Istanbul to Gallipoli & Troy: 2 Day Tour with Hotel & Guide

Summary

Walk Gallipoli’s trenches and Troy’s ruins on a two-day journey

You’ll start early in Istanbul and travel with a small group to Gallipoli’s battlefields — walking through trenches and memorials with stories from both sides of history. After an overnight stay in Canakkale (breakfast included), you’ll explore ancient Troy with your guide before heading back to Istanbul late that night. It’s a mix of reflection, ruins, good food, and real moments that linger after you’re home.

What’s the experience like?

We were barely awake when the van pulled up outside our Istanbul hotel — it was still dark, the city just starting to stir. I dozed a bit as we left the city behind, but woke up hungry somewhere near Tekirdag. Our guide, Cem, handed out simit and tried to teach us how to say “good morning” in Turkish (I didn’t really nail it). The drive felt long but not boring — the fields changed color as the sun came up, and by the time we reached Eceabat for lunch, I could smell salt in the air. We sat at a simple table with steaming lentil soup and bread that tasted like it had just come out of someone’s oven.

The Gallipoli tour started right after lunch. Cem walked us through ANZAC Cove and Lone Pine — he told stories about soldiers from both sides that made everything feel closer than I expected. There were poppies everywhere. At one point I stopped touching my phone because it felt wrong to take pictures; there was this quiet at the Beach Cemetery that you don’t really get until you’re standing there. We saw trenches carved into the earth, some still holding onto old wooden beams. It rained for maybe ten minutes, just enough to make the grass smell sharp and fresh. That night in Canakkale, I wandered out for tea by the water — a bit dazed from all of it.

The next morning was slower. Breakfast was strong tea and olives (still not sure how I feel about olives at 8am). With a few hours free in Canakkale before Troy, I ended up at a little museum where an old man pointed out coins from different eras — he didn’t speak much English but smiled whenever I guessed wrong. The Troy tour itself felt like stepping into every myth I’d half-remembered from school. The city walls are rough under your hand, older than anything back home. Cem explained how they’d rebuilt parts over centuries; he even showed us where new excavations were happening right now. Someone tried to climb inside the wooden horse for a photo — not me, promise.

The drive back to Istanbul was quiet; most people slept or stared out at the dark fields rolling past. I kept thinking about those poppies on Gallipoli Peninsula and how Cem described families coming every year to remember. It sticks with you more than you expect.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Istanbul to Gallipoli tour

• 06:00 Pick up from Taksim hotel
• 06:30-07:00 Pick up from Sultanahmet hotel
• Transfer to Eceabat
• 09:00-09:30 Refreshment break
• 12:00 Arrive in Eceabat and lunch
• 13:00 Start guided Gallipoli tour
• Visit Brighton Beach and Beach Cemetery
• Visit ANZAC Cove and Ariburnu Cemetery
• Visit ANZAC Commemorative Site and Mehmetcik Statue
• Visit Lone Pine Australian Memorial and Johnston's Jolly trenches
• Visit 57. Regiment Turkish Memorial and The Nek
• Visit Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial
• 18:00 Return to Eceabat
• Overnight at hotel in Canakkale

Day 2 — Canakkale to Troy and Istanbul

• Free morning in Canakkale
• Optional visit to Naval or Troy Museum
• 13:00 Pick up from hotel
• Start guided Troy tour
• Visit Trojan Horse and Sacrificial Altars
• See 3700-year-old city walls and Houses of Troy I
• Visit Bouleuterium and Odeon
• See current excavations and remains of Troy cities
• 17:30 Return from Troy tour
• 18:00 Depart for Istanbul
• 23:00 Arrive and drop off at hotel

Top questions

How long is the day trip from Istanbul to Gallipoli & Troy?

The tour lasts 2 days and 1 night, departing early morning from Istanbul and returning late evening on day two.

Is hotel pickup included for this Gallipoli & Troy tour?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off in central Istanbul are included in your booking.

What sites do we visit on the Gallipoli Peninsula?

You’ll visit ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial, Beach Cemetery, trenches, and more.

Is breakfast or lunch provided during this tour?

Lunch is provided on day one in Eceabat; breakfast is included at your hotel in Canakkale.

Do we have free time during this tour?

You have free time on the second morning in Canakkale before heading to Troy.

Are guides included at both Gallipoli & Troy?

Yes, professional guides lead both tours with historical context from Turkish and Allied perspectives.

Is overnight accommodation part of the package?

Your stay at a 3-star hotel (or similar) in Canakkale is included with breakfast.

What’s included

Your experience includes pickup from your Istanbul hotel early morning, comfortable transfer to Eceabat with breaks along the way, guided tours of both Gallipoli battlefields and ancient Troy (with entry fees covered), lunch on arrival day, overnight accommodation with breakfast in Canakkale, plus return transport back to your hotel late on day two.