You might say that our affinity with living near water meant we were destined to fall in love with Canakkale in North-Western Turkey, but as we drove north from Bozcaada Island, I found it was difficult to form a mental picture of the town.
It is situated on The Dardanelles otherwise known as Canakkale Strait – a natural waterway in North-West Turkey separating Asian and European Turkey. As soon as we set eyes on the Dardanelles waterfront in Canakkale we were smitten. I mean who doesn’t love a beautiful and intriguing waterfront!
We also loved the casual atmosphere and friendly locals of Canakkale. Being a student town it is affordable, with a lively atmosphere and a reputation as being a friendly party town. Add a mix of mosques, hamams, museums and a thriving old town and the urban scales are perfectly balanced.
If you travel to Gallipoli be sure you to overnight at Canakkale.
Things to do in Canakkale
Travel to Gallipoli
Australians are taught about the battle of Gallipoli during WWI as a significant part of our history and as Aussies we were on an Anzac pilgrimage of sorts to the Gallipoli Peninsula.
This particular Turkish road trip of ours began in Izmir, but Canakkale was the launching point to Gallipoli. It is also possible to drive from Istanbul to the Peninsula or arrange a tour from Istanbul.
The Gallipoli Peninsula is just west of Canakkale and it is a short trip on the “Gestas” Canakkale to Gallipoli Ferry. Drive your car right on to the ferry and have a lovely day exploring the peninsula sights, returning to Canakkale in the evening.
The Gestas ferry cost is approx. 35TL each way.
Choose the Eceabat ferry (25 minute trip) if you’re wishing to visit only the Turkish, Australian or New Zealand memorials.
From the town of Eceabat cut across the peninsula to the Çanakkale Epic Presentation Center to collect some maps and information before taking the loop road around the memorial sites. The route is one way and takes about an hour with a few stops.
Hang out on the Kordon
The promenade, is known as the kordon in Turkey and here in Canakkale it is the place to relax with the locals, catch sunset views over the Gallipoli Peninsula.
Corn on the cob is BBQ’d and sold from quaint stalls and everyone is out for a stroll.
As evening approaches crowds form around a girls boxing competition, or a group of whirling dervishes.
Outdoor Teahouses
In Turkey, you will find outdoor teahouses where in other countries you might find beer gardens. In Canakkale, these teahouses are strung out along the kordon and they are packed with customers.
Watch a Red Sunset over Gallipoli
The tea gardens of the kordon are prime position for a Sunset Gallipoli style and seating is at a premium so arrive early.
Watch the Fishermen sell their catch of the day
Individual fishermen display their meagre catch on the kordon and hopeful housewives come looking to buy. Looking over the edge into the clear waters of the strait we saw multitudes of tiny bait fish.
Where to eat and an Ottoman Clock Tower
Haylaz Bey Doner restaurant at Saat Kulesi Meydani Barlar Sok No. 8, has cheap and tasty food, and as we were soon to discover, spans two streets.
Entering through the front door we ordered our meals and then were shown through to the back lane that doubled as an outdoor eating area.
As we ate our chicken, salad and flat bread dressed with doner juices, we enjoyed a first class view of the five storey Ottoman clock tower (1897).
Find the Statue of the Canakkale Pot
Canak (pot) kale (fortress)
This statue is a replica of the strange looking pot that Canakkale was famous for in the 19th Century. It is evidently making a comeback!
Visit Cimenlik Fort
Cimenlik Fort was unfortunately closed during our visit but a walk along the path toward the fort revealed an interesting collection of war memorabilia.
Visit the Military Museum and Nusrat Minelayer.
There was also a Military Museum in the park and a replica of the Nusrat minelayer floating nearby.
The Cats of Canakkale
In Turkey everyone takes care of the roaming cats. The Fishermen here shared their daily catch and the cats were a content healthy looking bunch that treated the kordon as their home.
These shiny coated cats were enjoying the attention of an admirer.
Watching the sunset from a Canakkale tea house.
Whirling dervishes waiting to perform on the kordon.
See the Trojan Horse Troy Canakkale
Since 2004 the Trojan Horse from the movie Troy has drawn the crowds. Standing at it’s base and looking up it an inspiring sight.
The distance from Canakkale to Troy (the actual site of Troy) is 36 km but you won’t find the Trojan horse there. Seeing the Trojan Horse from the movie is on the other hand easy and very impressive.
The ruins of Pergamon at Bergama (224 km) south are indeed worth visiting.
Visit the local Hamam
Our rental vehicle refused to start and we were forced to stay another day – sometimes we are so lucky. Having some unexpected free time, I scraped up the courage to take my first Turkish Bath. There are separate male and female hamams in the town centre and my visit to the everyday local women’s hamam was much cheaper and authentic than some touristic places in Istanbul.
Where to Stay in Canakkale
We stayed at Grand Anzac and an extra night at Kervansaray. Kervansaray is a classic ottoman greek building and worthwhile staying in if you are interested in architecture.
Also owned by the same group is Anzac House Hostel. Once you have booked into any one of these, management can usually find you a last minute room for the next night. The staff at Grand Anzac were exceptional, helping us sort out a replacement hire car when ours wouldn’t start – and the buffet breakfast was pretty amazing.
