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Home > How To Get To Troy From Istanbul (And From Istanbul To Troy)

How To Get To Troy From Istanbul (And From Istanbul To Troy)

Written by our local expert Nicky

Nicky, originally from the UK, is now a local in Turkey. She moved to Marmaris, Türkiye for love 12 years ago and is now your Turkey travel planner.

This detailed transportation guide tells you how to get from Troy to Istanbul and how to travel from Istanbul to Troy.

Have you seen the movie Troy?

Probably quite a few people. If not for the history, then for Orlando Bloom, Eric Bana, and Brad Pitt all in one movie!

But did you know that the site of Troy is actually in Turkey, not Greece? Of course, back in the day, it did use to be Greece, but these days, the site of those legendary battles and the famous Trojan horse is on mainland Türkiye, driving distance away from Istanbul.

If you’re spending time in Istanbul , you’ll no doubt have plenty to fill your time . There is enough to keep even the fidgety very occupied in Istanbul . But, it would be a shame not to head out and explore the country a little more while you have the chance.

In that case, a visit to Troy is entirely doable from Istanbul , and you can easily venture back again the same or the following day .

Let’s explain how.

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Troy is the site of the famous Trojan War, a major city that was conquered by the Greek army after they sneakily hid themselves inside a wooden horse, supposed to be a peace offering to the Trojans. Of course, the horse was simply a ruse, a way to get inside the fortified city gates. After that, the Greek army sprung their attack, and Troy fell.

While many people go to Troy to see the reconstructed horse itself, Troy is a beautiful place to explore . Packed with ruins and artifacts, it’s a place that has whispers of the past at every corner, dating back around 5000 years. A few highlights include the Troy Museum, the Roman Temple, South East Tower, Mycenaean Houses, the Temple of Athena, the Fortified Wall, the Palace , and the Citadel.

Troy is located around 31km from Canakkale and approximately 1km from Tevfikiye, a small town .

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How to get to troy from istanbul (and back again).

There are several ways to get to Troy but they all include more than one connection, apart from simply driving yourself. Thankfully, the connections aren’t complicated, and you’ll undoubtedly find that you’re not the only one venturing to Troy on any given day!

Ferry & Bus (And Back Again)

The first option is to take a ferry from Yenikapi in Istanbul and sail over to Bandirma, via the Istanbul Deniz Otobusleri. The ferry sails once daily and takes 2 hours and 47 minutes. From there, you’ll take the bus to Canakkale, which runs every 3 hours. The journey takes around 2 hours 38 minutes, and Kamil Koc is the service you need to look for. You can book tickets with Kamil Koc online or from any central bus station when you see the blue and white Kamil Koc sign.

Once you arrive at Canakkale, you can take a taxi to Troy, which should take you around half an hour, covering 31km.

To return back to Istanbul , reverse the information. However, this option will require you to stay overnight before venturing back to the city, as the last ferry sailing isn’t particularly late in the day and varies depending upon the season.

Bus & Taxi (And Back Again)

The next option will take you almost 9 hours but is perhaps a little easier. First, you will take the bus from Istanbul Otogar, known as Esenler. You can quickly get to Esenler via the Metro system or bus. The long-distance bus from Esenler to Ezine takes 7 hours and 20 minutes and leaves once daily. This bus is serviced by Metro, and you can book tickets at the bus station or online .

Once you arrive at Ezine, you can take a taxi to Troy, which should only take you around 20 minutes. Buses back to Istanbul to Ezine run throughout the day , so you should have no issues returning to the city the same day if you wish.

Fly & Bus (And Back Again)

One of the fastest ways to get to Troy, and therefore one of the best if you only want to take a day trip , is to fly to Edremit and then take the bus to Ezine with a taxi to Troy from there.

Head to Istanbul Airport , and you can fly to Edremit in just 1 hour. Flights leave several times per day, every day except Tuesdays and Thursdays. Once you arrive at Edremit, you can take the bus to Ezine, which takes just 1 hour 30 minutes and leaves twice daily. Then, jump in a taxi to Troy, which should take around 20 minutes,

To head back to Istanbul , reverse the information.

By Car (And Back Again)

You can hire a car , venture to Troy, and back again in just one day if you choose to drive. Of course, driving is the easiest and fastest way to explore Troy. The journey will take around 5 hours 10 minutes, although heading in and out of Istanbul can take a little time, thanks to heavy traffic at certain times of the day.

The journey is quite scenic and will take you to the Asian side of the city, down towards Bursa , past Balikesir, over to Edremit, and then up to Troy. You will cover 471km and find plenty of parking once you arrive in Troy.

Of course, reverse the information when driving back to Istanbul .

