Troy (Truva), Canakkale
Troy (Truva)
Troy (Truva)
4
Historic Sites • Ancient Ruins • Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings • Battlefields
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Site of the heroic siege in in Homer's Iliad, Troy (Truva in Turkish, Ilion in Greek) was excavated in the 1870s by Heinrich Schliemann. He uncovered civilizations dating back 5,000 years, including best-preserved Roman architecture. Explanatory materials at the site are limited, so visitors should bring a good history text or hire a guide.
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1,802 reviews
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maritimeexplorer
Nova Scotia, Canada3,799 contributions
Oct 2021
In 1998 Troy was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, The number of tourists today at Troy is a trickle compared to my first visit here about a decade ago.
The first one notices might very well be the most interesting - the Trojan Horse. This quite possibly realistic replica was erected in 1975. Whether it is because of Covid or the state of the structure it is now cordoned off so my photo shows as close as you can get now.
Now it's time for a spoiler alert - you will almost certainly be disappointed with the visit to the actual site of Troy. There are a number of reasons for this, but I attribute it mostly to the fact that it would simply be impossible for a place with the reputation Troy has to live up to expectations. Secondly, Schliemann the archaeologist who first dug at the site did a lot of damage in his initial excavations that cannot be undone. Thirdly, as archaeological sites go it is nowhere nearly as interesting as many others in Turkey like Pergamon or Ephesus. The very fact that it is one layer on top of another mitigates against a unified presentation that is reasonably understandable. So with this disclaimer in mind you should dial back your expectations.
Although I don't believe it is mandatory to follow, there is a pretty good one way path that wends its way through the various layers.
You enter at Troy VI which equates time wise with the Trojan War, but the walls just don't bring the Troy of The Iliad to mind.
The walkway takes you around the site in a counter clockwise direction taking you next to the ruins of a Temple of Athena that was built over 1,500 years after Priam's Troy at a time when the city was called Ilion. If you know your Trojan War history you will know that Athena sided with the Greeks during the war and brought many misfortunes upon the Trojans, so I was somewhat surprised to see a temple dedicated to her at Troy. Apparently even before Schliemann arrived locals were pilfering marble from the remains of the temple for building materials and all that remains are a few bits of columns.
Next are the remains of the walls of Troy II and III which Schliemann mistakenly thought were the Troy of Priam's time, but are actually over 1,000 years too old to be Homer's Troy. The walls of this Troy were topped with rather crude mud bricks.
The remains of the very first Troy date all the way back to 3,000 BC when the settlement was actually on the shore of a shallow bay on the Aegean Sea.
The last Trojan city you come across on this visit is the Roman one, now called Ilium and once visited by Emperor Augustus who paid for a number of improvements including the Odeon which is probably the best preserved site at Troy.
The first one notices might very well be the most interesting - the Trojan Horse. This quite possibly realistic replica was erected in 1975. Whether it is because of Covid or the state of the structure it is now cordoned off so my photo shows as close as you can get now.
Now it's time for a spoiler alert - you will almost certainly be disappointed with the visit to the actual site of Troy. There are a number of reasons for this, but I attribute it mostly to the fact that it would simply be impossible for a place with the reputation Troy has to live up to expectations. Secondly, Schliemann the archaeologist who first dug at the site did a lot of damage in his initial excavations that cannot be undone. Thirdly, as archaeological sites go it is nowhere nearly as interesting as many others in Turkey like Pergamon or Ephesus. The very fact that it is one layer on top of another mitigates against a unified presentation that is reasonably understandable. So with this disclaimer in mind you should dial back your expectations.
Although I don't believe it is mandatory to follow, there is a pretty good one way path that wends its way through the various layers.
You enter at Troy VI which equates time wise with the Trojan War, but the walls just don't bring the Troy of The Iliad to mind.
The walkway takes you around the site in a counter clockwise direction taking you next to the ruins of a Temple of Athena that was built over 1,500 years after Priam's Troy at a time when the city was called Ilion. If you know your Trojan War history you will know that Athena sided with the Greeks during the war and brought many misfortunes upon the Trojans, so I was somewhat surprised to see a temple dedicated to her at Troy. Apparently even before Schliemann arrived locals were pilfering marble from the remains of the temple for building materials and all that remains are a few bits of columns.
Next are the remains of the walls of Troy II and III which Schliemann mistakenly thought were the Troy of Priam's time, but are actually over 1,000 years too old to be Homer's Troy. The walls of this Troy were topped with rather crude mud bricks.
The remains of the very first Troy date all the way back to 3,000 BC when the settlement was actually on the shore of a shallow bay on the Aegean Sea.
The last Trojan city you come across on this visit is the Roman one, now called Ilium and once visited by Emperor Augustus who paid for a number of improvements including the Odeon which is probably the best preserved site at Troy.