Canakkale Pronunciation
The C is pronounced CH. This is how to say the whole work “Cha-knock-ka-lay”.
Read about our list of things to do in Istanbul here.
Get your travel inspiration from Nancie’s Budget Travelers Sandbox at TRAVEL PHOTO THURSDAY.
Tuesday in Townsville at the 2014 Glencore Greek Fest
Beautiful…
What a beautiful place Canakkale is. We spent two nights there as we did a tour of Gallipoli and ruins at Troy. I loved the promenade with all the cafes lining the foreshore. Your wonderful photos take me back there!
I am so glad that you visited Canakkale Kathy. It had such a relaxing pleasant vibe to it didn’t it?
What a pleasant looking town, Jan. I’m assuming that the guys with the funny hats are the band, and the women are the dervishes. I would love to hear and see that performance.
They were all male Nancie. These dervishes did not whirl, but chanted. I know nothing about the process but I assume they get into a trance like state by either and/or both chanting then whirling. They were there to advertise a performance so maybe they were withholding the whirling part of the process. I felt really sorry for the little boys sitting down with arms crossed over chest. Their little arms kept dropping.
i’m not surprised you’re captivated by Canakkale. It looks such an interesting place. Laid back, lots of history, space, sea and good food. what more could a travelling girl ask for?! Can’t wait to hear about your adventures in a Turkish Bath!
The Turkish bath was an indelible experience 🙂
Wow, what an eclectic collection of photos. Turkey seems so fascinating. I really hope I get to explore it myself one of these days.
I think Turkey is a wonderfully eclectic country for photography. 🙂
What a wonderfully pleasant town! I’d so enjoy ambling through it. 🙂
It was just the right size for rambling through Krista. 🙂
Turkey has been on my bucket list for so long, and your photos remind me why! It looks lovely – a perfect mix of picturesque and vibrant :).
That does sound like Turkey to me Molly 🙂
Every post you have written on twitter makes me want to visit. I am so impressed with this part of the world.
I am happy that my posts inspire you leigh. You have been to such wonderful places and experienced so many cool things.
I didn’t mean twitter – just every post you have written.
Wow – the day time of Canakkale is incredible…and the night time is spectacular!
That Trojan Horse looks incredible – so large!
Your lunch of chicken and salad sounds so yummy but what is Doner Juice?
Hi Lisa. There is a large upright spit full of meat/chicken that turns around – the meat cooks as it passes a heating element and the juices drip down to the bottom.
I was wondering about that Trojan horse. Was the movie filmed near there? I’ve always wanted to see real whirling dervishes, but I suppose I thought there would be more whirling involved. Looks like a lovely town and what an interesting pot.
Good question Michele. Evidently the movie Troy, starring Brad Pitt was filmed in Malta and Mexico. Troy the ruined city is however near Canakkale. The statue to Canakkale as a present. When you pay money and go to a Whirling Dervish Ceremony there is much whirling (like a whole hour of it). This group were handing out pamphlets for a ceremony/performance so they were chanting and supposedly whirling later in the night but we moved on.
Great photos – I can certainly see why you fell in love with the place 🙂 The promenade looks like a great place to spend a summer’s evening!
Canakkale has one of the nicest kordon’s we saw in Turkey. I would love to be sitting in that tea garden right now. 🙂 Thanks for commenting.
What a beautiful seaside city. What was your favorite thing to do in Canakkale?
Hi Craig. We were there to visit Gallipoli which was fantastic. In Canakkale itself we enjoyed the waterfront. A personal highlight was myself having a turkish bath 🙂
I would like to compliment that little girl on having no preconceived superstitions about black cats 🙂 I would have loved to seen the inside of the fort but like you, I also would been just a thrilled to visit all of the war memorabilia. Ya know, you guys can invite me to an outdoor lunch like that any day, Jan! 🙂
Cannakkale looks so peaceful and interesting. I definitely liked the sound of whiling away some time on the kordon or at the tea gardens or at a bar to watch the sunset. The whirling dervishes would be a bonus.
I had a feeling that you might have been there yourself Jo?
I had only the briefest visit to Canakkale, in late one day, out on the early ferry the next. It looks beautiful and deserving of a longer stay. Thanks for sharing and I love your positive spin on the car ☺
I often think that travel mishaps turn out to be advantageous 🙂
We spent two nights in Canakkale as well after we had finished our tour of Gallipoli we were supposed to go out to see the ruins at Troy the following day. They postponed it and then our son arrived a day early so we certainly enjoyed our stay here on the Dardanelles. We even had a morning swim off the kordon because it was so hot! Your photos brought back wonderful memories!
Wow, I can’t imagine swimming off the kordon. It wasn’t hot when we were there Kathy.
This looks like a fascinating place to stay when visiting Gallipoli. I hope one day we will visit.
I would love to see your photos of the area Jill, so hurry up and go!
Thanks for this Jan. I really enjoyed this post. Great photos and descriptive text. Love that strange looking pot-like sculpture.
Such a weird pot. I’ve never seen anything like it before Wanda!
I’d love to return to Turkey and explore more of the country as each time I’ve only been able to spend a few days. Canakkale looks like a fascinating place to begin.