A journey to discover the mythical city of Troy.

History of Troy

Troy (in Turkish, "Troia") was founded by the Hittites in the 3rd century BC and later became known worldwide through Homer's epic poems, the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey." According to Homer, the Trojan War occurred around 1184 BC. The cause was the seduction of Queen Helen, the beautiful queen of Sparta, Prince Paris of Troy, by the Greeks. Menelaus, enraged, attacked Troy, leading to a bloody war that lasted for ten years. Ultimately, the Greeks used the famous "Trojan Horse" tactic, causing Troy to fall and remain buried underground for thousands of years.

Whether the "Iliad" was real or not, a Trojan War did indeed take place in the 12th century, leading to the change of the Hittite name "Wilusa" to Illion, and later to Troy. As Constantinople (now Istanbul) flourished, Troy lost its importance, and many believed it was merely a fictional location imagined by Homer until archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann proved its existence. Today, archaeological work continues, meaning the world has yet to see the full extent of the mythical Troy.

The journey to Troy

The largest city closest to the Troy ruins is Çanakkale, which also has an airport with direct flights from Istanbul. From Çanakkale, it's only about 30 km (approximately 45 minutes) by minibus to the ancient Trojan ruins. Buses depart every hour, starting at 7 am, but sometimes they leave earlier if there are enough passengers. You should also book a hotel in Çanakkale as you may only visit Troy and return on the same day.

What to see in Troy?

Bring appropriate footwear for the rough and slippery paths when exploring the ruins of Troy. The city was rebuilt nine times, and many archaeologists believe the seventh layer is part of the city described in the "Iliad." Don't forget to visit the inside of the wooden horse at the entrance to the Troy ruins; it's arguably the most exciting experience of the trip! Also, if you don't like crowds of tourists, consider visiting Troy in winter.

Other activities

If you're in this region, you might want to stop by Mount Ida, said to be where the gods watched the Trojan War. Another interesting destination is the beautiful island of Bozcaada in the Aegean Sea, with its ancient towns and castles, as well as delicious fresh seafood and a variety of local wines. You can reach the island by ferry from Geyikli port, about 10 km from Troy.

Huong Thao