- Home
- About Gallipoli & Canakkale
Tailor your visit to your needs
The best way to visit the Gallipoli Battlefields is to have “your own wheels”. Public transport is in its infancy and consists of a few minibus services with a few runs per day only. A rental car gives you total freedom and basically all places on the Gallipoli peninsula can be reached by regular car. A local taxi is the second alternative and it is relatively inexpensive. They are available for transfers & half day and full day rentals. For those wanting to walk the battlefields, a drop off in the morning and pick-up in the afternoon from any point on the battlefields can be organized and is cheaper than a full day rental.
Hiring a local professional guide to accompany you in your car or taxi for on one or more days will enhance your experience. Guides can give you a clear insight into the Gallipoli Campaign and/or cover in detail a specific part of the battlefield because of family reasons. A guided tour may be the best option for visitors on a tight time schedule. You can join a tour in Eceabat or book a package including return transfers from Istanbul with or without accommodation. Apart from the standard tour of the Anzac battlefields and the ancient city of Troy, some agencies also offer tours to the Helles (British) battlefields on the Southern tip of the peninsula. You can book via an agency in Istanbul but you’ll probably end up on the coach of one of the local operators anyway. It you want clear communication and efficiency we suggest you book through an Eceabat/Çanakkale agent. For independent travellers the local agencies can also book local guides or organize private tours with a chauffeur driven vehicle.
Every battlefield-enthusiast however will tell you that the only way to get the 'real experience' is walk the battlefields. So if possible, allow a day (or two) for hiking places such as Plugge's Plateau, the New Zealand trail from Chunuk Bair to the outposts, the Kirectepe Ridge and/or Gully Ravine. Not only are these hikes of historical value but they also offer beautiful scenery and with a bit of luck a glimpse at the local wildlife.