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• Istanbul Troy Everything Need Know

Istanbul to Troy: Everything You Need to Know

Turkey has declared 2018 the ‘Year of Troy ‘, so there’s no better time than now to visit this ancient site, which is celebrating its 20th year since its entry into the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. We broke down all the necessary info for travelling from Istanbul to Troy .

A bit of history.

Troy gained its fame from Homer’s epic poem, the Iliad , which claims that the Trojan War was fought at this archeological site. One of the country’s most fascinating historic destinations, the city’s history dates back to the 3rd millennium BC when it was founded by the Hittites. According to the epic poem, during a battle between the Trojans and Achaeans, a wooden horse, which arrived in Troy as a gift, was used as a disguise to transport Achaeans into the centre of the impenetrable city, which they inevitably conquered. Whether this story is true or not, there was a Trojan War, which is believed to have been waged during the 12th century and led to Hittite’s name, Wilusa, to be converted to Illion, and later Troia.

Growth of Constantinople

How to get there.

The closest major city is Çanakkale, which also has an airport with direct flights from Istanbul. From Çanakkale, you’ll travel for around 30 kilometres (about 45 minutes) to Troy via minibus, which departs from the local bus station. Minibuses usually take off every hour beginning at 7 am but do your research just to make sure since they often take off when they are full. It’s also a good idea to book a hotel in Çanakkale since Troy is a day trip and doesn’t have any accommodation opportunities.

What to see

Make sure to wear the right pair of shoes for uneven and often slippery hiking paths and get ready to explore the ruins. The city was rebuilt nine times and it’s believed that layer number seven is the city that was part of the Iliad , including the famous city walls. Be sure to climb the reconstructed Trojan Horse at the entrance and gaze at its interior, since this is an essential part of the experience even if the horse is fake! If you’re not a big fan of crowds, winter is a more appropriate time to visit as there are very little tourists.

Other essential activities

While you’re in the area, make sure to check out Mount Ida, which inspired the story of the gods watching the battle below. Another great stop is the beautiful Aegean island of Bozcaada with its old town and historic castle (as well as amazing seafood and local wine). You can reach the island by ferry from the Geyikli Harbour, which is about 10 kilometres from Troy .

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Troy Day Trip from Istanbul

$ 140.00

Are you interested in learning about the ancient city of Troy and its importance in Greek mythology? If so, then you should definitely consider taking our Troy Day Trip from Istanbul. On this enlightening tour, you’ll get to see the replica of the Trojan Horse, as well as many other significant landmarks. You’ll also learn about the city’s role in the Trojan War and beyond. This is a great opportunity to explore a fascinating piece of history up close. If you’re interested in learning, even more, we also offer a 2-Day Gallipoli and Troy Tour from Istanbul . So don’t hesitate – Book your tour today!

Obtain your tour price in USD by selecting tour dates and specifics below:

Please Pick a Tour start Date

• Detailed Itinerary
• Inquire About This Trip
• Reviews (10)

Troy Day Trip from Istanbul: A Journey Through History

06:00 AM – Pick up from hostel or hotel in Taksim area 06:30 AM – Pick up from hostel or hotel in Sultanahmet area 12:20 PM – Arrive in Eceabat 12:20 PM – Lunch 13.00 PM – Depart on a fully guided Troy Tour

On the tour you will be able to see the following sites:

– The Trojan Horse – Sacrificial Altars, – The 3700-year-old city walls, – Houses of Troy I, 3000 B.C. – 2500 B.C. – The Bouleuterium (Senate Building), – The Odeon (Concert Hall), – Current excavations in progress, – Remains of the various cities from Troy I through to Troy IX,

At the end of the tour at around 6:00 pm, you will be transferred back to Istanbul . Around 11:00 pm you will arrive back to Istanbul and will be dropped off at your hotel in Istanbul. End of tour and services.

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• Pick up and drop off at any downtown Istanbul location (on the European side of Istanbul only)
• Transportation with A/C Vehicles
• Professional licensed English-speaking guide during the tour
• Lunch (Vegetarian lunch option available upon request).
• Entrance fees
• Local taxes and service charges

NOT INCLUDED:

• Gratuities (optional)
• Food and drinks, unless specified

IMPORTANT INFO:

• This is a regular shared group tour, but if requested at cost can be provided as a private tour.
• Round-trip ground transportation via air-conditioned vans, mini-buses or buses (depending on the number of passengers traveling).

Inquire About this Trip

Please fill out the information below and we will be in touch shortly with your personalized quote.

