Çanakkale-1915 Bridge

The Çanakkale 1915 Bridge (1915 Çanakkale Köprüsü) spans the Dardanelles Strait between Lapseki on the Asian shore and Gelibolu on the European shore, connecting the two continents at one of the most historically significant waterways in the world. Opened on 18 March 2022 — the 107th anniversary of the decisive Ottoman naval victory in the Dardanelles Campaign — the bridge holds the world record for the longest suspension bridge span, with a central span of 2,023 metres, a measurement chosen to reference the centenary of the Turkish Republic in 2023.

The bridge's main towers rise 318 metres above sea level, making them the tallest bridge towers in the world at the time of construction. The scale is most appreciable from the Asian shore near Lapseki, where the approach road offers clear views of both towers against the strait. The bridge carries six lanes of motorway traffic and has transformed journey times across the Dardanelles, eliminating reliance on ferry crossings for overland travellers between Europe and Asia.

Driving across takes approximately five to ten minutes and costs TRY 220 / ~$6.40 for a standard vehicle, payable via the OGS electronic toll system. The experience of crossing the Dardanelles at speed, with the strait visible beneath and the hills of Çanakkale Province stretching to either side, has made the bridge a notable attraction in its own right. An observation area on the Lapseki side provides the best vantage point for photography of the full span. Sunset and evening crossings are popular for the illuminated tower view from a distance.

Visitors without a private vehicle can view the bridge from the Çanakkale shoreline or from the Çanakkale–Lapseki ferry (TRY 40 / ~$1.15), which passes beneath the bridge and provides the closest non-road viewpoint of the towers.