Places to Visit and See Near Istanbul

We continue our series of educational and informative articles under the slot gacor heading of places to visit near Istanbul. Although it is not long-term, we will list the locations for you, away from the crowd of the city, where you can get away from traffic and other negative factors, and where you can relax, so to speak. It is clear that we enjoyed describing these beautiful places, each more beautiful than the other. I hope you will be as happy as we are when you see these places. Without further ado, let’s enter our text of places to visit near Istanbul.

MAŞUKİYE, İSTABULDERE

Maşukiye Town, located somewhere between Izmit and Sapanca, near the skirts of Kartepe Mountain, is almost a paradise with its waterfalls and stream beds. It is a place where you can warm up by the fireplace and have sweet conversations, especially in the winter months, and in the summer months, you can meditate on the banks of the creek, cool off under the mighty trees and have a good time. Famous for its eating and drinking facilities, open buffet and mixed breakfasts, and live trout facilities, Maşukiye can be a getaway place for weekends where you can escape from the noise and chaos of the city. While walking along the creek in the early hours of the morning, you can rest your soul with the soothing sound of fresh water and have your breakfast against this extraordinary view. Speaking of which, don’t miss out on buttered trout, pan-fried meat and mushrooms with cheddar. Because it is a very enjoyable feast.

Maşukiye and Kartepe and Yuvacık destinations are in the form of a village environment intertwined with nature. In addition to its rich cuisine, we would like to give good news to those who are interested in extreme sports. Of course, time does not pass by constantly eating, we also need to burn the food we eat. Again in this region, there is an extreme sports facility called Maşukiye Masal Park. Wouldn’t you like to experience the joy and excitement of descending from the sky to the earth by bicycle? Or Zipline over cool waters? With the ATV engines you will rent, you can make a quick transition from the unique nature and take pictures under the tree and landscape you want. In this region, which is very rich in outdoor sports activities, we are sure that you will both do sports and make the most beautiful holiday.

KIRKPINAR, SAPANCA LAKE

Kırkpınar Village, close to Sapanca Lake, is a place where touristic activities are quite high and concentrated on the shore of this lake, where there are walking paths, cafes and restaurants. In the early hours of the morning, after your walk in the reedy areas around the lake, breathing in the fresh air, you can take a break for eating and drinking at the two facilities with lovely gardens on the lake shore. Again, it is possible to stay with your surroundings in tree houses, bungalows and villas in this region.

POLENEZKÖY

For nature lovers and people who dream of a life in touch with nature, the backyard of the mega city Istanbul, green and its tones; Polenezköy is one of the rare places hidden in forested lands. This is a village that you can easily reach by following the signs after using the Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridge, passing through the Kavacık direction and passing the Acarkent locality. You can take a walk in the uniquely beautiful forest and dine at the venues. These places also offer self-catering facilities. You can buy your meat, cucumber ingredients, potatoes and even your barbecue here. A nice afternoon nap on the grass or in the hammocks hanging between the trees.

ŞİLE HIDDEN LAKE

Şile, which is one of the districts where the Anatolian Side of Istanbul meets the Black Sea, is a beautiful holiday destination that can be visited both in summer and in winter. Beaches where you can enjoy the sea, sand and sun trio in summer, forest areas where you can have a picnic in spring, hundreds of shades of green, is an excellent alternative spot where you can evaluate your weekends. You can reach Istanbul, which is famous for its historical Şile Castle, Şile houses and Saklı Lake, and the famous Şile cloth, with its smooth roads, in less than an hour, by your own vehicle. You can also take advantage of beaches such as Ağlayankaya, Uzunkum and Ayaz for a day. You can do trekking around Saklı Lake, which is in the opposite direction of the beaches we have mentioned. You can also take advantage of the restaurant and food and beverage services at the cafe in Saklı Göl. You can also rent a barbecue and table. Have a nice holiday in advance.