10 reviews for Troy Day Trip from Istanbul

Sarah T – June 12, 2015

Loved our trip to Troy – we were picked up right at our hotel – the scenery from Istanbul to Troy was amazing and the history at Troy was wonderful

Mark L – July 2, 2015

Very long day from Istanbul but everything was very well planned and executed. Great tour, highly recommended

Joseph K – August 10, 2015

A great trip if all you have is one day to do Troy. Highly recommend.

Linda V – August 20, 2015

Our trip to Troy was well organized and extremely informative. Thanks!

Maria R – October 30, 2016

Troy day tour was amazing! A lot more expected than what my family and I expected! The local tour guide was very friendly and great!

Steven F – August 18, 2017

This was a great trip. We had a very knowledgeable tour guide and. Troy is amazing and totally worth your visit!

Tiffany H – August 21, 2017

Its a long day but well worth the trip. The tour guide was friendly and informative. Troy / Trojan Horse is a very special place historically and well worth the visit. Highly recommended.

Florie A. – January 6, 2022

We liked the Troy tour. Everything was well organised. Metin was friendly and informative. Long day with the small bus ride but would recommend it!

Kristina V. – June 24, 2022

I really enjoyed going on the Troy tour from Istanbul. The driver and guide were both very friendly and informative. I wish I knew how to pronounce her name! I would definitely use Onenationtravel.com for future tours.

Ronald M. – June 29, 2022

I highly recommend taking a Troy day trip from Istanbul with Onenationtravel.com. Our guide was very knowledgeable and passionate about the history of the area. The sights were beautiful and I felt like I got a lot of value for my money.

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Istanbul to Troy & Gallipoli by Bus

Last Updated on July 20, 2022

It's possible (but not recommended) to take a  day-trip from Istanbul to Gallipoli or Troy  by bus ( map ), but it's much better to visit  Troy  and the  Gallipoli battlefields comfortably and cheaply on a trip of 2 or 2-1/2 days, staying one or two nights in  Çanakkale  or Eceabat.

You can do the itinerary below on your own, but you should consider having help from my friends at  Efendi Travel  in Istanbul, who know this Gallipoli route well and can offer advice and make arrangements as you wish.  More...

Before You Go

1. Reserve your hotel room in Çanakkale  or  Eceabat in advance so you know you'll have a place to stay.  More...

2. Arrange for a  battlefield tour .  It's 35 km/22 miles from the Turkish war memorial on Cape Helles at the southern tip of the Gallipoli peninsula to the northernmost battlefields of the campaign. A tour solves the transport problem, and is the easiest and best way to visit most of the battle sites in one day. Many travel agencies in Istanbul run Gallipoli tours, including  Efendi Travel , a  TurkeyTravelPlanner.com  partner.  More...

3.  If you want to take a ferry across the  Sea of Marmara  to  Bandırma  and then a bus to  Çanakkale  (see below),  check the IDO ferry schedules  so you'll know when the ferries depart.  More...

Bus to the Dardanelles

Take the  Istanbul Metro  to the  Otogar  station and find a bus for the 310-km (193-mile) trip to  Eceabat  (5 hours, on the European/Gallipoli shore) or  Çanakkale  (5 hours + ferry crossing to the Anatolian shore;  More... ) . You may want to depart in the morning, but in any case  leave by midday  (lunchtime). To reach Çanakkale, you take the  ferry  across the  Dardanelles . The crossing is fun!—a short sea voyage over the legendary  Hellespont  after a long bus ride.

Ferry to Bandırma + Bus to Çanakkale

Another way to go is to ride the  fast ferry  from  Istanbul 's  Yenikapı Ferry Terminal  to  Bandırma , on the  Sea of Marmara 's southern shore, walk uphill or take a taxi for the short (2-km, 1.2-mile) ride to  Bandırma's bus terminal   (otogar) , then catch a bus to  Çanakkale . There may not be as frequent bus service from Bandırma as from  Istanbul , but the bus ride is shorter (less than 3 hours).

When you get to  Çanakkale , settle into your hotel, then enjoy a  good dinner  at one of the seaside restaurants overlooking the Dardanelles.

Your tour takes you to around the expansive  Gallipoli battlefields  quickly and easily. (If really want to go on your own and you've got strong legs, you can do a  self-guided hiking tour of the battlefields. )

If your tour does not include  Troy , you go by  minibus dolmuş  to the village of  Tevfikiye , which is next to the Troy archeological site. To do this, exit the Çanakkale bus terminal to the main street (Atatürk Caddesi), turn left (south), and walk for 6 minutes (600 meters/yards) to the bridge over the Sarı River. On the right (southwest) side of the bridge is the  minibus station .

