The 12 best day trips from Istanbul

Thanks to its rich cultural tapestry, endless attractions and an incredible dining scene that covers every budget, Istanbul is a place you might never want to leave.

But those who venture beyond the (sprawling) city limits will discover beaches, forests and charming towns not far away. Indeed, gazing upon the Sea of Marmara might be the perfect antidote to the clamor of Türkiye’s largest metropolis.

To spur your imagination, here's our list for the best day trips from Istanbul.

1. Soak up Polish culture in Polonezköy

Travel time: 1 hour
How to travel: By car or bus

Set amid a beautifully wooded nature park, Istanbul’s “Polish village” was founded by Polish emigrants in the mid-1800s, and retains a small population of Polish speakers to this day. The village’s sights include a Polish church (Our Lady of Częstochowa) and cemetery, as well as a historic home that’s been converted into a small museum of local memorabilia.

Most visitors come here to while away a late morning or afternoon over brunch or a barbecue picnic at one of Polonezköy’s numerous restaurants. A few have Polish specialties like pierogi on the menu, alongside Turkish dishes. A stroll in the woods on the walking path (yürüyüş parkuru) that starts from the edge of town is a great way to work up an appetite.

How to get to Polonezköy: It’s about a 1-hour drive, depending on traffic, to Polonezköy from central Istanbul. The closest public transportation hub is Kavacık, on the Asian side of the city near the second bridge. A taxi ride from here takes 20 minutes or so.

2. Hike the trails of Belgrad Forest

Travel time: 1 hour
How to travel: By metro and bus

The 13,590-acre Belgrad Forest (Belgrad Ormanı) at the northern edge of the city is beloved by Istanbul’s walkers, runners, mountain bikers and picnickers. Most visitors stick close to one of the nine nature parks within the forest, where there are picnic tables, parking and other facilities. But when you venture off on any of the dozens of trails, you’ll have the serene greenery nearly all to yourself.

Bring a GPS, as the trails are not marked. Tucked away amid the trees, you’ll find seven Ottoman dams, some of them quite grand, dating as far back as 1620 and built to supply water to the city through an extensive system of aqueducts and channels. The Atatürk Arboretum within the forest has lakes, walking paths and nearly 2000 different kinds of trees and plants.

There are rustic cafe-restaurants by the parking lots of Ayvat Bendi, Falih Rıfkı Atay and other nature parks within the forest, along with plenty of places for self-catered picnicking. A strict no-food-or-drink policy is enforced within the Atatürk Arboretum.

How to get to Belgrad Forest: Take the metro (M2 line) from Taksim to Hacıosman station and then the 42HM bus to reach Bahçeköy, the nearest settlement to the forest. From Bahçeköy, you can walk into the forest or catch a taxi to the more popular picnic areas. (Getting a taxi back out can be trickier, however.) For Atatürk Arboretum, get off at the Kemerburgaz Yolu bus stop just before the village center. The trip from Taksim metro station takes about an hour.

3. Hit the beach in Kilyos

Travel time: 1 hour 30 minutes
How to travel: By metro and bus

About 35km north of Istanbul’s historic districts, the Black Sea coastal village of Kilyos is surrounded by some fine stretches of sand that draw city crowds in their droves on summer weekends. Fish restaurants, cafes and ice cream shops overlook the main beach that’s below Kilyos’ center.

Though the beach is free to the public, it’s not always spotless. Many beach clubs in the area charge a daily fee in exchange for sun loungers, umbrellas and parking, along with on-site bars and restaurants that sometimes host lively DJ parties in the evenings. Burç Beach is one of the best of the bunch. Note that Kilyos gets very popular on summer weekends and holidays. Visit during the week if you want a calmer experience.

How to get to Kilyos: The 151 bus runs roughly every 30 minutes from Hacıosman metro station to Kilyos. You can also take a bus to Sarıyer (25G from Taksim, 25E from Kabataş, 40B from Beşiktaş or 25 from Hacıosman metro) and then a dolmuş (shared taxi) to Kilyos. The trip takes about 1.5 hours if traffic isn’t too bad.

4. Sip wine in the vineyards of Thrace

Travel time: 3 to 4 hours
How to travel: By car 

Wine grapes have been grown since ancient times in Thrace, a region shared by Türkiye, Bulgaria and Greece – and Turkish winemakers continue to keeping that tradition alive. A dozen boutique vineyards have banded together to create the Thrace Vineyard Route (Trakya Bağ Rotası), bringing attention to the area’s wines, as well as its cuisine, history and natural landscapes. Most offer tours and tastings while some have fine restaurants as well.

