Must-sees in Canakkale

Çanakkale serves as the gateway to the Dardanelles, defined by its strategic military architecture and ancient lore. This selection features 15th-century fortifications like Kilitbahir and Çimenlik, built by Mehmed the Conqueror to control the strait. It includes Ottoman-era coastal batteries like Namazgah and Hamidiye, which played critical roles during the 1915 Gallipoli campaign. Modern landmarks, such as the 19th-century Ottoman clock tower and the cinematic Trojan Horse maquette on the waterfront, connect the city's maritime heritage with the legendary history of ancient Troy.

Çanakkale Must-Sees — Map

Ozgurmulazimoglu / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Kilitbahir Castle

Kilitbahir Castle is a fortress on the west side of the Dardanelles, opposite the city of Çanakkale, where there is a corresponding…

pnaha0 / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Horse of Troy

This Trojan horse maquette has been used in the Hollywood movie Troy and now dominates the waterfront of Çanakkale.

Nerval / Public domain

C

Çimenlik Fortress

This "Meadow Castle" was built in 15th century as a guard over Dardanelles. Now it houses naval and military museums.

D

The Clock Tower

Five-story stone structure built in 1896, funded by Italian merchant Emilio Vitalis. It features an Ayvalık stone facade and serves as a central landmark near the harbor.

Kcperspectives / CC BY-SA 4.0

E

Namazgah Redoubt

The first and largest fortification on the Dardanelles, containing 26 gun emplacements. This 19th-century redoubt served as a primary defensive position during the 1915 naval battles.

F

Hamidiye Tabyası

Coastal defense battery commissioned by Sultan Abdulhamid II in 1892. The site consists of ten earthen bunkers and was a key component of the Dardanelles fortification system.

G

Naval Museum

Military museum featuring a full-scale replica of the Nusret Minelayer, historical cannons, and artifacts from the Gallipoli campaign, located on the grounds of Çimenlik Fortress.