In summer ( June,   July ,  August ,  September ),  minibuses depart about every 30 to 60 minutes , with highest frequency in the morning, much less in the late afternoon. You should  leave for Troy just after breakfast  in order to give yourself the best chance of finding a minibus for the return trip to Çanakkale.

If Troy is your only interest and you don't care to tour  Gallipoli , you can catch an Istanbul-bound bus in the afternoon on Day 2 and be back in Istanbul by late evening, making this a  two-day, one-night excursion .

—by  Tom Brosnahan

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Visiting Troy from Istanbul: Attractions

Written by Jess Lee Updated Sep 24, 2021 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

About one kilometer from the town of Tevfikiye and 31 kilometers from Çanakkale, the famed city of Troy is usually high on every tourist's sightseeing list and makes a great (but long) day trip from Istanbul .

Feted down through the ages, Troy is the legendary setting for the long Trojan War, a city only finally conquered when Greek soldiers hid themselves within the "peace offering" of the Trojan Horse to gain access to the city.

Whether there's any truth to Homer's epic Iliad , which told of the battle, is beyond the point, for the archaeological site itself is an ancient attraction that has revealed a myriad of cities built on top of each other and has a history arcing back 5,000 years.

Tours to Troy from Istanbul

History of troy, understanding the site, highlights of a troy visit.

If you have very little time up your sleeve, and the ruins of Troy are high on your agenda, you can visit Troy on a guided day tour from Istanbul.

Be aware that it is a long day, leaving at around 7am and arriving back in the city usually about 10pm.

You will see a wonderful slice of Turkish rural scenery as you travel through the green, fertile countryside of Thrace, with its sunflower fields, and cross The Dardanelles on your way to the site.

Note that due to the long driving time there and back, a visit to the Museum of Troy is often not included in the itineraries of Troy day tours from Istanbul.

If you want to spend some time at the museum (which really helps to pull together the rather confusing layers of the archaeological site) then opt to spend the night in Çanakkale instead.

The Troy Day Trip from Istanbul offers pickup from your hotel, transfer by comfortable, air-conditioned minibus to and from Troy, a two-course seafood lunch in the charming seaside village of Eceabat, and a one-hour tour of Troy with an official guide who will explain the incredible depth of history on show here.

If you're also interested in the WWI battlefields of Gallipoli, you can easily combine a visit to both Gallipoli and Troy on a Two-Day Small-Group Troy and Gallipoli Tour from Istanbul . This more leisurely option includes return transport by air-conditioned bus from Istanbul, a guided tour of the Gallipoli Peninsula's main battlefields, lunch, dinner, and overnight accommodation at a five-star hotel in Çanakkale with breakfast. It also includes a guided tour of Troy on day two, with free time afterwards to explore other sights in Çanakkale. Groups are limited to 14 people.

The first Westerner to visit this site seems to have been a French government official named Pierre Belon in 1547. But it wasn't until German businessman and amateur archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann (1822-90) became convinced that the legendary city of Troy was located in the area known as Hisarlik that a great multitude of ruins came to light.

A series of excavations led by him between 1870 and 1890 proved his assumption correct, although his lack and disrespect of proper archaeological methods led to much evidence for his own theory being destroyed forever (particularly by the broad trench, which he drove across the site from north to south).

Later excavations, under the leadership of German archaeologist Wilhelm Dörpfeld (1853-1940), were carried out much more scientifically.

What Schliemann failed to realize at first was that he was not just excavating the ruins of one Troy, but of several different cities that had risen, flourished, and then floundered on this very spot.

It was only Schliemann's last 1890 excavation and Dörpfeld's excavations in 1893-94 that suggested finally that the excavation layer known as Troy VI should be assigned to the Mycenaean period when this was the city of King Priam and the Trojan War was fought.

The famed site of Troy is made up of multiple layers that trace a history of different settlements here from 3000 BCE onwards.

Troy I (3000-2500 BCE)

The 10 levels that make up Troy I's excavation have shown that there was a fortified settlement of large, long houses on the rocky hill of Hisarlik some 5,000 years ago.

Troy II (2500-2400 BCE)

About the middle of the third millennium, the Troy I settlement was extended towards the southwest.

An area of 8,000 square meters was surrounded by a fortified wall, which was rebuilt three times. To the southwest stood a huge entrance of stone blocks, and in the center of the circuit of walls stood the palace of the ruler.

In the upper section of Troy II (known as the "Burnt Town") Schliemann found what he called the Treasure of Priam (a cache of gold and silver vessels).

This treasure has been dated to around 2400 BCE. Schliemann was convinced until shortly before his death that this was Homer's Troy.

Troy II is made up of seven levels and was destroyed completely by a mammoth fire.

