Ancient Troy (Truva in Turkish) is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world, and far more than a myth. Immortalised by Homer in the Iliad, the city stands on the hill of Hisarlık in the province of Çanakkale, in north-west Türkiye, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A short history of Troy
Troy was not a single city but nine cities built one on top of another over more than 3,000 years, from around 3000 BC to AD 500. The city Homer describes in the Iliad corresponds to Troy VI–VII (around 1250 BC), and Troy VII was destroyed around 1180 BC.
The ruins were uncovered in 1870 by Heinrich Schliemann, a German businessman turned archaeologist who was obsessed with Homer and followed the clues in his poems. He dug with more enthusiasm than method, cutting through the upper layers to reach the lower ones, and the gold he hailed as “Priam’s Treasure” turned out to come from a layer 1,000 years older than the Trojan War. His methods were controversial, but his discovery revolutionised archaeology.
Today we know that Troy was a rich, strategic city that controlled access to the Black Sea for thousands of years.
What to see in Troy
- The Trojan Horse: a wooden replica stands at the entrance to the site. You can climb inside for the classic photo, although the real horse, if it ever existed, would have looked very different.
- The walls of Troy VI–VII: the Bronze Age fortifications that may have held out against the Achaean siege. They are all the more impressive when you realise you are standing where Homer set the most famous war in history.
- The original entrance ramp: the stone-paved ramp by which people entered the city in the Bronze Age.
- The Roman Odeon: a small theatre from the Roman period (Troy IX), looking out over the plain of the Scamander.
- The Troy Museum: opened in 2018, a modern, interactive museum that puts the finds from every layer of the city in context with 3D reconstructions, videos and original pieces. It received a special commendation in the European Museum of the Year Award 2020.
How to get to Troy from Istanbul
Troy is about 320 km from Istanbul, a 4–5-hour drive. The nearest city is Çanakkale, 30 minutes away. Your options are:
- Private car: the most comfortable option. On my tours of Türkiye I include transport with a driver.
- Bus: from Istanbul’s Esenler bus station to Çanakkale (5–6 hours), then a local dolmuş (shared minibus) to Troy (30 minutes).
- Flight: Çanakkale has a small airport with a limited number of flights from Istanbul (about 1 hour).
- Ferry: if you are coming from the Gallipoli side, you can cross the Dardanelles by ferry to Çanakkale.
- Organised excursion: from Istanbul there are one-day excursions that combine Troy and Gallipoli.
Troy and Gallipoli: the perfect pairing
Troy and Gallipoli, with its First World War battlefields on the other side of the Dardanelles, are only about 40 km apart. They complement each other perfectly on a one- or two-day trip from Istanbul, or as part of a longer tour.
Practical tips
- How long: 1–2 hours for the ruins, plus at least another hour for the museum, so 2–3 hours in all.
- What to bring: water, sun protection and comfortable shoes.
- Go with a guide: a guide makes all the difference. Without an explanation the ruins can look underwhelming, but with the historical context they come to life.