How to Visit the Ancient City of Troy and Explore it’s Secrets
It’s late winter and signs of spring are beginning to creep in. Small buds are appearing on the trees, the sun is shining and birds are tweeting and busy. The grass is becoming thicker as it grows over the ancient, worn stones. These stones hold historic secrets, memories of bloody battles and have been witness to the rise and fall of several great Empires. In this post we will describe how you can wander through the ancient streets, absorb the intense history and visit the ancient city of Troy
Is Troy a Real Place?
So, you can visit an old city called Troy. But is this the real deal?! Is the ancient Troy a real place? Homer’s epic poems the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey” describe a city besieged for 10 years by the Greeks. War broke out after a Prince of Troy, Paris, kidnapped the beautiful Helen of Sparta. I’m sure you’ve seen the movie…
Until relatively recently, the city lay undiscovered and it’s existence was subject to much debate – and still is in some fields. In 1873, a German businessman and amateur archaeologist, Heinrich Schliemann, began conducting a series of excavations. He was led to this region after years of investigation verging on obsession.
His excavation methods were blunt, to say the least. It is more than likely that he destroyed a lot of artefacts and structures within the city. However, he did discover, what was claimed to be, the treasures of King Priam. Since then, the treasures have been identified as being much older than that!
Today, more refined excavations are still underway. We are still learning more and more about the ancient civilizations who inhabited the Ancient City of Troy.
The History of the Ancient City of Troy
The ancient city of Troy dates back to around 3,500 BC. The settlements were destroyed and rebuilt several times. Each one on top of the next. This means that there are at least 10 separate cities on this site. Each time expanding, developing and advancing.
The city that is featured in Homer’s works is thought to have existed roughly between 1700 B.C. and 1190 B.C. It has been determined that this city had a large residential area but was also heavily fortified, with defence walls several meters thick. But, was there ever a Trojan War? Did the infamous Trojan Horse exist? There is little evidence to suggest one way or the other. The ancient stones suggest there was an attack around that time. However, it is not clear who the aggressor was.
While the ancient city of Troy was almost certainly real, the Trojan horse is most likely more legend than fact. But, doesn’t it make a great story!
Where is Troy?
The site of the ancient city of Troy lies in Western Turkey. The nearest modern day city is Çanakkale which is about a 30 minute drive away. Istanbul is around a 4.5 hour drive North East and Izmir 4 hours to the South. Of course, Greece is just across the Aegean Sea.
How to Get to the Ancient City of Troy
Many people visit Troy from large cities such as Istanbul and Izmir. Most choose to take an organised tour but it is possible to make your own way there as well.
Make Your Own Way to Troy
If you have rented a car, the drive from Istanbul is a relatively simple 4.5 hour drive. Once you escape the chaos of the city, that is! Since the new Çanakkale 1915 Bridge was opened in March 2022, the journey has become much more simple as the ferry is no longer required. If you still fancy taking the ferry, it is good fun and very scenic.
From Izmir, the drive is also relatively straightforward. The route more or less follows the Aegean coastline making it a very scenic journey. The trip takes around 4 hours each way and there are plenty of beautiful places to stop on the way.
It is possible to reach Troy from Istanbul and Izmir by public transport. However, this takes a lot of time and good organisation. If you choose this method, we would recommend staying in the area for a night or two to make the most of it.
Take an Organised Tour to Troy
If you take a tour from Istanbul to Troy you can cut out the hassle of travelling there yourself. Most tours include entry to the city, a guided tour and stops for breakfast and breaks. Some tours also include a stop at a war memorial along the Dardanelles. However, with the increased organisation, you lose any flexibility you might have by making your own way. Be prepared for a 15 hour day at a cost of around €90, but it’s totally worth it!
Similar tours are available from Izmir to Troy.
Entry Fee into the Ancient City of Troy
The entry fee into the ancient city of Troy is 60 Turkish Liras per person. At time of writing, this equates to around €3.75. This works out at less than 1 euro per millennia of Troy’s existence… what a bargain!
What to See in Ancient Troy
There is a lot of history to take in across this incredible site. Check out the highlights below.