Troy III-V (2400-1800 BCE)

The fire that destroyed Troy II left a two-meter thick layer of rubble and ashes.

Later settlers dwelt in primitive huts, living from hunting, and little is known about them.

Some vessels with depictions of human faces and thin goblets with opposing handles have come to light during excavations of these layers.

The last layer of the 13 layers here indicates that this settlement was also destroyed by fire.

Troy VI "Homer's Troy" (1800-1250 BCE)

It is the new town's huge walls of large, smooth-faced irregular blocks that form the most impressive of Troy's remains.

In the years between the 15th and 13th century BCE, the town enjoyed its greatest period of prosperity. The area of this settlement period is eight levels deep. The town was surrounded by a wall once 10 meters high.

Inside the walls, the foundations of a number of palaces have been preserved. No trace has yet been found of a lower town in the plain below.

The cemetery, which contains the funerary urns with the ashes of the dead, is located some 500 meters to the south.

Troy VIIa (ca. 1250-1180 BCE)

The town seems to have been rebuilt soon after an earthquake, but the inhabitants' way of life seems to have remained unchanged. A century later, the town was destroyed again.

Troy VIIb (ca. 1180-1000 BCE)

After the destruction of Troy VIIa the site was occupied by settlers from the Balkans. It is thought that the last people to settle here during this period were the Dardanians, who gave their name to the Dardanelles.

Troy VIII (eighth c.-85 BCE)

After an interruption, the site became a Greek colony around 730 BCE.

In 652 BCE, after defeating King Gyges of Lydia, the Cimmerians moved into the area but without displacing the Greeks.

In 547 BCE, King Cyrus of Persia incorporated Troy into the Persian satrapy of Phrygia and then in 334 BCE, Alexander the Great crossed the Dardanelles and took Troy, where he offered a sacrifice to Athene Ilios.

About 300 BCE, Lysimachos built a harbor for the town at the mouth of the Scamander and replaced the old Temple of Athena by a splendid new one in marble. At least by the time of this construction work, the main buildings from the periods of Troy VII and Troy VI on the surface of the hill had been leveled.

Between CE 278 and 270, the town was held by the Galatians, a Celtic people.

Troy IX (85 BCE to CE 500)

Whereas the importance of Troy had previously depended on its Temple of Athena, which was ranked equal in status to the Temple of Artemis, it now enjoyed Roman favor as the city of Aeneas-Rome seeing itself as the political heir to Troy. There was now a period of great building activity.

Until the incursion of the Goths about CE 262, Troy flourished, and this prosperity continued into Early Byzantine times. Constantine the Great even contemplated making Troy his capital. With the recognition of Christianity as the State religion, however, the old temples fell into ruin, and Troy's glory rapidly faded.

In the Middle Ages, Troy still had a fortress, and until the 13th century, it was the see of a bishop, but after its conquest by the Ottomans in 1306, the town rapidly decayed.

The ruins were used by the Turks as a source of building stone for their homes and tomb stele. Grass grew over the site, and Troy fell into oblivion.

Troy Museum

Before you head onto the archaeological site, make a stop at this modern museum, which sits 750 meters to the east of Troy's entrance gate and ticket booth.

Inside the museum, the vast, and complicated history of the site is thoroughly explained in a series of state-of-the-art exhibits that showcase many of the riches that were unearthed during the various excavations.

The museum's prize collection is a display of 48 pieces of gold jewelry, some of which was returned to Turkey from the Penn Museum in the USA and others that had previously been on display in Ankara's Museum of Anatolian Civilizations but which was transferred here when the museum opened.

Roman Temple (Bouleuterion)

This point, at the archaeological area entry, offers a view over the whole site.

The east wall, a part of the hill's defenses in Troy VI, consisted of an embanked substructure some six meters high and five meters thick and exposed on the outside.

On top of this, one-meter above the ground-level of the settlement, was a vertical superstructure of flat rectangular stones, almost regularly dressed. The surface has been rebuilt with clay bricks.

South-East Tower

The south-east Tower was originally two-stories high.

One of the characteristic features of the wall, the vertical offsets, can be seen in this area. They are spaced out at regular nine- to 10-meter intervals.

Mycenaean Houses Troy VI

Beyond the wall and the tower, large houses of the Mycenaean settlement are visible.

The first house you come to is house VI G. To the northeast, away from the wall, is house VI F which has pillars still in situ suggesting it once had a second floor. Farther north is the particularly well-built house VI E and house VI C.

The houses of Troy VI were built round the hill on a number of concentric terraces, with almost certainly the king's palace on the highest point.

