Where to stay to visit the Gallipoli battlefields

First of all not in Gelibolu (Gallipoli), contrary to what the name suggests, as it is located some 40 km north of the battlefields. The two options are Eceabat or Çanakkale. Çanakkale has more hotels, restaurants, entertainment and other tourist services. Eceabat offers a laidback atmosphere and has seen its number of facilities increase in the last years, including a few accommodations (e.g. the Gallipoli Houses) closer to the battlefields.

If you are only planning to stay one, possible two nights, Çanakkale might be the better option, but with a rental car it might turn out more costly as you will have to pay for the ferry (back and forth) every day and probably also for a parking spot for the night near your hotel. In Eceabat and on the peninsula all hotels have free parking or safe street parking.

For those planning a longer visit lasting 3 days or more the daily ferry back and forth may not only become costly but also a time consuming affair. Although it only takes 15 (Çanakkale-Kilitbahır) or 25 minutes (Çanakkale-Eceabat) to cross the loading/unloading and possible queuing might take up to an hour.