Troy is one of the world's greatest archeological sites, where myth and history merge in a very special manner. Nobody knew where it was until 1869, but this mythical city had been in people's minds for centuries based on Homer's epic poem "The Iliad," written about 750 BC. Visitors today will find not one but nine separate cities stacked upon each other. These layers represent 4000 years of civilization dating from 3000 BC.
Adding ancient Troy to your Turkey tour makes for a truly unforgettable stop, located in the northwestern part of the country. The vast ruins encompass 75 acres that once housed a maximum of 10,000 inhabitants. The site's status as a UNESCO World Heritage treasure hasn't slowed ongoing archeological work. Archeologists predict they have another 100-200 years to reveal all its secrets. Each tier has a varied story that spans from the Early Bronze Age occupation right up to its eventual abandonment. They provide a fascinating glimpse into Mediterranean civilizations of the ancient world.
The Trojan War is still one of the greatest stories ever. This epic is used to bridge mythology and potential historical occurrences during the late Bronze Age. Traditional accounts place this great war in the 12th or 13th century BCE. The story has left a lasting impact on Western imagination.
A divine beauty contest sparked the beginning of the war. Eris, the goddess of discord, didn't receive an invitation to a wedding. She sought revenge and hurled a golden apple inscribed "for the fairest" among the guests. Three goddesses—Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite—fought over the prize. They asked Paris, prince of Troy, to judge the winner. Aphrodite triumphed by promising Paris the world's most beautiful woman: Helen. She was already King Menelaus of Sparta's wife.
There are certain ancient sources that suggest Helen may have departed willingly, while others say that she was kidnapped — a scenario that was argued during classical literature. The siege lasted for ten years.
Homer's Iliad portrays gods as engaging actively in the war—taking sides, commanding warriors, and even intervening in combat. The Greeks were aided by Athena, Hera, and Poseidon. They did more than engage in symbolic actions. They commanded battles, guided weapons, and fought on behalf of mortals.
Human heroes in the story possessed remarkable strengths and deep flaws. "Swift-footed" Achilles was nearly invincible except for his famous heel. He battled with his rage and pride. "Glinting-helmeted" Hector defended his city with unmatched bravery. The "resourceful" Odysseus added strategic genius that eventually led to Troy's downfall.
Homer's Iliad doesn't refer to the Trojan Horse because the poem breaks off before the fall of Troy. The ploy is a passing mention in the Odyssey and attracts more prominence in Virgil's Aeneid centuries later. These records recount how the Greeks constructed a giant wooden horse after a ten-year unsuccessful siege. They hid their best warriors inside and pretended to leave.
The clever deception likely never happened as told. Some say the horse may represent a siege engine covered in wet horse skins to prevent it from burning. Others say it was a ship with a horse's head as a figurehead. Whatever that, archaeological findings confirm the fall of Troy by about the conventional date of the war. This lends some credit to the substance of the story.
The city of Troy had existed for centuries as nothing more than myth, but the city of Troy became a real highlight of any Turkey trip when archaeologists uncovered ruins that matched Homer’s epic descriptions.
Heinrich Schliemann's search for Troy started from his early fascination with Homer's epics. A serendipitous meeting with British diplomat Frank Calvert in 1868 changed everything. Calvert had already discovered that Hisarlık in northwestern Turkey was a possibility. He owned part of the property but lacked funds to carry out a full excavation, so he convinced the wealthy Heinrich Schliemann to consider searching there.
His trench cut through some of the highest layers, including Troy VI and VIIa, and probably destroyed valuable evidence linked to the time of the Trojan War. His methods were questioned because he dug away layers he determined were too recent, and it might have destroyed valuable evidence. In spite of that, Schliemann uncovered the archeological find of a lifetime on May 31, 1873.
Further excavations found that Troy was made up of nine distinct layers built over one another. These layers spanned over 3,500 years of human occupation. Troy I, which was at the bottom, was approximately 3000 BCE, and each successive layer was a different era.
Schliemann's original belief wrongly identified Troy II (2500-2300 BCE) as Homer's Troy. Now historians are thinking that Troy VI (1750-1300 BCE) or Troy VIIa (1300-1180 BCE) was the city of the Iliad.
The collection of gold artifacts named "Priam's Treasure" became Schliemann's most famous discovery. They included golden diadems, bracelets, earrings, and almost 9,000 gold beads, as well as silver vessels and bronze weapons.
The majority of these treasures were located in Berlin, until Soviet soldiers moved them to Moscow after World War II. These treasures remain in the Pushkin Museum today.
Learning about the ancient ruins of Troy lets you walk in the footsteps of legend. This UNESCO World Heritage site near Çanakkale in northwestern Turkey draws history buffs and curious travelers. The site reveals layers of civilization that span 4,000 years.
The journey from Istanbul to Troy takes about 5-6 hours. You can catch a bus from Istanbul Esenler station to Çanakkale every 3 hours. Flights connect Istanbul to Çanakkale but aren't available throughout the year. The new 1915 Çanakkale Bridge gives drivers a direct route without needing the ferry.
Troy sits just a 30-minute drive (31km) from Çanakkale. You can take a taxi, join a guided tour from the tourism center in Çanakkale, or hop on the hourly minibusses from Atatürk Caddesi that drop you right by the entrance.
The archeological site shows off Troy's impressive defensive features. Here's what you shouldn't miss:
The Troy III-V layer catches most first-time visitors' eyes with the best views of the Dardanelles Strait.
The Troy Museum opened its doors in 2018. This striking rust-colored cube building sits 800m from the archeological site and has seven sections that showcase Troy's rich history. You'll find:
The museum welcomes visitors daily, staying open longer (8:30-20:00) during summer months (April-September).
Spring (April-June) and autumn (September-November) give you the best conditions to explore Troy. The weather stays mild and crowds thin out. Summer brings harsh heat with little shade. Winter sees fewer visitors but more rain. Smart tips for your visit:
The region around Troy packs plenty more to see. The Gallipoli Peninsula tells moving stories from WWI battles. Mount Ida (Kaz Dağları National Park) beckons hikers with beautiful trails and rich biodiversity about 90 minutes from Çanakkale.
Today, visitors can stroll within Troy's ancient walls and view artifacts from the city's own museum, catching a glimpse of a city where history and legend meet. Far from ruins, Troy invites visitors to tread among the actual people, gods, and heroes of one of the world's most enduring stories.
The story of Troy, as told in Homer’s Iliad, blends myth and history. While the characters and events may be fictionalized, archaeological evidence shows a real city existed at Troy’s site and was destroyed in the late Bronze Age, possibly by conflict.
Troy is located in northwestern Turkey, near the town of Tevfikiye, within Çanakkale Province. The ruins are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and sit close to the Aegean coast.
Yes—Troy is a fascinating destination for history lovers and mythology fans alike. Visitors can explore ancient city walls, view artifacts in the nearby Troy Museum, and walk through layers of a site that spans over 4,000 years of civilization.
A typical visit to Troy takes 1.5 to 2 hours to tour the site, but adding the Troy Museum nearby extends the experience to 3–4 hours for those wanting a deeper dive into its history.
The nearest major city is Çanakkale, located about 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the site. It’s the best base for visiting Troy and also offers ferry access across the Dardanelles and other historic sites like Gallipoli.