How to get to the Thrace Vineyard Route: The main areas for wineries are around Tekirdağ, Şarköy, Kırklareli and Gelibolu, each within a 3- to 4-hour drive from Istanbul. A few vineyards, including Arcadia, Barbare and Vino Dessera, have boutique-hotel-style accommodations and offer package stays inclusive of all food and wine.

5. Hop the ferry to the Princes’ Islands

Travel time: 1 hour 30 minutes
How to travel: By ferry

A scenic ferry ride away from the city, the Princes’ Islands (known as Adalar in Turkish) provide a favorite outing for both Istanbul residents and visitors. They brim with historic mansions, scenic views, small beaches and waterfront seafood restaurants, all with a relaxed seaside vibe.

The largest of the four main islands, Büyükada is also the most popular with visitors; its hilltop Church and Monastery of St George is elaborately decorated with Greek Orthodox iconography and has grand panoramic vistas. Neighboring Heybeliada has lush pine groves and its own landmark monastery. Less-visited but no less lovely are bucolic Burgazada and beach-dappled Kınalıada. No cars are allowed on the Princes’ Islands (which lends much to their charm) – so be prepared to walk or rent a bike on the serene but hilly streets.

Seaside cafes, ice cream shops and (largely interchangeable, often overpriced) fish restaurants abound around the harbor area of each island. Kalpazankaya around the back of Burgazada has a sublime setting and better-than-average meze and seafood, while Heyamola Ada Lokantası on Heybeliada is generally regarded as one of the islands’ best restaurants.

How to get to the Princes’ Islands from Istanbul: City-run Şehir Hatları ferries depart from the Kabataş docks to the four main Princes’ Islands, calling at Kadıköy en route. Departures are almost hourly in summer from around 7am to 11pm or so, and less frequent in winter; there are also a handful of daily departures from Beşiktaş. The trip takes roughly 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on your destination. Avoid visiting on summer weekends and holidays if possible, as the ferries and the islands can be packed.

6. Enjoy the coastline of Şile and Ağva

Travel time: 3 hours
How to travel: By ferry and bus

The seaside towns of Şile and Ağva, along the Black Sea coast east of Istanbul, make for a charming, low-key escape. Şile’s distinctive, striped lighthouse from the 19th-century stands guard over a rugged coastline. It’s near the town center, which has an active fishing harbor and beaches to either side.

Ağva also has a beachfront, but it’s better known for its two meandering rivers, where you can canoe or fish. The green woods around Ağva have hiking trails and waterfalls. Both towns have a variety of accommodations – pensions, hotels, cabins and camping – if you want to continue your relaxation for longer than a day.

How to get to Şile and Ağva: Take a local ferry from Eminönü, Karaköy, Kabataş, or Beşiktaş to Üsküdar, where you can catch the 139 bus to Şile or the 139A to Ağva (passing through Şile). Buses leave every hour or so. From Istanbul, it takes approximately 3 hours to Şile and 3.25 hours to Ağva.

7. Head to the mouth of the Bosphorous Rumelifeneri and Garipçe

Travel time: 1 hour 30 minutes
How to travel: By bus or by metro and bus

The fishing village of Rumelifeneri sits at the far northern point of Istanbul, where the Bosphorus meets the Black Sea; its namesake lighthouse was built in 1856 to monitor the strait during the Crimean War. Nearby are the evocative ruins of a 17th-century fortress and arsenal, with waves crashing below its twin turrets and the remnants of its walls.

Even less is left of the fortress in the village of Garipçe, approximately 2 miles south. The two villages are popular spots for İstanbullular to have a leisurely weekend breakfast or fish dinner by the seaside. Both also have small beaches: while neither is particularly inviting, you might spot surfers riding the waves off of Rumelifeneri.

How to get to Rumelifeneri and Garipçe: The 40 bus runs from Taksim to Rumelifeneri, stopping in Garipçe en route. Alternatively, take the metro (M2) line from Taksim to Hacıosman station and then transfer to the 150 bus, which also goes to both villages. The one-way journey takes approximately 1.5 hours either way, but if traffic is bad (as it often is), the second option will probably be quicker.

8. Enjoy the woods, hills and hikes of Termal

Travel time: 1 hour 30 minutes
How to travel: By ferry and car

The wooded hillside town of Termal, about 40km across the Sea of Marmara from Istanbul, serves up waterfalls, lakes and hiking trails to take in all the natural beauty. Yet the place is best known for its hot springs, which can be enjoyed at hammams (Turkish baths) and other spa facilities. In the nearby city of Yalova, you can visit the Karaca Arboretum and the Yürüyen Köşk, a small waterfront mansion once used as a summer house by Atatürk, the founder of the modern Turkish Republic.

