Assos, Troy and the Dardanelles
The Troad, in the north-western corner of Turkey, brings together three historic places within ninety minutes' drive of each other: Assos and its Temple of Athena, Troy, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the Dardanelles with Çanakkale and the Gallipoli peninsula. Stay in Assos, in two stone houses in the Sabaro selection.
The Troad is the north-western corner of Asian Turkey, between the Aegean Sea and the Dardanelles strait. Three eras can be read here across a hundred kilometres: Bronze Age Troy, Greek Assos perched above the sea, and the 1915 battlefields on the Gallipoli peninsula. Stay in the south, at Assos, and drive north for the visits.
A route from south to north
| Stop | What you see | Road |
|---|---|---|
| Assos (Behramkale) | Temple of Athena, ancient harbour, stone village | — |
| Alexandria Troas | ruins of a Hellenistic and Roman city on the coast | on the way to Troy |
| Troy | archaeological site and museum | 66 km from Assos (1 h) |
| Çanakkale | town on the strait, ferry to the peninsula | 32 km from Troy (34 min) |
| Gallipoli peninsula | landing beaches, 1915 cemeteries and memorials | Çanakkale – Eceabat ferry |
Assos, the temple above the sea
Assos is a Greek city built on a volcanic crag above the Gulf of Edremit. The village of Behramkale clings to the slope; the Temple of Athena crowns the top, facing the sea and the Greek island of Lesbos, and the small ancient harbour lies below. The site is open daily from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm local time (ticket office closes at 5 pm). Admission will be €12 from 1 April 2027, according to the price list of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
This is the place to sleep: small stone guesthouses, quiet, with Kadırga beach a few kilometres away.
Troy
The archaeological site of Troy has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1998. It layers the successive cities that occupied the mound over thousands of years. A museum next to it displays the finds. A single ticket for the site and museum will cost €30 from 1 April 2027. Both are open daily, from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm local time in winter; the ministry's sheet gives longer summer hours.
The ruins of a large Hellenistic and Roman city, Alexandria Troas, lie on the coast between Troy and Assos; admission is free.
Çanakkale, Gallipoli and the Dardanelles
Çanakkale is the town on the Dardanelles strait, 32 km north of Troy. A ferry links it to Eceabat on the European shore, the gateway to the Gallipoli peninsula. The peninsula is the battlefield of the 1915 campaign: landing beaches, Commonwealth cemeteries and memorials such as Lone Pine, the Turkish Martyrs' Memorial. Every 25 April, Anzac Day brings Australians and New Zealanders together there for a dawn service.
From Istanbul, a day trip to Troy including ferry, tickets and meals is sold from €143 per person; it lasts eighteen hours. Staying in the area is a better idea.
Hotels in the Sabaro selection
The Troad has no hotel with an international label; in Çanakkale, no hotel met our criteria. Our selection includes two stone houses near Assos, both with prices on request for June 2027.
- Biber Evi, in Behramkale village: a restored 200-year-old konak, or mansion, with 7 rooms of 30 to 45 m², a vegetable garden and an olive grove whose oil is served at table.
- Assos Karadut Taş Otel, in Büyükhusun village, 5 km from Kadırga Bay: 28 stone rooms, a sea-view pool and a restaurant, on a bed-and-breakfast or half-board basis.
More hotels of this kind are on our boutique hotels page.
Getting there
- Via Çanakkale: Çanakkale airport (CKZ), 11 km from the centre, has flights to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen. Assos is then 87 km away (1 h 15).
- Via Edremit: Edremit airport (EDO) is 68 km from Assos, about 1 h 30.
- By road from Istanbul: about 3 h 35 to Çanakkale over the 1915 bridge across the Dardanelles.
To the south, Ayvalık is 1 h 46 from Assos: see Ayvalık, Cunda and Pergamon.
Climate and best time to go
The Çanakkale weather station records average highs from 9.8 °C in January to 31.5 °C in August; it is the coolest part of the Aegean coast in winter. Only 5 to 10 mm of rain falls in July and August. The sea rises from 21.8 °C in June to 24.7 °C in August. Assos, further south on the Gulf of Edremit, has slightly warmer summers.
May, June, September and October are best for sightseeing; June to September for swimming. For Anzac Day, aim for 25 April.
Safety
No European foreign ministry advises against Assos, Troy, Çanakkale or the Gallipoli peninsula; the general advice for Turkey applies. Several ministries point to the summer risk of forest fires. The "Travel advice" table on this page gives the advice of your country.
