Getting There

By Plane -- Turkish Airlines (tel. 0212/444-0849; www.thy.com) instituted flights to Çanakkale, the gateway to the Northern Aegean, in 2009. There is only one flight from Istanbul's Atatürk Airport a day, lasting 45 minutes. Fares start at 39TL for a one-way ticket; check the website for schedules as these change from season to season. The airport is located 3km (1 3/4 miles) outside of the center of town. There are taxis at the airport, as well as buses heading directly to the ferry docks/clock tower in the center of town. From here you can either arrange a tour or transport to the battlefields. The main number for the airport is tel. 0286/283-0536.

By Bus -- The major bus companies serving Çanakkale from both Istanbul and Izmir are Çanakkale Truva (tel. 444-0017 or tel. 0286/212-2222), Metro (tel. 444-3455 or tel. 0286/217-1960), and Kamil Koç (tel. 444-0562 or tel. 0286/213-7500). The ride takes about 5 to 6 hours (after a short ferry ride across the Dardanelles) with drop-offs at the Çanakkale ferry dock, located in the bull's-eye of town. Buses from Izmir and elsewhere stop at the otogar, about a 10-minute walk to the center of town.

By Car -- From Istanbul, take the E6 highway (toll road) toward Edirne. Exit at Kinali, and follow the road through Tekirdag, Malkara, and Kesan. Follow the road through Gelibolu to the turnoff at Gelibolu for the hourly and daily car ferry to Lapseki (20TL per car), where you will take the coastal road south 30km (19 miles) to Çanakkale. Or, instead of taking the turnoff to Gelibolu, continue through to Eceabat, with hourly car ferry service between 7am and midnight (then every other hour) direct to Çanakkale (20TL per car). For updated schedules and fares, log on to the website of the ferry company Gestas Deniz Ulasim (www.gestasdenizulasim.com.tr; tel. 444-0752 or tel. 0286/814-1033 in Eceabat).

Visitor Information

The tourist information office (tel. 0286/217-1187) is on the main square across from the ferry docks. For emergency traveler's check situations, thank the PTT (post office) for providing a kiosk next to the ferry ticket office.

Orientation

The city of Çanakkale is divided by the somewhat commercialized Demircioglu Caddesi, which leads directly to Cumhuriyet Meydani and the ferry docks. The clock tower, 1 block in and slightly to the west of this junction, is a good meeting point for groups.

Getting Around

On Foot -- Çanakkale revolves around the port and extends, roughly, from the Naval Museum to the south and just north of the Trojan Horse -- gifted to the city of Çanakkale in 2004 by the production staff of the epic movie starring Brad Pitt. Behind the wooden horse is a model of the seven layers of Troy.

By Taxi -- Taxis for travel within the small city limits are metered; however, taxi rates are fixed according to the destination for travel beyond Çanakkale. If the rates seem blown out of proportion to you, try to negotiate a better rate with your driver.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.