How to get to Termal: İstanbul Deniz Otobüsleri runs multiple car ferries a day (roughly every 2 hours between 7:45am and 9:45pm) from Yenikapı to Yalova. From Yalova, it’s a 14km minibus or taxi ride to Termal. Travel time is about 1.5 hours.

9. Appreciate the architecture in Edirne

Travel time: 3 hours
How to travel: By coach

The western border city of Edirne was once the capital of the Ottoman Empire (after Bursa and before Istanbul). It boasts what many consider to be the crowning work of Mimar Sinan, the architect who designed many of Istanbul’s most famous mosques and other monuments: the UNESCO-listed Selimiye Mosque, whose proportions and details add up to an architectural masterpiece.

Edirne’s cultural patrimony also includes a 15th-century hospital and medical school complex, a beautifully restored 1906 synagogue, and numerous other grand mosques and small museums.

The city is also famous for its Kırkpınar oil-wrestling festival, a uniquely Turkish sporting tournament held annually in late June or early July. There are plenty of hotels in Edirne if you want to extend your stay.

How to get to Edirne: Numerous travel companies run frequent, comfortable coach services from Istanbul’s main bus station (upstairs from the Otogar metro stop on the M1 line) to Edirne. The journey time is about 3 hours.

10. Explore a waterfront castle in Anadolu Kavağı

Travel time: 2 hours
How to travel: By ferry

A former fishing village clinging to the water’s edge, Anadolu Kavağı is today the terminus of the long Bosphorus tour (uzun Boğaz turu) on one of Istanbul’s ferry boats. Approximately 2 hours each way, the voyage is a spectacularly scenic ride past waterfront palaces, mansions and fortresses.

Upon arrival, passengers have just under 3 hours to explore Anadolu Kavağı before the return trip – plenty of time to hike to the ruins of its castle, which overlooks the windswept Black Sea – and stroll back through town for a bite to eat in one of the fish restaurants by the harbor.

How to get to Anadolu Kavağı: Daily tours with the city-run Şehir Hatları ferry company depart from Eminönü at 10:35am, returning from Anadolu Kavağı at 3pm.

11. Savor the seaside districts of Yeşilköy and Florya

Travel time: 1 hour
How to travel: By metro and light rail

The seaside suburb of Florya is home to the Atatürk Marine Mansion (Atatürk Deniz Köşkü). A striking modernist building sits on pillars in the sea, it served as a summer house for Türkiye's founding father Mustafa Kemal Atatürk; today, it operates as a small museum. Nearby is the Florya Güneș Plajı beach club; just a bit inland is the Florya Atatürk Ormanı, a large public park with plenty of play areas, picnic tables, trees, and cycling and walking paths.

To the east of Florya along the Marmara Sea, the pleasant, village-like neighborhood of Yeşilköy has a charming harbor area, historic wooden homes and churches tucked away in its backstreets (the late-19th-century St Etienne Latin Catholic Church is open to visitors daily), plus lots of restaurants and cafes. The Istanbul Aviation Museum in Yeşilköy, on the edge of the old Atatürk Airport, is a primarily open-air display of military planes and equipment.

Yeşilköy and Florya are connected by a long waterfront promenade and park frequented by local families out for a picnic or a stroll. The path passes by the Istanbul Aquarium, which hosts more than 1500 aquatic and terrestrial species; an old-fashioned amusement park (lunapark); two small public beaches with minimal facilities; and various spots to rent bicycles, scooters and pedal cars.

How to get to Yeşilköy and Florya: Take the metro (M2 line) from Taksim to Yenikapı and then transfer to the Marmaray rail line, which stops at Yeşilköy (across from the Aviation Museum), Florya Akvaryum (by the aquarium) and Florya (close to the Atatürk Marine Mansion). The whole trip should take less than an hour each way.

12. Soak in the thermal springs of Bursa

Travel time: 2 hours
How to travel: By ferry and bus or taxi

A bustling modern metropolis and Türkiye's fourth largest city, Bursa retains a wealth of important monuments from its days as the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Think grand mosques, historic markets and the ornate mausoleums of the early sultans.

The area’s thermal springs flow into some of Bursa’s hammams and spa hotels. Uludağ, the “great mountain” that towers over the city, offers skiing in winter, wooded hiking in summer and a ride on the world’s longest cable car any time of the year. Though you can visit Bursa on a long day trip, its attractions are sufficient to merit an overnight stay at one of the city’s many hotels.

How to get to Bursa: BUDO and İDO ferries make the roughly 2-hour journey from Istanbul (departing from Eminönü and Yenikapı, respectively) across the Sea of Marmara to Mshiudanya around six times a day. From Mudanya, take a bus or taxi the final 20 miles to central Bursa.