West of Bursa, on the southern shore of the Dardanelles, Çanakkale is the largest city on the North Aegean coast and makes a very pleasant base for visiting the memorials and battlefields of Gallipoli, a half-hour ferry journey across the straits.
The heart of Çanakkale is in the docks area, and you really don't need to go inland. An Ottoman clock tower is between the two halves of the dock. Head toward the sea from this tower and find the ferry that departs for the historic Gallipoli Peninsula. Hotels and restaurants are spread on either side of the docks, along the seafront; some of the most appealing lodging and dining options, as well as bars and nightlife, are located in the narrow streets behind the seafront to the left of the tower if you're facing the sea. A short ways on the waterfront past the clock tower in the other direction is the Trojan Horse that appeared in the 2004 movie Troy, later donated to the city of Çanakkale; there's also a nicely done model of the ancient city.
