Canakkale, Dardanelles


Canakkale
Canakkale is your best base for visiting the Gallipoli battlefields and the ruins of Troy (although you can visit on a whirlwind day-trip from Istanbul, or a more comfortable overnight excursion by car or bus.

Located on the southern shore of the Dardanelles strait (Hellespont), Canakkale was the major strong-point in the defense of the Dardanelles from the time of the Trojans through World War I.

Today Canakkale is a pleasant town with adequate hotels to serve

more »


Ayvalik


Ayvalik
Ayvalik is a popular North Aegean seaside resort for local people, with ferries to the Greek island of Lesvos (Mytileni).

Surrounded by groves of olive trees which produce much of Turkey's best olive oil, Ayvalik ("Quince Orchard", pop. 30,000) has an interesting history.

After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the Ottoman Greeks of Ayvalik moved to Greece, and Turkish citizens of Greece moved to Ayvalik. Thus, even after the Greeks left, you could still

more »