Written March 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Some_Random _
London, UK50 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
My girlfriend and I decided to visit Troy as a must to see location during our stay in Canakkale.
We were provided the guided tour by our hotel and on the morning of the trip we were greeted at 0830, as agreed, by our very bubbly guide Burak.
We arrived at the site in a short time and we started our tour.
It was mesmerising walking close to the walls of a city we only read of in classic literature’s classes.
The guide explained what the site is about and how it came to be in the different historical period of the city, from 2500BC until 500AD.
I am no archeological expert but the guide managed to explain the history of the excavation site, easily enough for everyone to enjoy and learn.
I highly recommend this tour, which only took four hours from the hotel and back.
We were provided the guided tour by our hotel and on the morning of the trip we were greeted at 0830, as agreed, by our very bubbly guide Burak.
We arrived at the site in a short time and we started our tour.
It was mesmerising walking close to the walls of a city we only read of in classic literature’s classes.
The guide explained what the site is about and how it came to be in the different historical period of the city, from 2500BC until 500AD.
I am no archeological expert but the guide managed to explain the history of the excavation site, easily enough for everyone to enjoy and learn.
I highly recommend this tour, which only took four hours from the hotel and back.
Written May 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Troy M
South Hedland, Australia33 contributions
Sep 2019 • Solo
Really enjoyed visiting the old ruins of Troy. Was a couple hours bus ride from our accomodation in Çanakkale.
I recommend a purchase or loan of a book that gives an overview of the different layers or different timelines of ‘Troy’ and shows what the city would of looked like.
If you enjoy the story you’ll enjoy the visit.
I recommend a purchase or loan of a book that gives an overview of the different layers or different timelines of ‘Troy’ and shows what the city would of looked like.
If you enjoy the story you’ll enjoy the visit.
Written April 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Suzanne78
Amsterdam35 contributions
Apr 2022 • Family
If you're a Roman enthusiast then I'm sure you'll enjoy but we went with 3 children who quite frankly found this a boring place to visit. It's not interactive in any way and the information boards mainly refer to archaeological facts. They were excited to go inside the horse but this wasnt allowed when we were there, I'm not sure if this is always the case? I would only recommend if you're a Roman history enthusiast, otherwise you need a rather large imagination to bring this pile of rubble to life
Written April 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
ertankahya
Istanbul, Turkey7 contributions
Apr 2021 • Family
Starting from 3500 bc to 500 ad a city lived many ages. people before us were there and built and rebuilt a city from its ashes. It is amazing to feel their struggle, how a city changed with geological changes and how it lost its importance.
Written April 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
radbrad73
Dallas, TX71 contributions
Oct 2020 • Solo
So after having read some reviews of “there’s not much here” variety...what were those people looking at?!?!
Troy is amazing! Literally layers upon layers of civilization. You can see the progress of history from one layer to the next. It goes beyond the myth into the real. Where else can you go and they say, “We haven’t bothered to excavate the Roman part of the city because those kinds of ruins are so common in Turkey”? Here, that’s where. I traveled all over Turkey and saw plenty of Roman and Greek ruins, but the ruins here go so much deeper - literally.
I was staying in Çanakkale and was able to join a day tour from Istanbul hosted by Crowded House Tours and Sukru was our guide. He was great and was able to communicate so much about the site in a fun and effective way. Plus he had a ton of fishing tips - free of charge!
If I had it to do over again, I’d spend a little more time and perhaps do more than the half day tour. So if the day trip from Istanbul is all you can manage, for sure do it. But if you’re staying close by as I was - spend more time in Troy. It’s worth it.
Troy is amazing! Literally layers upon layers of civilization. You can see the progress of history from one layer to the next. It goes beyond the myth into the real. Where else can you go and they say, “We haven’t bothered to excavate the Roman part of the city because those kinds of ruins are so common in Turkey”? Here, that’s where. I traveled all over Turkey and saw plenty of Roman and Greek ruins, but the ruins here go so much deeper - literally.
I was staying in Çanakkale and was able to join a day tour from Istanbul hosted by Crowded House Tours and Sukru was our guide. He was great and was able to communicate so much about the site in a fun and effective way. Plus he had a ton of fishing tips - free of charge!
If I had it to do over again, I’d spend a little more time and perhaps do more than the half day tour. So if the day trip from Istanbul is all you can manage, for sure do it. But if you’re staying close by as I was - spend more time in Troy. It’s worth it.
Written December 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
EFDIII
Istanbul, Turkey8 contributions
Dec 2019
One must not travel from Gallipoli south along the Aegean seacoast (or vice versa) without stopping in Troy.
We visited the ancient ruins of Troy (actually, several eras of ruins on one site) 25 years ago. We returned with our children and were amazed by the effort and research that has transpired since that first visit. In 1994 there was no real entrance, no reception area, no footpaths, and no explanation per se. We wandered about the mounds and ancient walls and artifacts without knowing what we were doing, or damaging.