What to see
- Assos and the Temple of Athena — ancient city on a volcanic crag above the Gulf of Edremit and the village of Behramkale, with the Temple of Athena and the ancient harbour below; open daily 8.30 am-5.30 pm (local time, ticket office closes 5 pm); admission €12 from 1 April 2027 KTB, portail des musées (muze.gov.tr), site archéologique d'Assos
- Troy and the Troy Museum — archaeological site on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1998 and the nearby museum, single ticket €30 from 1 April 2027; open daily, 8.30 am-5.30 pm in winter (local time), later in summer according to the ministry's sheet; 32 km from Çanakkale KTB, portail des musées (muze.gov.tr), site archéologique de Troie
- Alexandria Troas — ruins of a large Hellenistic and Roman city on the coast between Troy and Assos; free admission KTB (ministère turc de la Culture et du Tourisme), barème des entrées valable à partir du 1/04/2027, décisions n° 208 et 210 de 2026, reproduit par alomaliye.com
- Gallipoli and the Dardanelles — the peninsula across from Çanakkale, battlefield of the 1915 campaign: landing beaches, Commonwealth cemeteries and memorials such as Lone Pine, the Turkish Martyrs' Memorial; reached by the Çanakkale – Eceabat ferry Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Lone Pine Memorial
When to go
Climate in Çanakkale
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max. (°C) | 9.8 | 10.5 | 13.1 | 17.4 | 23.0 | 28.4 | 31.4 | 31.5 | 26.7 | 21.1 | 16.1 | 11.5 |
| Sea (°C) | 13.0 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 13.7 | 17.3 | 21.8 | 24.2 | 24.7 | 22.9 | 19.6 | 16.8 | 14.6 |
Source: NOAA, normales OMM 1991-2020, station 17112 (ÇANAKKALE) — 1991-2020, accessed 22 October 2026
Sea (°C): seatemperature.info (agrégateur, moyennes mensuelles), page « Çanakkale » — accessed 22 October 2026
Getting there
- Çanakkale Airport (CKZ): town centre 11 km (20 min); flights to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (AJet) OSRM (calculateur d'itinéraire sur données OpenStreetMap), durée de conduite sans arrêt
- Edremit Airport (EDO): Assos 68 km (1 h 30) OSRM (calculateur d'itinéraire sur données OpenStreetMap), durée de conduite sans arrêt
- Roads: Çanakkale – Troy 32 km (34 min), Troy – Assos 66 km (1 h 01), Çanakkale – Assos 87 km (1 h 15), Assos – Ayvalık 101 km (1 h 46); Istanbul – Çanakkale via the 1915 bridge, about 3 h 35 OSRM (calculateur d'itinéraire sur données OpenStreetMap), durée de conduite sans arrêt
By air
| Airport | By road | Direct flights |
|---|---|---|
| Çanakkale (CKZ) | 88 km, 1h24 | |
| Edremit Koca Seyit (EDO) | 67 km, 1h28 | |
| Balıkesir (BZI) | 157 km, 2h29 |
Hotels chosen in the region
| Hotel | Category | Suits | Guest rating | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assos Karadut Taş Otel | 28-room stone hotel with sea-view pool | Boutique and historic hotels, Family | 4,8/5 (Google) | Price on request |
| Biber Evi | Restored 200-year-old konak, 7 rooms | Boutique and historic hotels, Museums and culture | 4,9/5 (Google) | Price on request |
Chosen activities
- Day trip to Troy from Istanbul (ferry, tickets and meals included) — 18 hours · from 143 € per person
Public price collected on: Civitatis — accessed 22 October 2026
Read next
Travel advice
| Country | Official advice | Source |
|---|---|---|
| France | Heightened vigilance (yellow) for Assos, Troy, Çanakkale and the Gallipoli peninsula, as for the rest of the country outside the south-east and the border areas; the terrorist risk remains high nationwide, be vigilant in crowded and tourist places. Significant risk of forest fires on the Aegean coast; alert of 10/09/2026 about fires burning in the west of the country. Be wary of strangers offering drinks or food; take care with quad bikes, buggies and diving. Keep away from demonstrations. | Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères (France Diplomatie), Conseils aux voyageurs, Sécurité (Site last updated 15 September 2026) |
| Belgium | No specific advice for Assos, Troy, Çanakkale and the Gallipoli peninsula: general vigilance, avoid crowds, political gatherings and the vicinity of official buildings. Forest fires in summer in the south and south-west; illicit alcohol causes dozens of deaths every month: buy only from official shops and bars. | SPF Affaires étrangères, Commerce extérieur et Coopération au Développement (Belgique), Conseils aux voyageurs (Site last updated 2 July 2026) |
| Switzerland | No specific advice for Assos, Troy, Çanakkale and the Gallipoli peninsula; the FDFA only advises against the border areas with Syria and Iraq and Şırnak and Hakkari provinces. Risk of attacks at any time nationwide; regular demonstrations; forest fires in summer; much of the country lies in an earthquake zone. | Département fédéral des affaires étrangères (DFAE, Suisse), Conseils pour les voyages (Site last updated 30 September 2026) |
