Things to Do in Ayvacık: 8 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Ayvacık

• 2 Historic
• 4 Ancient City
• 1 Nature
• 1 Beach

🏛️ Historic Sites 2

i Photo: Abdullah kıyga (CC BY 3.0) · Source

1 🏛️ Historic

Babakale

A castle built between 1722 and 1729 in the Ottoman period, at the westernmost tip of Anatolia.

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2 🏛️ Historic

Babakale Castle

Ottoman-period castle in Ayvacık, at the westernmost tip of Anatolia.

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🏺 Ancient Cities 4

i Photo: Carole Raddato (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Source

3 🏺 Ancient City

Assos (Behramkale) Ancient City

With a history stretching back to the 6th century BC, it was an important settlement centre from antiquity onwards and gained fame for its sea trade and cultural activities.

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4 🏺 Ancient City

Assos Ancient City

Ancient city within the borders of Behramkale village in Ayvacık.

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5 🏺 Ancient City

Temple of Athena (Assos)

Temple built in Assos in the 6th century BC and dedicated to Athena.

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6 🏺 Ancient City

Sanctuary of Apollo Smintheus

One of the important sanctuaries of the Late Hellenistic period, in the town of Gülpınar.

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While you are in Ayvacık, you can also see the highlights of Çanakkale province. These places are in other districts; Ayvacık is about 80 km from the provincial centre.

• Troy Ancient City — On the mound of Hisarlık, 30 km south of Çanakkale, the city of the Trojan War told in the Iliad; it was discovered in 1871 by Heinrich Schliemann.
• Troy Museum — A museum opened on 10 October 2018 in the village of Tevfikiye, at the entrance to the archaeological site; it displays more than 6,000 original artefacts from Troy and the Troad and was established with the aim of securing the return of Trojan finds smuggled abroad.
• Çanakkale Martyrs' Memorial — A 41.7-metre-high four-legged monument at the tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula, on Hisarlık Tepe above Morto Bay, built in memory of the martyrs of 1915; it opened in 1960. Beside it are the Turkish Cemetery, the Mehmetçik Monument and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
• Gallipoli Peninsula Historical Site — A 33,000-hectare area covering almost the whole of Eceabat district; it became a national park in 1973 and the "Gallipoli Historical Site of the Çanakkale Battles" in 2014. With its cemeteries, trenches, the Kabatepe Information Centre and monuments, it is an open-air museum of 1915.
• 57th Regiment Cemetery — A symbolic cemetery opened in 1992 at Bombasırtı in memory of the 628 soldiers of the 57th Regiment, all of whom fell as martyrs during the Anzac landing and the battles that followed.
• Anzac Cove — The cove where Australian and New Zealand troops landed on 25 April 1915; a dawn service is held here every year on 25 April.

Practical Information for Visiting Ayvacık

Suggested time

2-3 days

Best time to visit

Spring and summer

Places to visit

8 places

• 🍲

  Keşkek (wheat and meat porridge)

  Prepared by cooking cracked wheat and meat for a long time and then pounding them together. In Ayvacık villages, keşkek is the traditional dish of wedding and festival tables.

• 🌿

  Aegean Herb Dishes

  Ayvacık's Aegean cuisine is rich in herb dishes cooked with olive oil. Wild herbs such as sirken, mallow, radika and chicory are cooked in olive oil.

• 🐟

  Balık Çorbası (fish soup)

  Soup prepared with fresh fish from the Aegean Sea, flavoured with onion, carrot and lemon. It is often eaten in fishing villages during the winter months.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Ayvacık

• 🏛️

  Ancient Troas Region

  Ayvacık lies at the heart of the ancient Troad region. Ancient cities such as Assos, Sanctuary of Apollo Smintheus and Alexandria Troas reflect the region's rich history.

• 🧶

  Yörük Carpet-Weaving Tradition

  The carpet-weaving tradition that has continued for centuries in Ayvacık villages is among the candidates for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Carpets woven by women on hand looms are part of the region's cultural identity.

Local Products

• Olive Oil — Ayvacık is one of the most important olive oil production centres in Çanakkale. Olive oil obtained by cold pressing is known for its low acidity and fruity aroma.
• Ayvacık Carpet — Ayvacık carpets, from the Yörük tradition, are woven on hand looms from wool yarn dyed with natural dyes. Sought after by collectors worldwide for their geometric patterns and vivid colours.

Economy

Ayvacık's economy is based on tourism, olive growing and handicrafts. Assos Ancient City and the coastal villages attract heavy tourism in the summer months. Olive growing and olive oil production are traditional economic activities. Ayvacık carpets are an important source of income in the handicrafts sector.

How to Get to Ayvacık

Ayvacık is 80 km from Çanakkale city centre. It is reached via the Çanakkale–İzmir road. Regular minibus services run from Çanakkale Intercity Bus Terminal. The nearest airport is Çanakkale Airport.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Çanakkale

Ayvacık: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Ayvacık Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Çanakkale The province's 20 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Çanakkale

• Çanakkale Central District 5 places Çimenlik Castle, Troy Ancient City and 1915 Çanakkale Bridge
• Bayramiç 9 places Taş Köprü (Stone Bridge), Hadımoğlu Mansion and İda Dağı (Kaz Dağları)
• Biga 8 places Karabiga (Priapus), Biga Stream and Kemer Dam and Lake
• Bozcaada 10 places Bozcaada Castle, Ayazma Beach and Habbele Beach
• Çan 10 places Çan Thermal Park, Etili Höyük and Çan Castle Ruins
• Eceabat 6 places Kilitbahir Castle, Çanakkale Martyrs' Memorial and Conkbayırı
• Ezine 14 places Alexandria Troas Antik Kenti (Alexandria Troas ancient city), Gülpınar (Chryse) Apollon Smintheus Tapınağı (Gülpınar (Chryse) Temple of Apollo Smintheus) and Dalyan Köyü ve Plajı (Dalyan village and beach)
• Gelibolu 9 places Gelibolu Castle, Gelibolu Harbour and Gelibolu Peninsula Historical National Park
• Gökçeada 12 places Kaleköy (Kastro), Aydıncık Beach and Marmaros Waterfall
• Lapseki 7 places Lampsakos Ancient City Ruins (Lampsakos Antik Kenti Kalıntıları), Lapseki Seafront (Lapseki Sahili) and Lapseki Çarşı Mosque (Lapseki Çarşı Camii)
• Yenice 8 places Yenice Forests, Kazdağı National Park (Yenice Entrance) and Yenice Çarşı Mosque