A ĞVA

It is a wonderful campus where you can distance yourself from daily troubles and problems on the banks of the lush green land and the river, without being too far from Istanbul, away from the chaos and noise of the city, and which will allow you to reach your inner peace with its silence. Agva has accommodation facilities neatly lined up on the banks of the Göksu River. There are also restaurants as well. This region, which is frequented by romantic couples, can also be considered as a honeymoon region. You can go canoeing with your spouse or lover, take a tour with the sea dolphins on the river, and plan a nice dinner organization, prepared with care and accompanied by candlelight, for the evening. Long story short, love people will love this place too much. This holiday place, which is very popular in the first spring and autumn months, and in the summer months, you can enjoy the sea, sand and sun to the fullest thanks to the beaches around Ağva.

BÜYÜKADA

After a short journey without getting far from Istanbul, let’s tell you about Büyükada, which is an indispensable and unique beauty that will make you feel as if you are not in Istanbul, but in an Aegean town or in a completely different place. Transportation to Buyukada is provided by sea. You can reach by ferry or motorboats departing from Kadıköy pier, Bostancı, Eminönü Pier or Beşiktaş Pier. After arriving in Büyükada, if you like it, you can start your trip with ice cream. Because its ice cream is quite famous. After arriving at the bazaar, you can tour the island by carriage, and if there are those who say they want to live healthy, you can rent a bicycle and set out for the Small Tour area. There are quite a few historical buildings on the island. While examining these buildings, you can feel yourself in a time machine, do not worry and enjoy these beauties. These magnificently beautiful mansions really have extraordinary architectures. If you are going to Büyükada during the summer months, public beaches and private beaches await you. You can choose the one you want among many options.

BURGAZADA

After the death of the famous Macedonian ruler Alexander the Great, Burgazada took its name from the castle built by Demetrius, who was in charge of the administration of this region. But we would not be lying if we say that this candidate is identified with Sait Faik Abasıyanık, the unique storyteller of Turkish Literature. Abasıyanık, who frequently talks about the people of Burgazada, its unique streets, and the effect of island life on human life in his stories, is indeed one of the most important writers in the history of Turkish literature.

There is definitely a reason why we talk about him so much. The house he lived in while he was in Burgazada is a two-storey white mansion with a bay window. It has a unique look. The trees around it add a different beauty to the house and its garden. It has now been converted into a museum. Moreover, according to Abasıyak’s will, the entrance is completely free. There are personal belongings of Sait Faik Abasıyanık inside.

Well, if you have time while you are here, we strongly recommend you to watch the sunset.

Another church on the island is Aya Yani Church. This structure, which has a stylish architecture that should be seen, awaits its visitors. In fact, Aya Yani Church was built in 842 AD, but it was restored by the Ottoman Empire because it was damaged in the earthquake. A long and thin dome,

This is exactly here, the highest point of the island, and at this height is the Aya Yorgi Monastery. The view is really worth seeing. With its historical texture and perfect view, we would like you to visit it.

Marta Bay, located on the island, is a little different from the other islands in the Prince Archipelago, covered with sun loungers and summer cottages. It has a natural beach. It is also possible to camp in the area if you have a tent and the necessary inventory.

It takes its name from Madam Marta, who is said to have lived here and ended her life with her own hand.

FOREST NATURAL LIFE PARK, KOCAELİ

With its natural habitats, Ormanya Wildlife Park, which is spread over an area of close to four thousand acres, is a world-ranked park. Ormanya Wildlife Park, which is the third largest natural life park in the world, is the largest natural life park in Europe. It consists of seven main areas, including the Zoo, Wildlife Area, bike trails, walking areas, tent and caravan parking areas, a nature school and a wildlife recovery rescue center. This park, which proves that we humans are not the only living things on earth, is a wonderful place where you can write your vast experiences and observe other living things in their natural environment, apart from non-domestic pets. We strongly recommend that you go.

