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Hotel Marmara · September 29, 2026
Anzac Day and 18 March at Gallipoli: Where to Stay and How to Plan
Heading to Gallipoli for Anzac Day, or to Çanakkale for 18 March? Attendance passes, the long cold dawn vigil, road restrictions, what to pack and how to plan your nights — a practical guide from central Çanakkale.
Anzac Day and 18 March: Why Çanakkale Fills Up
For many Australians and New Zealanders, 25 April at Gallipoli is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and Çanakkale, across the Dardanelles from the peninsula, is the largest town nearby. It is not the only date that fills the town: on 18 March Turkey marks the anniversary of the 1915 naval victory and remembers its fallen, and visitors arrive from across the country. Around both dates rooms go early, ferry queues lengthen and roads on the peninsula are managed differently. We are a family-run hotel in central Çanakkale, welcoming guests since 1978, and we see these days up close every year. This guide covers what happens where, how to plan your nights and what to pack for a night outdoors. For the rest of the year, see our guide to the seasons in Çanakkale.
How Anzac Day Unfolds at Gallipoli
The day begins in the dark. The Dawn Service is held at the Anzac Commemorative Site on North Beach, just north of Anzac Cove; attendees enter during the night of 24 April and wait there until dawn. Later in the morning come the Australian Memorial Service at Lone Pine and the New Zealand Memorial Service at Chunuk Bair, higher up the same ridge. Official guidance describes a minimum of about 8 km on foot to follow all three, much of it uphill on uneven ground; in past years a limited shuttle has been offered for people with accessibility needs who pre-register. The services are organised by the Australian and New Zealand governments with the Turkish authorities, and timings are confirmed each year, so plan around "dawn" and "late morning" until the official programme is out. Expect it to be afternoon before you are back across the strait.
Attendance Passes, ID and Getting to the Site
Entry requires an attendance pass. It is free, but you must register online in advance through the official ticketing site linked from the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) and New Zealand government pages. Carry photo ID such as your passport with it: there are checkpoints on the peninsula and airport-style screening, with bag searches, at the entrances. Getting there is what people underestimate. There is no public transport to the sites, private vehicle access is heavily restricted on Anzac Day and tour coaches need their own accreditation, which is why New Zealand's SafeTravel strongly recommends booking an organised coach tour in advance. Many tours start in Istanbul; some operate from Çanakkale, about 30 km from the sites. Whoever you book with, ask whether their coach is accredited for the day. Before you fly, subscribe to Smartraveller updates (Australia) or register with SafeTravel (New Zealand).
The Turkish Commemorations Around You
25 April is not only an Anzac occasion. Turkish commemorations of the land battles begin on 24 April at the Çanakkale Martyrs' Memorial (Şehitler Abidesi), near the southern tip of the peninsula. On the morning of the 25th, thousands of young Turks join the 57th Regiment Loyalty March to Chunuk Bair, organised by Turkey's Ministry of Youth and Sports in memory of the regiment that held the line against the landing. You may well share the ridge with them. The other big date, 18 March, marks the day in 1915 when the Allied fleet failed to force the strait. A state ceremony is held at the Martyrs' Memorial, and the town and peninsula fill with Turkish visitors, school groups and organised tours. If you come in mid-March, expect busy ferries, managed roads and colder, windier weather than in late April.
Plan Your Nights: Arrive Early, Leave Late
The most common mistake we see is arriving on the day or leaving straight after the services. For the Dawn Service, the most comfortable pattern is three nights: 23, 24 and 25 April. Booking the 24th can seem odd when you will spend it on the peninsula, but it gives you a room to rest in that afternoon, a hot shower before you head out, a safe place for your luggage and a bed to return to after a very long day. Check-in is from 14:00 and check-out by 12:00. For 18 March, arrive on the 17th and leave on the 19th. Temporary traffic restrictions on 24 and 25 April can limit access to cemeteries and other areas in the Anzac and Helles sectors, so if you want to find a particular grave or walk the battlefield at your own pace, do it on the 23rd or the 26th. Troy, about 35 minutes by road, fits a free afternoon: our guide to Troy and Gallipoli from Çanakkale covers both, and our Çanakkale ferry guide explains the crossings. Above all, book early.
What to Pack for a Night on the Peninsula
There is no permanent shelter, the weather is changeable and the hours before dawn are colder than most people expect in late April. Dress in layers and bring: - Your attendance pass and photo ID - A warm jacket, beanie, gloves and a rain jacket - A sleeping bag or blanket for the vigil - Broken-in walking shoes for the climb to Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair - Non-perishable snacks - Basic first aid such as sunscreen, plasters and paracetamol, which are not provided - A small day bag and a power bank Some items will not get through the airport-style screening, so check the current restricted list before you pack. For 18 March, remember that the Martyrs' Memorial stands on an exposed hill: a warm, windproof coat is essential.
Why a Base in Central Çanakkale Works
Hotel Marmara is in the centre of Çanakkale, on Demircioğlu Caddesi. We are not on the waterfront and our rooms look over the town, but the ferry pier is within walking distance (about 20 minutes on foot) and a few minutes by car. Reception is open 24 hours, so someone is at the desk when you head out at night or come back late. An open-buffet breakfast is included, and parking is free if you want to leave the car while you join a tour. Our 38 m² Family Rooms sleep three or four, and Çanakkale Airport is about 14 minutes away by car. On the evening of the 25th, rather than facing a long drive, you can cross the strait, eat in town and sleep properly. Before you set out on either date, ask us at reception how the ferries and roads are running that day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a ticket for the Anzac Day Dawn Service at Gallipoli?
Yes. Entry requires an attendance pass, which is free but must be obtained in advance by registering online through the official ticketing site linked from the DVA and New Zealand government pages. Carry photo ID, such as your passport, as well.
Where should I stay for Anzac Day at Gallipoli?
The closest towns to the commemorative sites are Eceabat, about 20 km away, and Çanakkale, about 30 km away across the strait. Çanakkale is the larger town, with more choice of places to stay and eat, and Troy is within easy reach too. Whichever you choose, book early, as accommodation around 25 April fills quickly.
Can I drive myself to the Anzac Day services?
In practice it is difficult. Private vehicle access to the peninsula is heavily restricted on Anzac Day, there is no public transport to the sites, and only accredited coaches can drop off and collect attendees. New Zealand's SafeTravel strongly recommends booking an organised coach tour in advance.
How cold is the Anzac Day Dawn Service?
The vigil is spent outdoors overnight with no permanent shelter, and nights on the peninsula in late April can be genuinely cold, sometimes wet. Dress in layers and bring a sleeping bag or blanket, a beanie, gloves and a rain jacket.
How much walking is involved on Anzac Day?
Official guidance describes a minimum of about 8 km on foot to follow the Dawn Service with the Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair services, much of it uphill on uneven ground. In past years a limited shuttle has been available for people with accessibility needs who pre-register.
What happens in Çanakkale on 18 March?
18 March is Turkey's day of remembrance for its fallen and the anniversary of the 1915 naval victory in the Dardanelles. A state ceremony is held at the Çanakkale Martyrs' Memorial on the peninsula, and the town fills with visitors from across Turkey. If you are travelling then, book early and expect busy ferries and managed roads.