It needs to be remembered that at the time these residential buildings were constructed, iron and steel had not been discovered. The quality of the stonemasonry is therefore all the more impressive.

The wall projecting from the east gate is overlaid with a Roman wall of dressed stone, which bore the columns at the east end of the temple.

The defensive wall from the south helped to form a curving passage some 10 meters long and 1.8 meters wide.

From one of more than 20 limestone altars that surrounded the Temple of Athena, it is possible to see the massive tower of the North-East Gate in the Mycenaean walls.

North-East Bastion

The eight-meter-high substructure of fine dressed stone with a receding embankment once bore a clay brick superstructure, giving the gate a commanding height.

Within the gate is a square well hewn from the rock and descending to a considerable depth. It remained in use for a long period.

In the Troy VIII period, a flight of steps was constructed on the north side of the tower leading down to another well outside the tower.

The great retaining wall to the southeast dates from the Roman period. In the background is the auditorium of the Greek and Roman theater with the Dümrek Çayi plain beyond.

Altars and Temple of Athena

Only the altars and mounds give any indication of the existence of the Temple of Athena. It has to be imagined lying to the west and north of the altars. The magnificent new temple promised by Alexander the Great was built by Lysimachos, but little survives.

Columns, parts of the coffered ceiling, as well as other marble fragments from the temple built by Augustus "strayed" into the levels of Troy II during the course of the excavations.

These fragments were gathered together by the researchers, so that they could discover more information on the construction of the temple.

From these heights there is a fine view over the Dardanelles, European Turkey, and the Menderes (Scamander) river plain.

In the foreground lie remains of the "Burnt Town" (Troy II) which Schliemann believed was the city of Priam.

Fortified Wall

This cross-section of Troy I's fortifications has a tower-like projection, and the south gate lay behind.

Troy I was built directly onto the rock floor, and layers four meters deep would suggest that this period endured for many years (ca. 3000 to 2500 BCE).

Troy I covered the smallest surface area, and in the course of time this settlement spread out to the south.

Immediately above the tower stands a small propylon from Troy III. Its massive three-meter-long and 1.1-meter-wide stone threshold is still in place.

The propylon was the entrance to a group of buildings in the center of Troy II citadel which were probably occupied by the city's ruler. The dwellings of the ruler and his family led off a graveled courtyard.

The main building directly opposite the propylon known as the megaron consisted of a porch and a main hall with a hearth in the middle.

The structure of the walls can be clearly seen here, but the height cannot be ascertained. It would have had a flat roof with an opening over the hearth.

To the right was a smaller building with a porch, main room, and rear chamber.

On either side were buildings of a similar type opening off the courtyard, but they were all destroyed by fire, leaving a two-meter-thick layer of stone and ash (Schliemann's "Burnt Town"). Many interesting finds have been unearthed in this level.

The Troy II era (ca. 2500 BCE) was characterized by major cultural and technological changes: a stratified society as witnessed by these buildings with the forerunner to the Greek temple ("megaron," porch and main room), the mixture of copper and tin to make bronze, as well as the invention of the potter's wheel.

So impressed was Schliemann by the astonishing finds, he believed that he had found the "Treasure of Priam," but he was wrong by at least 1,000 years.

Schliemann's Trench

The great north-south trench that Schliemann drove across the site passes between the first and second groups of Troy II houses, and it is possible to see house walls and parts of ancient settlements made from stones bound together with earth mortar.

The restored supporting wall on the east side, made from air-dried clay bricks, marks the limit of the long, spacious buildings.

A wooden bridge crossing the three ring walls of Troy II leads past the base of the ramp.

Prehistoric Settlement

From the corner of house M6A, a stone ramp to the gate FM can be seen at a lower level.

It leads from a lower settlement area (discovered in 1992) up to the inner citadel hill.

This prehistoric citadel of Troy II had a circumference of some 300 meters and is now almost completely exposed. The layers of rubble range from a thickness of one meter to two meters.

The citadel's ring of walls stretches out on both sides of the ramp. It consists of a substructure one-meter high made from roughly hewn limestone and earth mortar and was restored in 1992.

It now resembles the condition it was in before the first excavations about 100 years earlier.

Some six meters northwest of the ramp, Schliemann found the so-called "Treasure of Priam" built into a cavity in the brick superstructure of the ring wall.

It later found its way into the Museum of Prehistory in Berlin but disappeared at the end of the Second World War. It was later discovered in the Pushkin Museum in Moscow.

Similar finds of jewelry, vessels, weapons, and tools made of gold, silver, electron (an alloy of gold and silver) and bronze have been made elsewhere in the Troy II level ("Burnt Town") and also in the layer of fire debris in Troy III.

