Istanbul is a fantastic city to visit in its own right, and you could easily spend a week prioritizing the city itself. But due to its geographical location, it can also serve as an ideal base for a few of the best day trips around Turkey. As someone who lived in the city for years, I’d encourage anyone with a good amount of time scheduled to visit Istanbul (anything more than 4 days, let’s say) to consider some day trips, near and far. Each region, city, and site in Turkey offers unique insight into the nation’s layered culture and history.
And isn’t travel, at the end of the day, about widening our perspectives?
Now, traffic can be a big issue in Istanbul. Start your journey early if you’re keen to visit a destination on the Black Sea Coast—I can’t stress this enough. Traffic builds up quickly if you wait until later in the morning or early afternoon.
Overall, there are day-trips galore from Istanbul, so feel free to base yourself in the city, and experience a buffet of unique adventures nearby. It’s a well connected city, with so much around it for those who are willing to be on the move.
What are the best day trips to beautiful villages and beaches near Istanbul?
Princes’ Islands
The most popular day trip from Istanbul has to be to the Princes’ Islands, which are a collection of nine islands that offer a glimpse into a bit of a slower pace of Turkish life. There’s no car traffic here, for one. But you’ll also see some Victorian-era mansions that are often painted with a gorgeous pastel palette.
There are four islands that visitors can take the ferry to:
- Büyükada: Literally translating to “big island,” is the most popular, the largest, and the most developed of the islands. That’s the one to focus your attention on, mainly,
- Heybeliada: My partner Briana and I had a big soft spot for the calm vibes and ample swimming areas on Heybeliada, which made it our personal favourite.
- Burgazada: Even quieter and calmer with a strong artistic vibe.
- Kınalıada: The closest to Istanbul, it’s also the smallest and the least touristy. An ideal option for a low key day tour.
The islands are bigger than you’d think, so renting a bike is a good option when you arrive, whichever you choose to visit. They used to rely heavily on horse-drawn carriages, as well, but those are slowly being phased out for electric carts, which are also an option for exploration.
Depending on the ferry route and island that you choose to visit, getting there will take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour or so. With some amazing views along the way!
Kilyos
If it’s simply the beach feel you’re after, then the seaside village of Kilyos, technically located in the Sarıyer District of Istanbul, right on the Black Sea Coast, is a fantastic bet.
Think long sandy beaches, beach clubs with music and DJs, and a beautiful breeze. From our place near Taksim, it was only about a 45 minute or so taxi ride if we left first thing on a Saturday morning.
In fairness, there aren’t a lot of excellent public beach options near Istanbul. Consequently, I recommend paying the small entry fee to a private beach club on Kilyos (although it can add up a touch if you’re keen to get umbrellas, lounge chairs, food, and so forth). Solar Beach is known for its partying, Tırmata Beach is calmer and more family friendly, and Uzunya Beach is also on the quieter side compared to Solar.
Whenever we visited Kilyos though, we felt world’s away from the concrete of Istanbul, and that was just plain fun.
Şile
In terms of other day tour destinations on the Black Sea Coast, there are ferries that run to places like Anadolu Kavağı on the Asian side of the city, but I’ve found those to be a little too touristy.
In my opinion, you’re best to rent a car or organize private transport to visit Şile, and to set eyes on its 19th century lighthouse and local castle. It has a beach town feel, without the overtourism, largely because it’s about a 1.5 to 2 hour journey from Istanbul itself.
Ağva
If you’re really looking to dive into the coastal feel, then continue onwards to Ağva. Yes, there’s swimming here too. But the forest hikes and nearby nature are the draw for me, and who doesn’t want to get a fresh cup of steaming hot çay (Turkish tea) at a riverside cafe.
More day trips options to discover Turkey
Bursa
To me, the most underrated day tour from Istanbul is to take a ferry to Bursa. With, again, amazing views along the way! This can be done rather easily from the Kabataş or Eminönü ferry terminals, respectively, and it typically takes about 1.5 – 2 hours.
Why Bursa? Well, it’s the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. It’s filled with Ottoman-era mosques and tombs of some of the nations most noted former leaders, hence its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bursa is often colloquially called “Green Bursa” because of its volume of parks and green space, as well as access to nearby forests. In the winter, there’s actually a fair bit of winter sports that take place here! And that’ll make sense when you see Mount Uludağ in the distance.
