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With an huge number of daily flights between it and other capitals around the world, Istanbul has well and truly arrived onto the world stage when it comes to mass tourism. And while we love the historical center and the trendy districts of Galata or Beşiktaş, you’ll be surprised at how much more this region has to offer.
Istanbul is sandwiched by the Black Sea to the north and the Sea of Marmara to the south. And that means plenty of beaches that are right next to Istanbul so you won’t find yourself having to travel particularly far for beaches near Istanbul.
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When to visit
Istanbul experiences its best sunny days during the months of June to September. However, the months of May and October can also be quite temperate. This is plenty of time to find a free weekend to spend a few days at the beaches near Istanbul.
Transport
The public transportation in Istanbul is incredible, with most journeys costing between €1-2. To use the metro, bus or ferries, you must first buy an Istanbulkart and load it with money. It is necessary to have this card when traveling on public transport as it allows you to use the cashless payment system when boarding your chosen mode of transport.
It’s worth noting that the airport taxi service is actually not a bad option, especially when traveling as a couple. The fees are reasonable for the official airport taxis, and they are calculated by the taximeter, a combination of distance and time.
To give you some idea, I recently I took a 30-minute taxi ride for 25 km and it cost €12.
Easy access from IST airport (European side)
Istanbul Airport (IST) is the hub for Turkish Airlines and European budget airlines like Wizz Air and EasyJet.
Karaburun on the Black Sea
- Airport taxi: 25 minutes
- Public transport: 1 hour and 20 minutes by bus
Karaburun is a small town that is perched atop a coastal hill. This is a place where you have the vantage point to really appreciate the expanse and uniquities of the landscape. To the west of the town, the rugged cliffs remind of the famous White Cliffs of Dover in England. And to the east of the town, you can see the long, sandy beach, dotted with gorgeous cafes and restaurants.
Beach
One of the special things about the beaches near Istanbul is that they are more than just places to relax, get a tan and take a dip in the water. The beach here also doubles as a fantastic place for plane spotting. As Istanbul airport is so close, you will have non-stop entertainment during the day, if that’s your thing. Otherwise sit back and relax at the sounds of the waves.
If you’re concerned about whether the sound of the passing planes will be more of a nuisance than a joy, I can confirm that it’s not such an issue. Having said that, there are plenty of other beaches near Istanbul that don’t have planes flying overhead.
Breakfast
Kahvaltı is the Turkish word for breakfast and literally means ‘before coffee.’ But it also refers to the very specific Turkish style of breakfast. It’s reminiscent of tapas-style dining in many ways. Even if you’ve visited a Turkish city before or even Türkiye’s best beach town, there’s no excuse for not indulging in a classic Turkish breakfast when visiting.
The best place in Karaburun to get your breakfast is Gençbey, a garden restaurant offering organic, farm-to-table produce. Enjoy a selection of cheeses, jams and egg dishes, washed down with many cups of Turkish tea or çay as locals call it. Gençbey is located slightly out of town, but it’s only an easy 15-minute bus journey and you’ll be dropped right outside the door.
Silivri on the Marmara Sea
- Airport taxi: 45 minutes
- Public transport: 2 hours and 20 minutes by bus
Long known as an easily accessible beach resort for Istanbul locals, many Istanbulites own holiday homes in this beautiful stretch of the Marmarma Sea. Once a district of its own, Silivri town has now become a district of Istanbul due to the excess growth of the city.
Silivri town itself is relaxed and popular for its colorful buildings, and it also has lovely promenade for strolls along the coast. The district of Silivri stretches 30 km along the coastline, which for our purposes means there are many beaches near Istanbul to choose from in just this area alone.
Beach
Silivri Plajı (beach) is a 20-minute walk from the center of town and is excellent for swimming. It offers one of the cleanest sections of sea near to Istanbul as well as incredibly fine sand. Delightfully, there are also a fair few sunbeds scattered across the length of the beach so you won’t be fighting for a sunbed as you would on so many other European beaches.