The remains of Troy III, IV and V are of little interest to the ordinary visitor.

The citadel's principal monuments from Troy VI have been preserved, and of Troy VII some wall remains survive, chiefly those between the citadel wall of Troy VI and the first terrace walls. The two walls belong to quite different periods.

First the walls and houses of Troy VI were repaired by simple country dwellers, who still used "Mycenaean" pottery. They built their own smaller houses (similar in plan to Troy VI) against the inside of the citadel walls.

Facing the northern corner of house VI A, the remains of similar but larger houses (VI B) have been found. It is at this point that the "Mycenaean" wall, which at one time had encircled the whole citadel (about 540 meters in length) ceases, although about two- thirds of the full length still remains.

At a much lower level, the huge foundations of the western corner of the citadel are visible, but its north side and a part of the west wall have disappeared.

Kitchen Building Palace VI M

The preserved remains of Troy VII's wall are visible on the way to the fortifications for Troy VI.

Inside the ring wall stands the impressive 27-meter-long supporting wall for house VI M, which certainly formed a part of Troy VI's citadel.

This large building of the Mycenaean period on a four-meter-high terrace is known as the Kitchen Building on the basis of the large pithos (storage vessels) and other objects found in one of the rooms. A flight of steps inside led to a second floor.

The shrine altars in the southwest show that soon after the Greek settlement and continuing well into the Roman phase, cult rituals took place outside the wall of "Sacred Ilios."

The latest excavations reveal that the marble altar higher up dates from the time of Augustus, when the whole site of Ilios was renovated.

A tribune and more shrines are situated beyond. The large supporting wall and the older altars lower down all originated in Hellenistic times (Troy VII).

Odeon and Bouleuterion

At the edge of the former agora stood the Odeon , a small theater for musical performances, and a little farther east the bouleuterion, the Roman town hall.

The Odeon consists of a semi-circular orchestra separated from the skene or the stage building.

The rows of seating are divided into wedge-shaped blocks. Some of the fragments belonging to the Odeon are gathered together nearby.

The bouleuterion, about 70 meters away, was built above Troy VI's fortified wall. The interior was surrounded by a wall on all sides, enabling the city fathers to conduct their business uninterrupted.

The South Gate was probably the main entrance to the town, but only the paved roadway to the right of the tower (1.3 meters wide) remains.

A covered water channel is in the middle. To the left behind the South Tower, a pillar marks the location of the "Pillar House," which with a surface area of 27 by 12.5 meters was one of the largest houses of Troy VI.

Set in front of the tower are two vertical stones, no doubt serving some cult purpose.

Official site: https://troya2018.com

More Related Articles on PlanetWare.com

In the Area: For travelers interested in World War I history, don't leave this region of Turkey before touring the key battlegrounds and war cemeteries of the Gallipoli campaign on the Gallipoli Peninsula . The buzzy university town of Canakkale here is the major base from which to launch yourself out to both Troy and Gallipoli on day trips. From here, you can also set off to explore the sights of the North Aegean , including the hilltop ruins of Pergamum and many coastal villages.

More Historic Ruins: Troy is one of Turkey's two famed ruins. The other ruin that claims top tourist attraction billing is Ephesus, with its vast Roman remnants among the best preserved in the world. If you travel down the coast to Fethiye , this harbor town is an excellent base for exploring the ruined cities of the Lycian league such as Tlos and Patara, while farther south there are more ruins at Olympos .

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How to go to Troy from Istanbul?

• On 13/09/2022
• In Places to visit Tips for travellers
• Tags: canakkale , from Istanbul , ss , troy , troy tour

Troia Ancient City  (also written as Troia or Truva) is a historic site located in Canakkale province of Turkey. Troia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site mostly known for the legendary Trojan Horse,s which has its roots in one of the greatest epics of mankind, written by Homeros .

First excavations were made by German archaeologists ( Heinrich Schliemann ) and since then, many different scientists and archaeologists made excavations in different sites to detect the real ancient city and treasure chest of civilization, still Troia has many secrets need to revealed with ongoing excavations by an international team.

Initial settlements of the region dates back to the 5th millennium BC , however it is known that ancient city was destroyed 8 times and for sake of fertile wind it was rebuilt 9 times. Mother nature gave preferential treatment to the area with the blessed wind of the Aegean Sea (Northern Mediterranean Sea). Along with the historic riches of the region, Troy charms its visitors by exceptional natural beauties of the area as well as sunset and sunrise.

What to do in Canakkale?

If you have enough time, combining this trip with a daily Gallipoli Battlefields tour is highly recommended. You will learn more about the region and World War I which changed the course of the history.

