15km (9 1/3 miles) north of Troy; 325km (202 miles) southwest of Istanbul; 331km (206 miles) north of Izmir; 303km (188 miles) west of Bursa
This charming little port city in the Dardanelles is also the gateway to the battlefields of Gallipoli and the ill-fated city of Troy. When not touring, there's much to enjoy in this corner of the northern Aegean, with easy access to a handful of resort islands.
A visit to the area begins in and around the small fishing port and holiday resort of Çanakkale. There are a handful of satisfactory bed-and-breakfast-style hotels in the city center, conveniently located near transport and tour companies offering guided tours to Troy and Gallipoli.
There's not much else to do in town except visit the Naval Museum and Çimenlik Castle, take a ferry over to Kilitbahir Castle on the opposite side of the Dardanelles, or stroll up and down the promenade while waiting for your day tour to Troy. Extremely minor highlights are the Clock Tower; a gift to the town from the Italian Consulate; the model of the Trojan horse used in the film Troy, starring Brad Pitt; and the adjacent small model of the archeological site of Troy. Çanakkale also has its own archaeological museum, but the best of the area artifacts are, sadly, elsewhere.
In the summer months, visitors can take advantage of the lovely seaside villages surrounding Çanakkale for relaxation, diving, swimming, or simply sitting in the shade of the pine trees surrounded by olive groves and Mediterranean flora.