Welcome to the Gallipoli Campaign Historic Site, one of the most meaningful heritage areas in Türkiye, located on the Gallipoli Peninsula within the Eceabat district of Çanakkale. Covering 33,444 hectares, this vast open-air museum preserves the battlefields, memorials, cemeteries, and fortifications of the Gallipoli Campaign (1915–1916)—a defining moment in both Turkish and world history.

Situated where Asia and Europe meet, the peninsula stands at the strategic intersection of the Çanakkale Strait and the Aegean Sea. Although today it is a peaceful natural landscape of forests, coastal cliffs, and quiet coves, its soil bears the traces of one of the First World War’s most intense campaigns.

Across the site, visitors can explore 50 Turkish cemeteries, 29 Turkish memorials, 34 foreign cemeteries and monuments, and 49 monumental structures, along with remnants of castles, bastions, cannons, trenches, sunken ships, and early military architecture dating back to the 15th century. These elements together create one of the world’s best-preserved war heritage landscapes.

The Gallipoli Peninsula was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2014, recognizing its exceptional historical value and its role in shaping the identities of multiple nations. Today, the region welcomes visitors who wish to understand its past through a respectful journey across its memorial routes, panoramic viewpoints, and museums.

In addition to its historical importance, the area features rich natural beauty—Mediterranean shrublands, geological formations, forests, beaches, coves, and the unique Suvla Salt Lake. This combination of nature and heritage makes Gallipoli not only a place of remembrance but also a serene destination for reflection.

Every year, on commemorative days, people from Türkiye, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, France, and many other countries gather here to honor the shared history and collective memory of the campaign. Despite their different flags, visitors stand together, acknowledging the human stories and experiences that connect all sides of the conflict.

How to Get There

The Gallipoli Campaign Historic Site is accessible via Eceabat, which can be reached by ferry from Çanakkale city center. Visitors arriving from Istanbul can travel by road (approx. 4–5 hours) to Eceabat or Kilitbahir and continue to the memorial areas by car or tour bus.

Best Time to Visit

The most comfortable months are April–June and September–November, offering mild weather, ideal light for photography, and less crowded memorial sites. Anzac Day (25 April) is the busiest and most symbolic time of the year.