Assos Ancient city, also known as Behramkale or simply Behram , is a historically rich small town in the Ayvacik district of Canakkale province in Turkey. During the time of Pliny the Elder , the city also bore the name Apollonia .

If you have only limited time to see ancient cities, accommodation is not necessary, as only a Troy day tour will be enough for it.

Most Recommended Troy Tours

Full-Day Private Tour of Troy from Istanbul

2 Days Private Gallipoli and Troy Tour

Distance is approximately 340 km to Troy from Istanbul . By virtue of Canakkale city has a small airport, unfortunately flights are not operated all year round due to lack of demand. Instead, using Istanbul Airport for international flights is more suggested. Another way is taking a bus to Troy from Istanbul, but there is no direct bus to Troy . The buses go to Canakkale city center. It will take approximately 5 hours . To reach Ancient sites, you will need to take a taxi or minibuses.

The most comfortable one is a daily private tour to Troy from Istanbul, and it takes about 4 hours by private vehicle . Our tour consultants will be happy to help you plan your Private Troy Tour from Istanbul and assign a private car for your family. From European Side of Canakkale city, you will need to pass Asian side by using the local ferry between Gallipoli and Lapseki or using Canakkale Suspension Bridge that was completed by March 2022.

Is there a direct ferry from Istanbul to Troy?

Unfortunately, direct ferries are not operated to Canakkale or Troy from Istanbul.

Do I need a tour guide for Troy?

Due to the large mass of knowledge regarding each layer of the city and ambiguous legends regarding the civilizations of the area, having a professional tour guide is suggested if you are not an archaeologist.

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Home > Products > Ephesus Tours > Tour From Istanbul to Troy and Ephesus

Tour From Istanbul to Troy and Ephesus

• Duration: 2 Days
• Tour Type: Regular
• Transport: Bus & Plane
• Available on: Everyday
• Departure: Istanbul
• Arrival: Istanbul
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2 Day Troia and Ephesus Tours from Istanbul  Day 1 – Istanbul – Troia Tour – Kusadasi 06.00 – 06.30 – Pick up from hotel in Taksim, Besiktas, Sisli, and Karakoy region 06.30 – 07:00 – Pick up from the hotel in Sultanahmet, Beyazid, Sirkeci, Laleli, and Aksaray. 07.15 – Pick up from the hotel in Ataturk Airport region. 08.30 – Have a stop for breakfast 11.45 – Arrive in Eceabat and have lunch. 12.50 – Depart for Troy Tour. Take a ferry to Canakkale on Dardanelles. Arrival to Canakkale and drive to Troia Ancient City. Guided Troy Ancient City Tour On Troia tour you will visit and hear about: The Trojan Horse which was used in the movie Troy Helen of Troy The Trojan Wars Battle between Achilles and Hector The Trojan Horse which is in the Ancient City The 3200 years old city walls of Troy VI and VII The East gate of VI (VIP entrance of Troy VI) The Temple of Athena Walls of Troy II and Megaron House The ramp of Troy II Walls of Troy I (The oldest ruins of Troy) The trench of Schliemann The Scaean Gate Sanctuary (Sacrificing Altars) Roman Bath Odeon (Music theater) The Gate of Troy VI (Where possibly the tricky wooden horse was taken) South gate of Troy VI Bouleuterion Ruins of Agora (Marketplace) 17.30 – End of the Troia tour. Transfer to Canakkale bus station for the bus to Izmir. 18.45 –  Depart from Canakkale for Izmir. 23.30 – Arrival to Izmir bus station. Met on arrival at the bus station by our travel team and drive to Kusadasi/Selçuk. Check into hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi/Selçuk

Day 2 –  Ephesus Tour – Flight to Istanbul Breakfast and check out from the hotel. 08.30  – Our Travel team will collect you right from the hotel for fully guided Ephesus tour. Ancient Ephesus & Virgin Mary House Tour You will firstly visit the Temple of Artemis which was once one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Our next stop will be Ephesus ancient city. You are going to visit the world famous ancient Greco- Roman City of Ephesus, the most well-preserved example in the world. After visiting this impressive site, we are going to have a break for lunch. After the lunch, you are going to visit the House of Virgin Mary, where it is believed she spent her last days. That is a holy place for both Christians and Muslims. Afterward, you are going to visit the Isabey Mosque. At end of the Ephesus tour, transfer to Izmir Adnan Menderes airport for your late evening flight back to Istanbul. 19.40 – Flight from Izmir to Istanbul (Please note that flight departure time can be changed according to availability) 20.50 – Arrival back to Istanbul. You will be met at the airport by our travel team and transferred from the airport to your hotel in Istanbul. End of our tour services.

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