a short drive from Troy and a ferry or bridge crossing from Gallipoli. The small villages near the site have very few rooms.

What to eat

Grilled fish and meze in Canakkale, olive-oil dishes, and peynir helvasi (a warm, sweet cheese dessert). The countryside around Troy produces olives, tomatoes and wine.

Practical tips

• Bring sun protection; there is little shade on the mound.
• A guide matters more here than at most sites. The walls are low and the story is complex.
• Combine Troy with Gallipoli: our Gallipoli and Troy 2-day private tour covers both.

See all Troy tours.