The experience in a nutshell
On Turkey’s north-western coast, where the Aegean Sea meets the narrow straits of the Dardanelles, a low hill rises above the plain that once decided the fate of empires. This is Troy, the city Homer immortalised in the Iliad, its walls the setting for a 10-year siege, a wooden horse and one of the world’s most enduring stories. Yet despite its fame, the Trojan War was no more than a blink in the city’s many thousands of years of history.
Explore the ruins with the site’s own Director of Excavations at your side, step through an award-winning museum built to bring Troy’s remarkable history to life, pause for lunch in the ‘archaeo-village’ of Tevfikiye, and close the day at the Sanctuary of Smintheion, an ancient temple to Apollo carved with scenes from the Iliad itself.
Is it for me?
This is for travellers who feel the pull of the ancient world, whether through Homer’s verses or the wave of interest sparked by Christopher Nolan’s 2026 film The Odyssey. If you want history brought to life by someone who has spent decades in the trenches of Troy’s excavation, rather than read from a guidebook, this experience delivers that in full.
Give me the details
Troy’s own storyteller
You will walk the ruins with Prof. Dr. Rüstem Aslan, Director of Excavations since 2013 and widely regarded as the living voice of Troy. His decades of work here helped to secure the site’s UNESCO World Heritage status and shaped the museum that now tells its story.
Nine cities, one hill
Troy reveals more than 4,000 years of history, with successive cities built upon the remains of their predecessors, dating back to 3000 BC. The Museum of Troy – opened in 2018 and widely regarded as one of Europe’s finest archaeological museums – brings the archaeology, mythology and daily life of Troy into sharper focus, from the Trojan War to the region’s status in the Ottoman era.
Tevfikiye, the ‘archaeo-village’
After visiting the site and museum, pause for lunch at Tevfikiye, an ‘archaeo-village’ just beyond the ruins, designed to evoke the world of Homer’s Iliad. Don’t miss the opportunity to sample Gülabi, a signature regional dessert.
The Sanctuary of Smintheion
End the day with a visit to the Sanctuary of Smintheion, a Hellenistic temple complex dedicated to Apollo Smintheus. Designed around 150 BC by Hermogenes, it carries a series of friezes depicting scenes from the Iliad.
How long will I need?
Allow a full day to visit the Museum of Troy, the archaeological site itself and the Sanctuary of Smintheion, with free time for lunch in Tevfikiye.
When’s the best time to go?
Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable conditions for exploring the site on foot, avoiding the height of summer heat.
Where does it fit into my wider travels?
Troy can easily be inserted into a wider Turkey itinerary. We’ve included it in our our signature, expert-curated Turkey journey, ‘Legends of the Aegean’, but it could just as easily be added to a journey along the Black Sea coast or paired with visits to Istanbul, Ephesus or a stay along the Turquoise Coast.
