Car & Van Hire - Canakkale

Like other parts of the eastern Mediterranean, Canakkale is known for its rich history. The area has been inhabited for more than 6,000 years and has been home to different civilizations that left their mark on Canakkale's archaeological and architectural landscapes.

The city's main attraction is its proximity to the site of ancient Troy. The site witnessed the Trojan War, and the adjacent museum can be easily visited as a day trip after arranging a car or van rental in Canakkale.

Another popular tourist landmark is the Gallipoli Peninsula, across the strait from Canakkale. This site has great historical significance due to the role it played in World War I. Gallipoli Peninsula Historical Site contains a museum, memorials, cemeteries, and archaeological remains, in addition to being a natural protected area.

In Canakkale itself, most tourist attractions are located around Cumhuriyet Boulevard, which provides access to the Old Town and to the waterfront area. A few steps away from Canakkale's marina is the famous replica of the Trojan Horse. This statue was used as a prop in the 2004 movie "Troy".

On the other side of Cumhuriyet Boulevard, you'll find Canakkale's clock tower, which serves as the gateway to the Old Town. The area's cobblestone streets and public squares are lined with restaurants serving traditional Turkish fare, from authentic doner kebabs to lahmacun (Turkish pizza) and seafood dishes. This is a great place to sample local Dardenelles specialities like scorpionfish soup and fish rice pilaf. As you get closer to the waterfront, you'll come across many tea houses, coffee shops, live music venues, pubs and cocktail bars.

On the southern side of the Old Town, you'll find a cluster of historical and cultural attractions, including the 15thcentury Çimenlik Castle, the maritime museum and Canakkale City Museum and Archive.

The city is an excellent shopping destination, especially if you're interested in handmade items. Handicrafts and souvenirs (like the world-famous Canakkale ceramics) can be found in the Old Town. For indoor bazaar-style shopping, head to Aynalı Carsı, teeming with souvenirs, jewellery, spices and traditional gourmet items. International brands can be found at Burda and at TroyPark, two modern shopping centres very close to Yeni Kordin beach.

This beach, the nearby Aqualand Canakkale waterpark and Aynalı Carsı are also great options to visit with children.

The most awaited events in Canakkale include the International Folk Dance Festival, held in early July at the same time as the Hellespont Dardanelles Swim Race, which commemorates Lord Byron's historical feat, and ANZAC Day Ceremony in Gallipoli.

Canakkale sits at the intersection between three major roads: D210, which heads inland into Canakkale province, the Canakkale – Izmir road (which provides access to the airport), and D200 road, which connects the cities of Bursa and Canakkale and goes as far as Ankara and into the Eastern Anatolia region.

The roads mentioned above are dual carriageways where the maximum speed limit is set to 90 km/h, unless driving through built-up urban areas, where you must lower your speed to 50 km/h.

If you're driving your car or van rental in Canakkale and the surrounding area, you may need to enter a motorway. For example, this is the case if you plan to drive to the historical sites of the Gallipoli Peninsula going over Canakkale bridge, which is part of motorway 6. Turkish motorways are called "otoyol", and their road number is preceded by an "O". Speed limit on motorways is 130 km/h.

There is a toll both on the western end of Canakkale bridge. The majority of motorway toll booths in Turkey don't accept cash payments, and many don't accept credit cards either. Toll payments are processed via the pre-paid electronic HGS system, which requires your vehicle to either have a toll transponder device or a sticker with an embedded chip, which must be clearly displayed on the front windshield. This also applies to rental vehicles.

The main access point into Canakkale is D200 – Atikhisar road, which enters the city from the east and runs through the new town until it reaches the ferry terminal. If you continue driving south along D200 instead of turning towards the waterfront, you'll eventually come to the intersection with E87 road, which takes you into the archaeological site of Troy.

While it's possible to drive on most streets of the Old Town, street parking in this area is limited. You will notice bollards on both sides of the streets preventing stopping and parking, as well as resident-only parking spots.

Parking lots open to the public are called "otopark" and charge a small hourly fee. There are several options located around the marina and the clock tower, as well as closer to the Old Town near Inonu bridge.