You can spend a half-day or full-day here, and you’ll get a lot out of it. But the main highlight you must do when visiting is to go to İskender Efendi Konağı. In fact, Bursa is the birthplace of the famous dish known as iskender. It consists of sliced meat (typically lamb, or a blend of beef and lamb), topped with hot tomato sauce, and then covered in melted sheep’s milk butter, with some yogurt on top. And that’s all on top of a bed of sliced pita.
Edirne
Bursa was the first capital before Istanbul became the hub, but Edirne was the second. The main draw here is the mosques, especially the UNESCO World Heritage Selimiye Mosque. The old town in general is a joy to peruse!
Edirne is also known amongst Turkish foodies as a bit of an underrated culinary destination. The candied chestnuts (kestane şekeri) are a hit, and also the fried liver (tava ciğer). But Edirne has its own twist on the staples as well, and loves to use ample yogurt with most servings of meat. They often describe Edirne as a “Balkan food hub” because of how its cuisine has been influenced by nearby Greece and Bulgaria… Though locals will argue that their cuisine is entirely their own!
Without much traffic, you’re looking at about 2.5 hours trip to get there from Istanbul. But with traffic, you could likely add an hour to that. Ideally, you’d leave around 6-7am, and return around 6pm, so that you’re not arriving back to (or leaving from) Istanbul during peak traffic.
Yalova
Yalova, a seaside town on the shore of the Sea of Marmara, is another great bet. Its claim to fame is its thermal baths and hot springs that were a favourite of modern Turkey’s most famous leader, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. You can take a ferry here (generally 1-1.5 hours) rather easily.
Enjoy the amazing views. Visit the gardens. Drink ample tea. And if you’re feeling up for it, note that there are forests and waterfalls nearby.
In terms of accessing the thermal baths, there are both public and private options. You can do it rather inexpensively, or treat yourself to a true pampering session. Just remember to bring a swim suit!
Furthermore, if you want to learn more about Atatürk and his intense love of nature, check out “The Walking Mansion” (Yürüyen Köşk), which was built in 1929.
Tekirdağ
Finally, if wine and spirits are your forté, then perhaps Tekirdağ is the destination for you. You can rent a car (typically 2 hour’s drive if you leave early), or easily get a public transport bus (which would be more like 2.5-3 hours).
Tekirdağ is a national brand for Turkey’s most famous distilled spirit (which is flavoured like anise. You’ll need to sip on some while there, and perhaps bring some home with you. The area is also well known for its wineries, as it’s right on the historic Thrace Vineyard Route, with Umurbey Winery being the closest option. One could argue that Turkey isn’t known for its wine, per se (certainly not in the way it’s known for rakı)… But I’ve sipped on plenty of great Turkish wine. So if you were tempted to visit a few wineries, Tekirdağ is a good spot to do just that.
Day trips from Istanbul by plane
One thing that’s worth noting is that Istanbul is probably my favourite flying hub on the planet. Why? Because of the frequency of flights out of the city from Turkish Airlines, and local carriers like Pegasus. It’s quite common for folks to take day trips by plane, since Turkey is a vast country. And there’s a wide variety of distinct and diverse destinations and landscapes to appreciate.
Pamukkale, Izmir, Troy, Ephesus and more
- Konya is about 1.5 hours away by plane, and is the home of Rumi, the famed Sufi philosopher.
- Izmir is a great place to check out a very liberal, student vibe.
- Pamukkale is your spot to check out the otherworldly travertine terraces.
- Bodrum is the capital of beach fun.
- Ankara is an option for history buffs who want to set eyes on the grand memorial to Atatürk.
- Antalya is the gateway to Turkey’s southern Mediterranean region, and home to brilliant turquoise waters.
- Ephesus is home to one of the most striking archaeological sites in the nation.
- Troy is a UNESCO World Heritage site which is famously known as the setting for the Greek myth of the Trojan War.
Is Cappadocia a day trip from Istanbul?
Cappadocia, and its famous fairy chimneys, are about an hour to an hour and a half flight away from Istanbul. It’s a long day trip for sure, but it’s certainly possible. A lot of people don’t know that Cappadocia is also home to a slew of cave dwellings and ancient monasteries. To experience this, most people base themselves in Göreme, and visit the famed Göreme Open-Air Museum.
The Anatolian cuisine is also stellar here!
But it’s also worth noting that perhaps the most famous experience is the early morning hot-air balloon ride. You may want to start your journey from Istanbul to Cappadocia late at night or very early in the morning, if you’re keen to fit that in!