Now the sight clearly and thoughtfully outlines the nine eras of Troy's history over five millenia. The archeological work is ongoing, well-marked, and awe-inspiring. The museum, a short drive away, is an absolute must-see. It just opened a year ago and looks like an artifact itself. It explains the history and legend of Troy chronologically as one ascends each level. It has intriguing interactions for kids. Many of the excavated artifacts are preserved safely in the museum. We visited the museum first for a couple of hours, ate lunch, then went to the archeological site itself for a couple of hours. You really can't do one without the other. The day left both parents and kids with a terrific understanding and appreciation of Troy and the region.
Kudos to Turkey for this fantastic, classy monument to history and legend.
FYI, the wooden horse near the giftshop is not an artifact, but a fun tourist landmark reminding us of Homer's Iliad. After the deaths of many heroes, including the Achaeans Achilles and Ajax, and the Trojans Hector and Paris, legend says that Troy was entered by the ploy of the Trojan Horse. When we visited, it seemed surprising that some visitors thought the kitchy wooden horse was a real artifact. But it's still fun for kids to climb into.
We visited the ancient ruins of Troy (actually, several eras of ruins on one site) 25 years ago. We returned with our children and were amazed by the effort and research that has transpired since that first visit. In 1994 there was no real entrance, no reception area, no footpaths, and no explanation per se. We wandered about the mounds and ancient walls and artifacts without knowing what we were doing, or damaging.
Now the sight clearly and thoughtfully outlines the nine eras of Troy's history over five millenia. The archeological work is ongoing, well-marked, and awe-inspiring. The museum, a short drive away, is an absolute must-see. It just opened a year ago and looks like an artifact itself. It explains the history and legend of Troy chronologically as one ascends each level. It has intriguing interactions for kids. Many of the excavated artifacts are preserved safely in the museum. We visited the museum first for a couple of hours, ate lunch, then went to the archeological site itself for a couple of hours. You really can't do one without the other. The day left both parents and kids with a terrific understanding and appreciation of Troy and the region.
Kudos to Turkey for this fantastic, classy monument to history and legend.
FYI, the wooden horse near the giftshop is not an artifact, but a fun tourist landmark reminding us of Homer's Iliad. After the deaths of many heroes, including the Achaeans Achilles and Ajax, and the Trojans Hector and Paris, legend says that Troy was entered by the ploy of the Trojan Horse. When we visited, it seemed surprising that some visitors thought the kitchy wooden horse was a real artifact. But it's still fun for kids to climb into.
Written January 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
world1explorer
Nashville, TN344 contributions
Dec 2021
This site was all the more impressive having learned of the various pre-cities at the main archeology museum in Istanbul.
History comes alive here, and you can just imagine the glory of the earlier days. Even better if you've just seen the Brad Pitt movie or listened to the Stephen Fry audio book.
A must visit for anyone interested in classical history, whether or not you believe all the various myths. Very easy to navigate and included in the Turkey museum pass. We were the only visitors at 9am the morning we visited.
History comes alive here, and you can just imagine the glory of the earlier days. Even better if you've just seen the Brad Pitt movie or listened to the Stephen Fry audio book.
A must visit for anyone interested in classical history, whether or not you believe all the various myths. Very easy to navigate and included in the Turkey museum pass. We were the only visitors at 9am the morning we visited.
Written January 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Istanbulkay
Istanbul, Turkey89 contributions
Jun 2020
Most people think there isn't much to see in Troy but if you get the feel of the place and the various levels of troy it really is special. Read up the legend of Paris and Helen, stand by the stone roadway where hector rode down to meet Achillis. Look out at the land that was once water and imagine those 1,000 ships. The Iliad talks of this windy place with such poetry that when you stand at Troy you are with Homer and his words. Loved, loved the place.
Written August 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
PamCanuck251Preston
Chorley, United Kingdom95 contributions
Oct 2021
The museum is excellent, very well laid out over 4 floors with a viewing terrace. Exhibit route easy to follow, good explanations and room for several people without crowding. We were supposed to have an audio guide, it wasn't offered at ticket office and we decided not to go back for it. Learned a lot and very glad we went in because the site would have been very difficult to interpret without prior knowledge.
We walked (after asking directions as it wasn't clear) over to the site from the museum, about 950m. The site has been messed about with in the past causing damage but the route around was clear. It is difficult to understand because of all the different extensions and layers of development over its lifespan.
The cost in October 2021 was 100 TL for museum and site. The Trojan horse from the Brad Pitt movie is actually in Çanakkale, there is a very different version at the site which will need some attention very soon.
We walked (after asking directions as it wasn't clear) over to the site from the museum, about 950m. The site has been messed about with in the past causing damage but the route around was clear. It is difficult to understand because of all the different extensions and layers of development over its lifespan.