A Replica of the Trojan Horse
One of the first things you will find in the area is the replica of the Trojan Horse. This was designed in the 1970s by Turkish architect İzzet Senemoğlu. It’s a great photo op as you can climb inside it!
How to Visit the Ancient City of Troy – The City Walls
When entering any highly defensive, ancient city, the walls are usually the first thing you will see. These Roman walls are very thick, were around 3-4 meters tall and designed to withstand sieges and earthquakes. Throughout the site you will see walls of different ages.
Stunning Views Across the Landscape
Walk a few more meters and you will be met with striking views across the vast landscape. This is much changed from the time of Troy.
How to Visit the Ancient City of Troy – View the Remains of the Temple of Athena
The Temple was the site of an annual festival in honour of the goddess Athena. Not much is left but pieces of the columns and the ornate ceiling tiles.
Ten Different Cities
There are at least 10 different cities built on the site of Ancient Troy. There are thought to be even more, but excavation is still ongoing. Cities were destroyed (by enemies, fire, earthquakes) and rebuilt. There are points throughout the city where you can see the different layers.
How to Visit the Ancient City of Troy – The Sacrificial Altar
Not quite as sinister as it sounds. Or so we were assured…Being an ancient civilisation, it was common to make offerings to the Gods. There are several altars as well as sacrificial pits and wells.
The Ramp
Thought to be the main entrance into the city, the ramp leads up towards the grand gateway.
How to Visit the Ancient City of Troy – The Bouleuterion
This was an enclosed area so that Greek and, later, Roman councils could conduct their business.
The Roman Odeon
This is where musical and dramatic performances took place during the Roman period.
How to Visit the Ancient City of Troy – The South Gate
Only the road survives. However, it is clear to see how the city would have been entered from here. If the Trojan Horse did exist, it is most likely to have entered the city of Troy via the South Gate.
When to Visit the Ancient City of Troy
We visited in the winter and saw very few other people. Tours from Çanakkale tend to arrive early and last a few hours. It’s better to go at a different time of day if you want to avoid the crowds. If you are there in the height of summer, beware the midday sun. There is little to no shade throughout the site.
We would recommend visiting the ancient city in late afternoon during the summer season and late morning if you are there in cooler months.
What Else is Nearby?
Have a little extra time in the area? Here are a few more sites for you to check out
Trojan Horse Statue in Canakkale
This Trojan Horse was used in the 2014 Brad Pitt movie, Troy. It’s a pretty impressive structure and makes for some great photos for history and film buffs.
Gallipoli Memorial
Visit the impressive and moving memorials to the Battle of Gallipoli in 1915 during World War I. There are several different memorials and cemeteries in the area. These mostly remember the New Zealanders and Australians that lost there lives while fighting here.
What to Pack for a Day Trip to the Ancient City of Troy
We have put together a convenient packing list for all of your exploration needs. To investigate the city of Troy, you will need –
- Hiking boots or shoes
- Small backpack
- Snacks for the journey (bars, chews, trail mix, sandwiches)
- Water bottle
- Weather appropriate clothing such as sun hat and good coverage in the summer months, layers during the winter
- Insect repellent
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Phone (plus power bank if required)
- Decent camera with plenty of space for pictures
- Cash
- Travel tickets (if pre booked)
Where to go next?
- Why not relax in a Turkish Hammam? We have detailed what to do and what to avoid in our useful tips HERE
- Have you visited the Ancient City of Troy or any other historical sites in Turkey? Are you planning a trip and need more information? Drop a comment in the box, we’d love to hear from you!
- Pin the image below and read How to Visit the Ancient City of Troy again later
Final note: Things change often when travelling in the Balkans and there is not much information online. We would definitely advise checking with a local where possible. We found people to be really friendly and super helpful.
Short on time? Save, “How to Visit the Ancient City of Troy” for later by pinning the image below.
You’ll just have to go and find out…
If I visit Troy, can I get a Helen free…..
I had no idea that Troy was actually located in Turkey. Thanks for sharing so much historical facts. Fascinating.
What an awesome city! I feel like Troy isn’t talked about enough, so thanks for bringing it to the light. I will definitely need to consider this for a future trip!
What a fun experience. I really wanted to visit Troy during my last visit to Istanbul but sadly never got a chance to. Next time!!