Gallipoli Peninsula (Gelibolu Yarimadasi)

Both sides in the Battle of Gallipoli suffered huge losses, and today well-maintained battlefields, cemeteries, and memorials dot the peninsula. The rolling green hills and calm seaside stand in stark contrast to the area’s historical bloodshed. Visitors come from all over the world to pay respects at the graves of both Turks and Commonwealth soldiers; the Gallipoli Peninsula is particularly popular with Australians and New Zealanders on Anzac (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) Day, April 25.

Private and small-group day and multi-day tours to the Gallipoli Peninsula run from Istanbul and Canakkale, and include round-trip transportation. Tours often stop at Canakkale and Troy, and take in many battlefields and historical sites on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

• The Gallipoli Peninsula is a must-visit for history and WWI buffs.

• Wear comfortable shoes, as you will spend time walking between the peninsula’s sites.

• Many of the Gallipoli memorials and cemeteries are accessible to wheelchair users.

The Gallipoli Peninsula is nearest to the Canakkale Airport, though many visitors arrive from Istanbul (about a 3.5-hour drive). Rent a car or hire a taxi for convenience. Alternatively, buses from Istanbul and minibuses from Canakkale can take you to the historical sites.

The region gets very busy around April 25—Anzac Day in Australia and New Zealand—when visitors from those two countries flock to the memorials, battlefields, and cemeteries. The rest of the year, the Gallipoli Peninsula is more popular in the warmer months than during winter.

Anzac Day is both the most popular and most significant time to visit the Gallipoli Peninsula. The annual commemoration, which begins with a dawn requiem service, comprises marches, speeches, and opportunities to pay respects to the fallen soldiers. Though the memorial sites are busiest on this holiday, it’s a special, particularly moving way to experience the importance of Gallipoli’s history.