Gallipoli is a quiet peninsula of pine-covered ridges, olive groves and small beaches on the European shore of the Dardanelles in northwest Turkey. In 1915 it became the scene of one of the most costly campaigns of the First World War, fought between the Ottoman Empire and the Allied powers. More than a century later it is a place of remembrance for Turks, Australians, New Zealanders, British, French, Irish, Indians and many others, and one of the most moving places you can visit in Turkey.
This guide explains the Gallipoli campaign in plain terms, why it still matters so much, which memorials and cemeteries to see, and how to visit the Gallipoli peninsula as part of a self-drive trip. (You will also see the name spelled "Galipoli" online; the Turkish name is Gelibolu, and in Turkey the campaign is usually called the Battle of Çanakkale.)
Where is Gallipoli?
The Gallipoli peninsula is the narrow strip of land on the European side of the Dardanelles, the strait that joins the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It belongs to Çanakkale province. The town of Gelibolu lies at its northeastern end; Eceabat and Kilitbahir face the city of Çanakkale across the water; and Cape Helles forms its southern tip.
The Dardanelles were the key to the campaign. Whoever controlled the strait controlled the sea route from the Mediterranean to Istanbul (then Constantinople) and the Black Sea.
The Gallipoli campaign in brief
The Gallipoli campaign lasted from February 1915 to January 1916. The Allies, chiefly Britain and France, aimed to force the Dardanelles, take Constantinople, knock the Ottoman Empire out of the war and open a supply route to their ally Russia. It ended in an Allied withdrawal and an Ottoman victory, at enormous human cost to both sides.
The naval attack (February–March 1915)
The campaign began at sea. British and French warships bombarded the forts guarding the straits, and on 18 March 1915 a large Allied fleet tried to force its way through. Ottoman mines, many laid secretly days before, and shore batteries sank or crippled several battleships. The fleet pulled back. In Turkey, 18 March is still commemorated as the Çanakkale Naval Victory.
The landings (25 April 1915)
After the naval failure, the Allies decided to land troops on the peninsula. On 25 April 1915, British and French forces landed at Cape Helles and on the Asian shore at Kumkale, while the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) came ashore further north, at the small bay now known as Anzac Cove.
The Ottoman defenders, under the overall command of the German general Otto Liman von Sanders, were few at first at the landing points, but they fought hard. On the morning of 25 April, a young lieutenant colonel named Mustafa Kemal, commanding the 19th Division, led the 57th Infantry Regiment against the Anzac advance on the heights. His famous order is usually quoted as: "I am not ordering you to attack. I am ordering you to die." The regiment suffered terrible losses, but the heights were held.
Stalemate and the August offensive
Through the summer the campaign turned into trench warfare much like the Western Front, with lines sometimes only metres apart, heat, flies and disease. In August the Allies launched a major offensive: new landings at Suvla Bay, the Australian attack at Lone Pine, the charge at the Nek and an assault on the high ridge of Chunuk Bair (Conkbayırı in Turkish).
New Zealand troops reached the summit of Chunuk Bair on 8 August 1915. Two days later an Ottoman counter-attack led by Mustafa Kemal retook it. This moment, at Conkbayırı, is one of the turning points of the campaign and of Atatürk's reputation.
Withdrawal (December 1915–January 1916)
With no breakthrough in sight, the Allies decided to evacuate. Anzac and Suvla were evacuated in December 1915 and Cape Helles on the night of 8–9 January 1916. Ironically, the evacuation was the best-executed part of the campaign, carried out with very few casualties.
The human cost
Casualty figures vary between sources, but each side suffered roughly a quarter of a million casualties (killed, wounded, missing and sick). Tens of thousands of Ottoman soldiers and tens of thousands of Allied soldiers died. Behind every figure are names you will read on the headstones and memorial walls across the peninsula.
The significance of Gallipoli
The significance of Gallipoli goes far beyond its military outcome.
- For Turkey, the defence of Çanakkale is remembered as an act of national resistance against invasion. It made the reputation of Mustafa Kemal, who a few years later led the Turkish War of Independence and became Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Turkey in 1923.
- For Australia and New Zealand, Gallipoli was the first major campaign fought by their forces as young nations, and it became a cornerstone of national identity. The "Anzac spirit" of courage, endurance and mateship is still central to how both countries remember their wars.
- For Britain, France and their empires, Gallipoli is remembered as a costly strategic failure, and its planning remains a case study in military history. Soldiers from India, Newfoundland, Ireland and French colonies in Africa also fought and died here.
What strikes most visitors is the spirit of reconciliation. Former enemies are commemorated side by side, and Turkish and Anzac visitors often meet at the same memorials.
What to see on the Gallipoli peninsula
The battlefields are protected as the Gallipoli Peninsula Historical Site, a landscape of memorials, cemeteries, trenches and museums spread over many kilometres. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintains around thirty Allied cemeteries here, and there are dozens of Turkish memorials and cemeteries. Below are the main sites, roughly from north to south.
