Gallipoli Tours from Istanbul

In 1915 Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) troops stormed a quiet Aegean beach to battle Turkish soldiers on the Gallipoli Peninsula. Today, memorials and cemeteries mark the fight and honor those who lost their lives. Here’s how to explore World War I history on Gallipoli tours from Istanbul.

Full-Day Tours

On a full-day tour from Istanbul to Gallipoli, take in key sites of interest including ANZAC Cove, the Ari Burnu cemetery, the Nek, and the battle sites of Chunuk Bair and Lone Pine. Explore Turkey’s Gallipoli Peninsula, see the scars left from WWI, and perhaps pay tribute to the ANZAC and Turkish troops who laid down their lives in battle. Along the way, gain insight into the history behind the Battle of Gallipoli—otherwise known as the Battle of Canakkale.

Alternatively, there are full-day tours from Istanbul that take in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Troy—a city once almost forgotten in the sands of time. It was here, in the 12th-century days of classical antiquity, that the Trojans and the Greeks clashed in the Trojan War.

Multi-Day Tours

It’s about a 4-hour drive from Istanbul to Gallipoli, so Gallipoli day trips can make for long excursions. If you have more time at your disposal, multi-day tours offer more time on the Gallipoli Peninsula and take in other historic locales such as Ankara, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Pergamon, and Troy. Explore the infamous battlegrounds where Turkish troops stood off against the ANZAC, and admire the memorials at Brighton Beach and Chunuk Bair.

Things to Know

• The drive from Istanbul to Gallipoli, about 165 miles (266 kilometers), takes a little under four hours. 

• Full-day tours from Istanbul to Gallipoli last between 14 and 18 hours. Multi-day tours range from two to seven days.

• Full-day tours usually include a guide, hotel or port pickup and drop-off, transportation by air-conditioned vehicle, entrance fees, and lunch.

• Multi-day tours typically include the same as day tours, plus accommodation in 4- or 5-star hotels and meals as per each tour’s itinerary.