By: Bound2explore March, 7, 2023

For most people, the ancient city of Troy and the story of ancient Greek mythology Trojan horse can be quite intriguing.   Especially after the movie starring Brad Pitt in his prime time with similar title became the box office. Watching the movie is great but seeing the real life ancient city of Troy, a UNESCO  World Heritage Site in person  is even better. So, if you have been dreaming of chasing the ruins of Troy after watching the movie, wait no more.

So, where is this city located? Troy or Troia in Greek is located in current Turkish province of Canakkale. It was discovered in 1871 during the excavation after centuries of obvilion. This 4000 years old history is one of the most important archeological discoveries of all time. If you are visiting Istanbul, Turkey, this is your chance of chasing the ruins of Troy.

The next question you might have probably on how to get there or how long is the trip?
You have two options. You can do a slow travel, drive all the way there,take your sweet time and spend the night in Canakkale then explore the ruins of Troy. Or you can do a day trip in one day. You can rent a car and drive your self, or you can take a tour to Troy. Here what I did when chasing the ruins of Troy:
I chose a day trip. If you choose a day trip, you have to start early,  really early. At the break of dawn, we started driving all the way to Gallipoli (Gelibolu). Along the way, we made quick stop for breakfast. After about 3 hours long drive,  we crossed Dardanelles Strait  by ferry. Then we drove again to reach the ancient city of Troy. This way you get to try different  modes of transportation,  enjoy the view, and you can relax on the ferry.

To access the ruins, you will have to pay an entrance fees. When you arrive at the location,  you will find a replica of Trojan Horse. It looked smaller than my imagination. Still pretty neat. Now, if you want to see a bigger replica of Trojan Horse, you will need to visit the waterfront area of Canakkale where a bigger replica of Trojan Horse is located. I was told by a local that the bigger replica of Trojan Horse  by the waterfront of Canakkale was actually a real prop from the Troy movie. It was gifted to the city after they finished shooting the movie. Wow, imagine reliving the movie by posing next to this Trojan Horse.

Now, back to the ancient city of Troy, as you enter the city you can see the tall stone walls are still standing. The city was built  with protection walls surrounding the city. It  almost looks like a fotress. You can read the brief description on each corner explaining about the city.

There are some trees inside the ruins including fig trees. Here you can also find nine different ancient settlements stacked on top of one another, dating back from 3000 B.C to A.D. 500. Therefore, archeologists do not really consider  Troy as one single city but settlements that ranges from the early Bronze age to the late Roman period. As you learn about this fascinating history, it will make you realize that a visit to this ancient city is totally worth it. Eventhough most part of the city except for the walls are in ruins.

At then end of your walking tour, you can chill and take a break at nearby cafe for a drink.

Since you are already in Canakkale, after a visit to Troy, you can take a walk and explore Canakkale. You can also do a little shopping and you can buy a miniature of Trojan Horse for souveniers. Highly recommend to stroll along the waterfront to enjoy the view and to try their famous meal of rice and fish called hamsili pilav.

All in all, chasing the ruins of Troy is totally worth it. Even if it is a long day trip. The legend of Trojan war, the Helen of Troy and Trojan horse suddenly  come to life.

If renting a car and driving by yourself is too much of a hassle for you. Another alternative is to take a tour to Troy. If you prefer a tour, here is a link for a day trip to troy tour.

And if you need more inspiration or idea on what to do in Istanbul, check this link.