BALLIKAYALAR NATURE PARK

On the way from Istanbul to Ankara, you can easily reach Ballı Kayalar Nature Park by exiting the Dilovası turn after about half an hour on the highway. This nature park is in Gebze Tavşanlı Village. It is perfect for holiday lovers who are engaged in climbing sports, which is one of the extreme sports. You can do rock climbing in Honey Rocks Valley. There is also a river in the region. Since it provides the opportunity to have a picnic around this stream, it is very popular with the residents thanks to this feature.

DARICA HOBBIT VILLAGE

Have you ever wondered about the home of the hobbits, the lovable character from the well-known Lord of the Rings movie series? Let us tell you what kind of a place this lovely village in Turkey is.

There are fifteen different hobbit houses in this village, which is located in the Martyr Er Gökhan Hüseyinoğlu Beach Park area in Darıca district. Its architecture and interior designs are also very interesting. Apart from the hobbit houses, many opportunities and facilities will be waiting for you, our valued guests. You can reach this park, which includes various playgrounds, picnic areas for picnickers, areas where sports activities such as tennis, football and basketball can be done, in approximately forty or fifty minutes from the Anatolian side of Istanbul with your individual vehicle. In this park, which has a coast to the sea, there is a walking path of about four kilometers along the coastal road. There is also a bike track available. With the possibility of renting a bicycle, you can have a good time on the beach.

YUVACIK DAM AND KARAASLAN CAMPING AREA

By using the Istanbul and Ankara highway, after leaving Izmit, we pass the dam lake on the Yuvacik hills and take you to a new stream and waterfall region. As we have mentioned, this region is a point where lakes and waterfalls abound. You can choose the one you want among dozens of restaurants and trout facilities and perform your eating and drinking activities. Many places also have a self-catering option. After you have your meals, there are walking areas where you can trek along the creek. You can remember that you are free by swinging on the swing built on the streams. Not to mention that you remember your childhood and relapse.

ACARLAR LONGOZU, POYRAZLAR LAKE NATURE PARK AND MINING STREAM

These three places, which are a habitat and ecosystem where water and forest are intertwined, are more beautiful than the other. Acarlar Longoz, Poyrazlar Lake Nature Park and Maden Stream, which are among the natural places quite close to Istanbul, where you can meet with more than one beauty at the same time on a day trip, are waiting for you, our valued guests, to be discovered. Walking on the bridges built on the water in the Longoz forest, which is in the water, adds a different feeling and experience. You can reach these three beautiful places within the borders of Sakarya province in about two to two and a half hours from Istanbul by your private vehicle.

ERIKLI HIGHLAND, DOUBLE WATERFALL AND BOTTLE LAKE

You can reach this uniquely beautiful place on the Çınarcık hills within the borders of Yalova province in approximately one hour from the Istanbul Osmangazi Bridge. These three natural paradises we have mentioned, Erikli Plateau, Double Waterfall and Dipsiz Lake are intertwined and within walking distance. This place, where you can find yourself after walking a little way out of Istanbul, away from chaos and noise, and see hundreds of shades of green and blue at the same time, is also very suitable for day trips.

GOLCUK NUZHETİYE WATERFALL

Located in Nüzhetiye, a charming village in Kocaeli’s Gölcük district, where you can do the best hiking and trekking sports you can reach in about an hour and a half, this waterfall will sweep you off your feet with its magical atmosphere. It is another pleasure to eat trout cooked in a casserole at this facility located in Nüzhetiye Waterfall, where you can collect lots of photos and memories. We also recommend the sprinkled village breakfast.