Anzac area
- Anzac Cove and Ari Burnu. The small beach where the Anzacs landed. At Ari Burnu, a memorial carries the words attributed to Atatürk in 1934 addressed to the mothers of the fallen: "Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives… you are now lying in the soil of a friendly country." It is one of the most quoted reconciliation texts of the war.
- Anzac Commemorative Site (North Beach). Beneath the Sphinx, a striking eroded ridge, this is where the Anzac Day dawn service is held.
- Lone Pine. The main Australian memorial and cemetery, on the site of fierce fighting in August 1915.
- Johnston's Jolly, Quinn's Post and the Nek. Small cemeteries along the ridge road, where opposing trenches were extremely close.
- 57th Regiment Memorial and Cemetery. A Turkish memorial to the regiment that held the heights on 25 April 1915, near the front lines.
Chunuk Bair (Conkbayırı)
The summit of Chunuk Bair has the New Zealand memorial, a reconstructed section of trenches, and a large statue of Mustafa Kemal. The views over the Aegean, Suvla Bay and the Anzac ridges explain the whole battle at a glance.
Cape Helles and the south
- Helles Memorial. A tall obelisk at the tip of the peninsula, the British and Commonwealth memorial bearing the names of many thousands of soldiers with no known grave.
- V Beach and W Beach. Landing beaches near Seddülbahir, where British troops suffered heavy losses on 25 April.
- French Military Cemetery. At Morto Bay, the resting place of French soldiers.
- Çanakkale Martyrs' Memorial (Şehitler Abidesi). A massive four-legged monument above Morto Bay, the main Turkish memorial to those who died in the campaign.
Museums and Kilitbahir
- Gallipoli Epic Promotion Centre (Çanakkale Destanı Tanıtım Merkezi) near Kabatepe, with immersive displays on the campaign from the Turkish perspective.
- Kilitbahir Castle, an Ottoman fortress opposite Çanakkale, built in the 15th century to guard the narrows.
Anzac Day at Gallipoli
Anzac Day is held every year on 25 April, the anniversary of the landings. The dawn service at the Anzac Commemorative Site draws thousands of Australians and New Zealanders, followed by services at Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair. Turkish commemorations take place at the same time.
If you plan to attend, note that attendance arrangements, security and road access are organised by the authorities each year, accommodation in Çanakkale and Eceabat fills up months in advance, and nights can be cold. Visiting at another time of year is quieter and just as moving; spring and autumn are especially beautiful on the peninsula.
Visiting Gallipoli by car
A car is the best way to explore the Gallipoli peninsula, because the sites are spread along ridge roads, beaches and the southern cape. Roads within the historical site are paved and signposted, and most memorials have parking. For general tips on rules and road conditions, see our guide to driving in Turkey.
Getting there
- From Istanbul: about 4 to 5 hours to Eceabat or the Anzac area, along the Marmara coast and down the peninsula.
- From Çanakkale: take the car ferry across the narrows to Eceabat or Kilitbahir; the crossing is short and frequent.
- Via the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge: opened in 2022 between Gelibolu and Lapseki, it links the peninsula with the Asian shore further north.
How much time to spend
- Half a day: Anzac Cove, Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair only.
- A full day: the Anzac area plus Cape Helles, the Martyrs' Memorial and the French cemetery. This is what most travelers need to grasp the campaign.
- Two days: if you have family connections, want to visit specific graves, or combine with Troy without rushing.
Tips for a meaningful visit
- Consider a local guide. The landscape is quiet and many sites look alike; a knowledgeable guide, or at least good preparation, brings the stories to life. Road Trip Turkey can arrange a professional guide for the battlefields on request.
- Looking for a relative? Check the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's online records before you go to find the exact cemetery and plot.
- Dress and behave respectfully at the cemeteries and memorials; these are graves.
- Bring water, sun protection and good shoes. There is little shade along the ridges.
- Start early in summer and in the busy Turkish commemoration season around 18 March, when many domestic groups visit.
Combining Gallipoli with Çanakkale and Troy
Gallipoli pairs naturally with ancient Troy, only about 30 km south of Çanakkale on the Asian shore. The most comfortable plan is two nights in or near Çanakkale: one day on the peninsula, the next morning at Troy and its museum, then continuing south.
Çanakkale itself is a pleasant base, with a waterfront promenade, the Çanakkale Naval Museum area and good fish restaurants. From here the Aegean coast opens up: Assos, Ayvalık, Pergamon and Ephesus. Our Istanbul to Izmir by car guide walks you through this drive day by day.
Plan it as a self-drive trip
Gallipoli is usually the first major stop after Istanbul on a western Turkey road trip. A good rhythm is Istanbul to the peninsula on day one or two, a full day among the memorials, Troy the next morning, then south along the Aegean. Our Istanbul to Izmir, Istanbul–Ephesus–Pamukkale and Grand Turkey for Summer routes all pass this way, and our Turkey road trip itinerary guide shows other options.
Road Trip Turkey designs every trip around you: we plan the route, book your hotels and rental car, build in the time you need on the peninsula, and support you 24/7 on the road. Tell us your dates and what Gallipoli means to you, and we will send a personal itinerary. Read our self-drive Turkey guide to see how it works.
