Troy is known from Homer's Iliad. Today the hill of Hisarlık is an archaeological site and part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Visible are walls from different eras, built on top of each other.
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A day trip to the archaeological site of Troy, a UNESCO World Heritage site: settlement layers, myth and history. What to know before you book.
Troy: myth and real city
Troy is both: one of the most famous settings of ancient literature and a real archaeological site. Homer made the Trojan War world-famous in the Iliad. But myth and archaeologically provable history are not the same. That the war happened exactly as in Homer is not proven.
4,000 years of history
Troy looks back on around 4,000 years of history. UNESCO describes the site with settlement phases from the early Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine times. That is why Troy does not look like a city from a single year: each phase built on the remains of the previous one.
What the offer includes
According to the offer description, you travel as a day trip from Istanbul to Troy and visit the excavation site with explanations. The provider states about 18 hours. The tour is guided in English according to the offer. Pick-up is available with selected options; times, meals, entrance fees and transfers depend on the booked variant and should be checked on the offer page.
If you would like to visit Troy in a single day, you can find current dates and availability here.
Myth and history
Archaeologists distinguish several settlement layers because each phase arose on the remains of the previous one. Which of them fits the myth of Achilles and Hector is still a matter of research. Visitors to the ruins see remains of different Troy phases without having to know the layers Troy I to IX by heart. A good guide keeps this clearly separated.
Heinrich Schliemann and the "Treasure of Priam"
Heinrich Schliemann began the first excavations here in 1870 and made Troy internationally famous. From today's perspective his excavation methods were problematic and destructive: he dug deep trenches through the layers. He found the so-called "Treasure of Priam" in 1873. It later turned out to come from a layer (Troy II) about a thousand years before the period to which the Trojan War would be assigned. So it does not belong to Homer's Priam.
UNESCO World Heritage
Troy has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. On site you see walls, different settlement layers, archaeological structures and the landscape. Whether a museum is part of the programme depends on the specific offer. The wooden horse at the entrance is a modern replica, not a find; it recalls the story from the epic.
The long journey
As with Gallipoli, the drive is long. Plan a very long day and bring sun protection and water.
What guests highlight
Reviews often mention the explanations on site and the atmosphere of the excavation site, in our own summary.
Who is it for?
For archaeology and history fans. Less suitable for small children or if you only have a few days in Istanbul.
In short
- About 18 hours according to the provider
- Another day trip for history lovers: Gallipoli from Istanbul
- Weather and travel season: Best time to visit Istanbul
All experiences, tickets and tours are collected on our activities page.
– Amra