KERPE AND KEFKEN, KOCAELİ

Let us tell you a little bit about Kerpe and Kefken, these unique places that make you feel as if we are in the North Aegean, due to their climate and sea, despite being in the Marmara Region. Compared to Şile and Ağva holiday resorts in Istanbul, you go to this place, which is easier to reach, to Kocaeli by using the Istanbul highway. After about fifty kilometers from here, you can reach Kerpe, this charming holiday resort adorned with the azure sea and pine forests at the back. It is not possible to feel the effect of the combative Black Sea here. Because Kerpe, which is a closed cove, is like a bed sheet, even in its most violent times. Imagine a shallow, deep blue sea, still and clear. We are sure that you will think that they did not call it the Bodrum of the Black Sea for nothing. Well, of course, there are certain reasons why he has such an adjective. The fact that it is a more modern place than the other beaches in the Black Sea reveals how it deserves this name. Not to mention that it was mentioned frequently in the past! This place was a frequent destination for many of the young people living in Turkey for a while. It is also frequently mentioned in terms of human quality.

TEKIRDAG SARKOY, UÇMAKDERE AND MÜREFTE

“Well, we were going to go to Tekirdağ and eat a meatball, when did the subject come up around here?” It is one of the natural life routes that can be visited and seen, which is said and returned and is way above your expectations. Şarköy, Uçmakdere and Mürefte are a pleasant stop for those who walk in nature, and a delicious stop for those who love meatballs.

KIYIKOY, KIRKLARELİ

Kiyikoy, which is connected to the Vize district of Kirklareli, is a Black Sea town similar to Kilyos, Sile, Riva and Agva in Istanbul, which can be described with plenty of greenery and the lush and clear sea of ​​the forest. There are two separate beaches here. You can choose whatever you want. Kiyikoy has been recognized as the first regional protected area by the state and is under protection. We have good news for those who are interested in fishing in Kazan and Pabuç streams. Because it is possible to catch freshwater fish such as trout, carp and mullet in the streams. There is also the possibility of renting a small motorboat or boat for those who want to take a stroll on the creek, and it is quite enjoyable. Especially in the spring months, it is a frequent destination and popularity for people who do trekking. You can also go to Kiyikoy as a day trip. Tour companies organize tours to this region almost every day. If you want, you can join these tours and travel with a guide and do trekking. If you say you don’t need a guide, you want to travel and see it yourself, you can discover the legendary beauties of these untouched lands.

NEEDLEAD

Located about two hundred kilometers from Istanbul, this town is worth seeing, although it is not very close. It is a point connected to Demirköy district of Kırklareli province. This region, which has a coast to the Black Sea coast, contains extraordinary natural beauties. To give an example of the extraordinary beauties we have mentioned, there is the Dupnisa Cave in Igneada, through which underground rivers flow. Again, the Longoz Forests, which can be considered as a forest in a pond, the Igneada Harbor where you can taste the fresh and famous Black Sea fish, and the 20-kilometer-long Igneada beaches where you can enjoy the very clear and clean sea, especially in summer. When I tell you, believe me, we also suffered.

CUMALIKIZIK, MUDANYA, TRILYE, LAKE ULUBAT AND GOLYAZI TOWN

Bursa is the city where these magnificent places are located. Great places to visit on a weekend trip or as a day trip. Bursa has a coast on the Marmara Sea. Therefore, these locations we have mentioned can be a good route for you. The authentic town Cumakızlık, Trilye with its unique beauty and air, Mudanya with its magnificent beach, these places where you can catch the peace on the shores of Ulubat Lake are really worth seeing.

KENT FOREST, KARAAĞAÇ MERIC RIVER AND EDİRNE

In Edirne, which can be easily reached after a highway journey that takes about two hours after leaving Istanbul, you can have a stomach feast with the famous Edirne liver, and after seeing the Selimiye Mosque and the famous Karaağaç train station, you can throw yourself to the banks of the Meriç River. You can read a book and enjoy the unique silence while watching the Meriç River. Perfect for resting your soul! The urban forest should not be forgotten either.

LAKE ABANT AND ABANT NATURE PARK

Abant Lake and Abant Nature Park, where you can feel like you are in a postcard and make those around you envy with the photos you take, the magnificent views of the lake shores, very lush forests, and a home of peace with all kinds of shades of green; An escape route is a wonderful place where you want to break away from daily life for a moment and live the moment without even thinking about the future. It can also be preferred as a day trip.