Dinner
Sırrı Reis Balık Evi is a traditional restaurant on the harbor, offering fish and fruits of the sea. This restaurant sells the very best of locally caught produce. In my humble opinion, the standout dishes are the fried sardines, seabass, calamari and garlic shrimp. But no matter what you choose to get or where you choose to go, you’ll always be presented with a wide selection of seafood at the restaurants around the beaches near Istanbul given Istanbul is located on the border between two seas.
This is also a safe place to try one of my favorite Turkish seaside snacks, midye dolma. You’ve absolutely heard of dolma (it’s famous the world over, even in Lithuania) but this one isn’t the vine leaves stuffed with rice that you’re used to.
Midye dolma is mussels stuffed with rice seasoned with black pepper and finished off with a squeeze of fresh lemon. The only way to eat this is down the hatch in one, much like you’d eat an oyster.
Easy access from SAW airport (Asian side)
Pegasus Airlines and AJet operate most of the flights to and from Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW).
Şile on the Black Sea
- Airport taxi: 50 minutes
- Public transport: 3 hours by bus
Şile, pronounced shileh, is a historical harbor town that is famous for producing thin cloth, which is sent to the center of town and sold in the Grand Bazaar. The coastline in Şile really reminds of Cornwall, especially on a cloudy day (but I promise, it’s warmer than Cornwall at virtually all times of year).
Şile Castle, which was built by the Geonans in the 14th century, was restored in 2015 and has been ridiculed by residents and people across Turkey. They claim that the remodel was based on the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants. It might be worth visiting so you can make your own mind up about this one.
Beach
There are multiple beaches to explore if you are here for a few days, but Fusha beach is located very close to Şile old town. If you don’t take a dip while in town you will come to regret it if for no other reason than the sea is perfectly clear and the beach is fine sand. There is plenty opportunity for lounging on this beach, so bring your own towel to lay on or rent a sunbed.
Dessert
When in town you must visit Vanilya Şile, a cafe specializing in many different desserts. Grab a cup of çay and chose from one of their many sweet treats, the Biscoff pudding being a solid choice. Head out to their terrace and catch a wonderful sunset across the bay.
For some reason, Istanbul has adopted the Basque cheesecake as its own. This dessert, which is originally from San Sebastian in northern Spain, can now be found at every coffee shop in Istanbul (including those in the famous Galata district and even in upscale Nisantasi).
But who could blame Istanbulites for adopting this wonderful comfort dessert as their own. It’s normally served with fruit compote in Spain, but in Istanbul they cover it with melted chocolate to take it to that next level of delectable. Vanilya offers one of the best Basque cheesecakes that I’ve had (and I’m including San Sebastian itself in that analysis).
Büyükada on the Marmara Sea
- Airport taxi: 30 minutes to Bostanci then a 35-minute ferry
- Public transport: 1 hour and 30 minutes by metro or bus and then a 35-minute ferry
Just south of Istanbul, you’ll find the Princes islands, a chain of islands in the Sea of Marmara. Out of the four main islands that it’s possible to visit with public transport, the largest is Büyükada, or big island in Turkish.
Though Büyükada is the most developed island, once you walk past the immediate town close to the port, it feels quaint and relaxing. Many locals of Istanbul spend their summer and autumn days here to de-stress, and this place really is a relaxation bubble.
It’s incredible that you can experience true island life a mere 3 km from one of the largest cities in the world.
Beach
Due to the situation of the island, the beaches here all maintained by beach clubs which require an entrance fee. But a reasonable €10-15 per person for a day at the beach isn’t too bad when you consider the price of the average daybed in Greece or Italy.
All beach clubs serve alcohol and food, and the waters surrounding the Prince islands are excellent for swimming. These beaches near Istanbul are famed for their cleanliness.
Cafe
Consider a trip to Maple Coffeeshop, located near the harbor (which, I want to add, are often playing pre-90s music). The décor is modern, and they offer a range of drinks including, of course, coffee, tea and cakes. Istanbul’s famous cats also make an appearance here as the owner has three friendly Tabbys.
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