| United Kingdom | No advised-against area in Assos, Troy, Çanakkale and the Gallipoli peninsula (only the 10 km strip along the Syrian border is). Attacks are possible anywhere; deaths from methanol-contaminated alcohol in Turkey. Sexual assaults reported mostly in beach resorts in season; frequent wildfires in summer (lighting a fire in a risk area can lead to a fine or prison); red flag: no swimming. | Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO, ministère britannique des affaires étrangères), Foreign travel advice (Site last updated 19 October 2026) |
| Germany | No travel warning for Assos, Troy, Çanakkale and the Gallipoli peninsula; only the immediate border area with Syria and Iraq is to be avoided. Terrorist threat in all parts of the country; arbitrary arrests and entry refusals reported, mostly of dual nationals and people with ties to Turkey. | Auswärtiges Amt (ministère fédéral des affaires étrangères, Allemagne), Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (Site last updated 20 October 2026) |
| Luxembourg | No advice specific to Turkey: the Luxembourg ministry refers to the Belgian, German and French advice; registration on the LamA platform is recommended. | Ministère des Affaires étrangères et européennes, de la Défense, de la Coopération et du Commerce extérieur (Luxembourg), Avis de voyage (accessed 22 October 2026) |
| Ireland | Level 2 of 4, "High degree of caution", for the whole country including Assos, Troy, Çanakkale and the Gallipoli peninsula; only the 10 km strip along the Syrian border and Hatay, Kilis and Şırnak provinces are advised against. The European Health Insurance Card is not valid in Turkey. | Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA, ministère irlandais des affaires étrangères), Travel advice (Site last updated 30 September 2026) |
| Sweden | No specific advice for Assos, Troy, Çanakkale and the Gallipoli peninsula; only the 10 km along the Syrian and Iraqi borders and Hatay, Kilis, Şırnak and Hakkari provinces are advised against. | Utrikesdepartementet (UD, ministère suédois des affaires étrangères), UD avråder (Site last updated 28 March 2022) |
| Denmark | Yellow, "be particularly careful", for Assos, Troy, Çanakkale and the Gallipoli peninsula as for the rest of the country outside the south-east. The European Health Insurance Card is not valid. | Udenrigsministeriet (ministère danois des affaires étrangères), Rejsevejledninger (Site last updated 17 June 2026) |
| Poland | Level 1 of 4, "usual caution", for Assos, Troy, Çanakkale and the Gallipoli peninsula; levels 3 and 4 only concern the south-east, the east and the border strips. | Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych (ministère polonais des affaires étrangères), service Odyseusz (Site last updated 15 October 2026) |
| Czechia | Increased caution for the country; the Aegean region is "considered safe". | Ministerstvo zahraničních věcí (ministère tchèque des affaires étrangères), Upozornění na cesty (Site last updated 12 March 2026) |
| Netherlands | Yellow for Assos, Troy, Çanakkale and the Gallipoli peninsula, as for the rest of the country outside the border areas with Syria and Iraq and Şırnak and Hakkari provinces. Increased terrorist risk; avoid demonstrations. | Nederland Wereldwijd (ministère néerlandais des Affaires étrangères), Reisadvies Turkije (Site last updated 16 October 2026) |
| Norway | Not checked by Sabaro: see Regjeringen | |
| Austria | Not checked by Sabaro: see BMEIA | |
| Italy | Not checked by Sabaro: see Viaggiare Sicuri | |
| Spain | Not checked by Sabaro: see exteriores.gob.es | |
| Portugal | Not checked by Sabaro: see Portal das Comunidades | |
| Finland | Not checked by Sabaro: see Ulkoministeriö (um.fi) | |
Rules change: always check the official website before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit Troy and Gallipoli on the same day?
It is possible from Çanakkale, but it makes for a long day. With two nights in Assos, keep one day for Troy and Alexandria Troas and another for Çanakkale and the peninsula.
Where should I stay to visit Troy?
In Assos, an hour from Troy, in one of the two stone houses in our selection. No hotel in Çanakkale met our criteria.
How much does Troy cost to visit?
€30 from 1 April 2027, for a single ticket covering the site and the museum.
When is the best time to go?
May, June, September and October for sightseeing, June to September for the sea. 25 April to attend Anzac Day at Gallipoli.
A travel advisor replies by email. Free, no commitment.