Five escapes from Istanbul by car
Forest in half an hour, a lake in two. For anyone looking for an excuse to leave town.
Routes, 5 min read
One of the best things about Istanbul is how quickly you can leave it. With keys in hand, any of these is yours on a Saturday morning.
Polonezköy: forest in half an hour
About half an hour from the Asian side. A village breakfast, a walk in the woods, back in the city by the afternoon. The first choice if you only have half a day.
Şile: the Black Sea coast
About 70 km. A lighthouse, a long beach and fish restaurants. Leave early in summer: by noon both the road and the sand fill up.
Ağva: between two rivers
About 100 km, an hour and a half to two hours from the Asian side. Quiet hotels along the Göksu and Yeşilçay, canoes, and silence in the evening. It fits in a day with Şile, but a night is the better plan.
Sapanca: the lakeside
About 135 km, an hour and a half by motorway. Breakfast over the lake, the waterfall at Maşukiye, and a forest that turns gold in autumn. Start from SAW and you save half an hour.
Mudanya and Bursa: across the gulf
Thanks to the Osmangazi Bridge, Mudanya is about two hours away. A walk on the seafront, olive-oil dishes in Trilye, then İskender kebab in Bursa. In winter, Uludağ is further up the same road.
Which class?
Economy is plenty for Polonezköy and Şile. Four people with luggage heading for Sapanca or Bursa should take a midsize or an SUV: the back seat will thank you. Check the daily kilometre allowance on the class page and plan the route around it.