The cost in October 2021 was 100 TL for museum and site. The Trojan horse from the Brad Pitt movie is actually in Çanakkale, there is a very different version at the site which will need some attention very soon.
Written November 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
basim
Istanbul, Turkey1 contribution
Hello. I am going to visit Çanakkale next week. Can anybody help me for making a nice tour for 2 days. Thanks
Scordatura
Kocaeli Province, Turkey260 contributions
Hi
Çanakkale is a nice small city with a lot of beauty. If you have only 2 days you can visit troya and its museum.. it will take half of your day .. remain time you can visit aynalı çarşı( bazaar) saat kulesi ( small tower with hour) , you can eat some fish and visit castle and tabyalar near kilitbayır .. and the second day you can visit gallipoli to ser Çanakkale war places .. ıt will take nearly all day of you ..
Than if you have more time do not forget to visit gökçeada( imbros) and bozcaada..
katrin_knoll
Amsterdam, The Netherlands4 contributions
Hello - I am planning to visit Troy but I don't want a guide - can you buy individual tickets at the gate? For both museum and archaeological site?
AyhanU
Istanbul, Turkey31 contributions
Yes, you can buy tickets and (optional) audio guide at the entrance of both sites (which are very close to each other). There are also guided tours at certain hours, if you wish you can ask for them at the reception. Meanwhile, if you buy a "museum-card" you can see both sites and many other museums in Turkey free of charge. I hope you enjoy your visit.
siunyil
Brisbane, Australia11 contributions
Hi, is there a tour guide we can hire at the entrance? If, yes how much does it cost and how long will it take? We prefer the tour guide rather than the audio guide. We plan to drive there so we don't think to get the tour operator from Canakkale.
ridhikh
New Delhi, India113 contributions
you can find a tour guide just near the shop cum coffee shop near Troy just opposite the Troy museum. He lives in the village near Troy. We picked him from the restaurant and dropped him there.He has also written a book on Troy Ruins. Cant remember his name though
Brenda D
Oakville, Canada1 contribution
Cost of taxi from istanbul centre to airport
Andrewtom
Germany175 contributions
Hi there, hope my answer is not too late.
Mind you, there are 2 airports serving Istanbul. One on the Asian side (Sabiha Goekcen, SAW), one on the European side (IST). From the city center (we stayed in Galata/Beyogly area) it took as to IST some 45 minutes, we used one of the yellow standard cabs, he charged according to the meter, it was about 45,-- Euro, more or less USD 50,--
ridhikh
New Delhi, India113 contributions
Hi, How did you reach Troy from Canakkale - Taxi or Dolmus? what time is the last dolmus and where are the dolumus points?
Aytul
Canakkale, Turkey61 contributions
You can get mini buses from Canakkale to Troy.You will see TRUVA sign on them.Their stop is next to CUMA PAZARI under the brige usually departure starting 7:30 and every hour following
Gonzalo T
Lima, Peru146 contributions
Cuanto se demora uno en llegar a Troya desde Istanbul y se puede ir por la cuenta de uno, en transporte publico?
kmmb2015
Wellington, New Zealand
Hi are there are tours of Gallipoli and Troy aimed at children that anyone recommends? (teens and 9 year old). thanks.
eurabonny2012
Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia75 contributions
Hi,
Are there tour guides at the Troy site that you can go on a tour with? Do the tour guides make the site more worth while?
If we are travelling from Istanbul to Canakkale and then staying there, are we best to join a tour from Istanbul or try to organise something once we get the bus to Canakkale and get a taxi to Troy?
Aytul
Canakkale, Turkey61 contributions
There is audioguide avail at ticket at a very low cost.Very detailed signs and easy single path to follow up in ancient city
Frequently Asked Questions about Troy (Truva)
- We recommend booking Troy (Truva) tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 130 Troy (Truva) tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Troy (Truva):
- (0.21 mi) Priamos Pansiyon
- (0.45 mi) Hisarlik Hotel
- (0.55 mi) Troia Pension & Camping
- (1.43 mi) Sonef House Hotel
- (1.77 mi) Yellow Rose Pension
- Restaurants near Troy (Truva):
- (0.47 mi) Olea Restaurant
- (0.44 mi) Hisarlik Restaurant Troy
- (1.43 mi) Doyum Pide ve Kebap Salonu
- (2.86 mi) Troia Hisar Cafe Restaurant
- (6.36 mi) Hektor sarap evi restaurant
- Attractions near Troy (Truva):
- (0.54 mi) Troya Muzesi
- (6.53 mi) Canakkale Sehitleri Aniti
- (0.80 mi) Tevfikiye Arkeo Köy
- (6.91 mi) Hellas Memorial
- (3.74 mi) Orhaniye Tabyası