Kepez (Çanakkale) / Turkey

In the northwestern part of Turkey, at the narrowest point of the Dardanelles Strait, connecting the Marmara Sea with the Aegean Sea, lies Çanakkale. The city in the province of the same name has just under 200,000 inhabitants. Today, Çanakkale remains a significant port and is a popular cruise ship destination, often docking at nearby Kepez.

What to taste in Çanakkale?

The waterfront promenade invites you for a leisurely walk or a seat in local restaurants. There, you can taste some of the specialties of Turkish cuisine, considered among the best in the world, including:

Kebab – especially "döner kebab" - meat sliced from a large rotating grill and served in pita bread or tortilla with vegetables, onions, and various sauces,
Grilled sardines and other fish like Levrek (sea bass), Çipura (gilt-head bream),
Meze – small appetizers, ranging from cheese combinations with melon to various stuffed fruits,
Baklava – a dessert made from many layers of very thin dough, interspersed with chopped nuts and soaked in sugar or honey syrup.
Raki – an anise-flavored spirit, considered the national drink of Turkey.

Why will you love Çanakkale?

Çanakkale is a place where history meets the beauty of nature. Its strategic location at the Dardanelles Strait, proximity to legendary Troy and memorials on Gallipoli give the city a unique atmosphere. The calm pace of life, pleasant promenades by the sea, and authentic Turkish cuisine make Çanakkale an ideal destination for travelers who want to experience the real Turkey.

Practical tips:

Official language: Turkish, but in tourist areas, you can also communicate in English and sometimes German.
Currency: Turkish lira (TRY).
Opening hours: Vary depending on the type of establishment. Shops in tourist areas are usually open until late in the evening, seven days a week.
Public transport: Primarily provided by dolmuş, which are minibuses running regularly between different districts of the city. Additionally, you can use buses or taxi services. From the port in Kepez, besides the above, you can also use shuttle services offered by most cruise companies.
Weather: The climate is Mediterranean, characterized by long, hot summers with minimal rainfall (28 – 34 °C), while winters are wet and mild. Due to its location at the Dardanelles Strait, the climate is often windier, providing relief from the heat in summer and quicker weather changes in winter.

What to visit in Çanakkale:

Troy Horse – stop by the massive wooden statue of the Trojan Horse, created for the successful movie Troy starring Brad Pitt.
Cimenlik Castle – explore the stone Ottoman fortress from the mid-15th century and interesting artifacts of the local naval museum.
Archaeological Museum – history enthusiasts can start their exploration of the region here, with a collection of sculptures, reliefs, and ceramics originally belonging to Frank Calvert, assistant to archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, discoverer of the lost Troy.
Troy – about 30 km southwest of Çanakkale lie the remains of the ancient city of Troy, founded between 3500 and 3000 BC, rediscovered by Heinrich Schliemann in the 1870s. This significant archaeological site is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and visitors can explore the ruins of the famous ancient city and learn about its history and legends associated with it.
Gallipoli – remember the tragic events of World War I on the peninsula, which became the site of the famous Gallipoli campaign in 1915. Çanakkale is the gateway to the Gallipoli Peninsula, located on the opposite shore of the Dardanelles Strait. The local historical national park offers war memorials, military cemeteries, and surprisingly beautiful beaches.
Behramkale Village – located on the shore of the Edremit Gulf, where you can still see the ruins of the ancient city of Assos. From the mighty columns of the Temple of Athena, built in the 6th century BC, there are stunning views of the surrounding area.
Kabatepe Beach – relax on the beautiful sandy beach with turquoise water on the shore of the Dardanelles Strait.

The most interesting from the history of Çanakkale:

The area of today's Çanakkale has been inhabited for at least 4,000 years BC. In the 8th century BC, the Greeks founded a trading colony here, with various nations taking turns in power over the following centuries. In the mid-15th century, during the rule of the Ottoman Empire, a mighty fortress was built in Çanakkale, and by the end of the 17th century, the city became famous for its pottery. During World War I, a significant military operation took place on the opposite Gallipoli Peninsula, where British and French forces suffered a tragic defeat. The battle played a key role in the formation of modern Turkey.

Useful information

Port map:

Places worth seeing:

Getting to the port:

Cruise ships dock at the new terminal in Kepez under the port of Port of Çanakkale at the address: Cumhuriyet, Yıldız Cd. No:10, 17110 Kepez, Çanakkale Merkez, Turkey.