Çanakkale Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Land

Bus & dolmuş

Çanakkale’s otogar is 1km east of the ferry docks but you probably won’t need to use it as most buses pick up and drop off at the bus company offices near the harbour. If you do need to go there, walk straight inland from the harbour to Atatürk Caddesi and turn left. The otogar is 100m along on the right.

You can buy bus tickets at the otogar or at the bus-company offices. There are regular services to Ankara (€19.50, 10 hours), Ayvalık (€8.50, 3½ hours), Bandırma (€6.10, 2½ hours), Bursa (€11.10, 4½ hours), Edirne (€11.10, 4½ hours), İstanbul (€14, 5½ hours) and İzmir (€14, 5½ hours).

Dolmuşes to Troy (€1.40, 35 minutes) and Güzelyalı (€0.85, 20 minutes) leave from a separate dolmuş station under the bridge over the Sarı River.

To get to Gelibolu (€2.50, one to two hours), take a bus or minibus from the otogar to Lapseki then the ferry across the Dardanelles; alternatively, take the ferry to Eceabat or Kilitbahir and then a minibus. For Lapseki (€1.70, 30 minutes), grab any bus bound for Gönen, Bandırma or Bursa, but make sure you will be allowed to get off at Lapseki.

If you’re heading for Çanakkale from İstanbul, the quickest way is to hop on a ferry from Yenikapı then take a bus from Bandırma, rather than trekking out to İstanbul’s otogar for the direct buses.

Many travellers opt to come here on tours from İstanbul. Packages usually include transport and guided tours of the battlefields and Troy; you can then either return to İstanbul or arrange to be dropped in İzmir or Selçuk. The typical cost is around €60, including one night’s accommodation.

^ Back to top

Boat

Two car ferries cross the Dardanelles from Çanakkale to the Gallipoli Peninsula. One goes to Kilitbahir, the other to Eceabat. Timetables are posted outside the ferry ticket office by the harbour.

The smaller Çanakkale–Kilitbahir ferry (€0.55, cars €2.80, 15 to 20 minutes) can carry only a few cars.

From Monday to Friday a single daily ferry runs from Çanakkale to Gökçeada (€1.70, cars €10, 2½ hours), leaving at 5pm and returning at 8am. Check times in advance.

^ Back to top