Gallipoli Tours

Gallipoli Tours focus on the peninsula that stretches along the northern shore of the Dardanelles strait in Çanakkale Province, on Turkey's European side. The region is best known internationally as the site of the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915 and 1916, when Ottoman forces defended the peninsula against a prolonged Allied invasion involving British, French, Indian, Australian and New Zealand troops. Today the battlefields form the Gallipoli Peninsula Historical National Park, and many visitors combine the site with wider sightseeing across Turkey.

The campaign left a lasting mark on the countries involved, and cemeteries, memorials and preserved trench lines are spread across the peninsula's hills and coves. For Australia and New Zealand in particular, Gallipoli holds a founding place in national memory, commemorated each year on ANZAC Day, April 25, while for Turkey the campaign is remembered as the point where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk first rose to national prominence.

World War I Sites on the Peninsula

ANZAC Cove

ANZAC Cove is the narrow beach where Australian and New Zealand troops landed on 25 April 1915, now marked with a memorial and cemetery close to the shoreline where the campaign began.

Chunuk Bair

This ridge saw some of the campaign's fiercest fighting and is marked today by a New Zealand memorial and a statue of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who commanded Ottoman forces in the sector.

Lone Pine

Lone Pine is the site of an Australian memorial and cemetery named for a solitary pine tree that stood on the battlefield, commemorating soldiers who died during a pivotal August 1915 assault.

Turkish Memorials and the 57th Regiment Cemetery

Alongside the Allied sites, the peninsula holds Turkish memorials including the 57th Regiment Cemetery, dedicated to Ottoman soldiers who defended the ridge above ANZAC Cove, and the large Çanakkale Martyrs' Memorial overlooking the Dardanelles near Morto Bay. The Kabatepe Information Center, near the main landing beaches, displays uniforms, letters and personal items recovered from the battlefield and provides context before visiting the cemeteries themselves.

Gallipoli Tours from Çanakkale

Most itineraries begin in the city of Çanakkale, crossing the strait by ferry before touring the peninsula's memorials and cemeteries by road. Organized options such as the Daily Gallipoli Tour from Canakkale cover the main battlefield sites in a single day.

Combining Gallipoli with Troy

The ancient city of Troy lies on the opposite, Asian side of the strait near Çanakkale, and many travelers pair a Gallipoli battlefield tour with a separate visit to the Troy archaeological site, since the two destinations sit on either side of the Dardanelles rather than within the same day route.

Best Time to Visit Gallipoli

Spring and autumn bring mild weather suited to walking between the open memorial sites, while late April draws larger crowds around the ANZAC Day commemorations. Summer heat on the exposed peninsula can make midday visits to the outdoor cemeteries and trenches less comfortable.