Day trips from Istanbul: the 10 best

Istanbul is an excellent starting point: in a single day you can go from the islands of the Sea of Marmara to the forests of the Black Sea, or head up to the old Ottoman capitals. This guide ranks ten trips by journey time, from the easiest to the longest, with what you do at each and how to get there. Timetables, fares and frequencies of boats and coaches change with the season: check them before you leave.

The trips at a glance

Trip	Journey from Istanbul	Best for
Princes' Islands	1 h to 1 h 30 by ferry	everyone, families
Belgrad Forest	about 1 h by public transport	hikers, joggers
Polonezköy	1 h 30 to 2 h	nature, lunch in the countryside
Şile	1 h 30 to 2 h	beach and Black Sea
Ağva	2 h to 3 h	river, beach, quiet
Bursa	1 h 50 by boat, plus a bus	Ottoman history
İznik	about 3 h with a boat and a coach	ceramics, walls
Edirne	2 h 30 to 3 h by coach	Selimiye Mosque
Troy and Gallipoli	about 5 h by coach	history, battlefields
Cappadocia, Ephesus	domestic flight	multi-day trip

Times are approximate, from central Istanbul; they depend on traffic, which can double the journey on weekends.

1. The Princes' Islands

This is the easiest trip: a city ferry leaves Kabataş or Eminönü for Büyükada, the largest island, which has no cars. You get around by bicycle or horse-drawn carriage, among wooden villas and pine groves. Our Princes' Islands page details the piers and which islands to choose.

2. The Belgrad Forest

North of the city, the Belgrad Forest (Belgrad Ormanı) is Istanbul's great green space: oaks, marked trails, Ottoman dams (bent) and stone aqueducts. You reach it by public transport from metro line M2, then a minibus or bus to the villages at the entrance. Bring good shoes; barbecues are only allowed in the designated areas.

3. Polonezköy

This village on the Asian side was founded in 1842 by Polish exiles. Today it is a village of wooden houses surrounded by woods, with Polish and Turkish restaurants and forest walks. Connections go through Beykoz or Üsküdar; find out the bus lines before leaving.

4. Şile

On the Black Sea, about 70 kilometres east of Istanbul, Şile is known for its 19th-century lighthouse, sandy beaches and cotton cloth (Şile bezi), embroidered by the town's women. The simplest way is a coach or minibus from Üsküdar or Ümraniye; in summer the beaches are packed on weekends.

5. Ağva

Further along the same coast, Ağva sits at the mouth of two rivers, including the Göksu, which you can paddle down by boat. The village is appreciated for its calm, fish restaurants and beach. It is a trip to make on a weekday, with an early start.

6. Bursa

The first Ottoman capital and its Grand Mosque, the Green Mosque, the Koza Han caravanserai and the UNESCO-listed village of Cumalıkızık can be seen in a day. The fast boat to Mudanya or Güzelyalı is part of the experience. All the details are in our day trip to Bursa.

The Green Tomb of Bursa, clad in turquoise tiles

7. İznik

Nicaea, on its lake, keeps its walls, a Byzantine basilica turned mosque and a ceramics museum. It is easily visited in a day, or together with Bursa, an hour away by coach. See our day trip to İznik.

The Hagia Sophia mosque of İznik

8. Edirne

A former Ottoman capital on the border with Greece and Bulgaria, Edirne is famous for Sinan's Selimiye Mosque. The round trip by coach is possible in a day, but plan to leave early. Our day trip to Edirne gives the details and the specialities to taste.

The Selimiye Mosque in Edirne

9. Troy and Gallipoli

This is the farthest trip in this guide: Troy and the Gallipoli battlefields, on either side of the Dardanelles, are about five hours away by road. One-day tours are possible but tiring; a night in Çanakkale is preferable. See Troy and Gallipoli from Istanbul.

10. Further afield: Cappadocia and Ephesus

Cappadocia and the Aegean coast cannot be done in a day: you need a domestic flight and at least two nights on the spot. Our guides Cappadocia from Istanbul and Ephesus and Pamukkale from Istanbul compare planes, buses and the number of days to allow.

How to choose

A half-day or an easy day: the Princes' Islands, or a Bosphorus cruise.
A fan of Ottoman history: Bursa, then İznik or Edirne.
A stay of more than four days: add Troy and Gallipoli, or Cappadocia.
With children: the islands and the Belgrad Forest; our guide Istanbul with children suggests others.

Practical tips

Leave early, especially for journeys of more than two hours: the last return services leave in the late afternoon or early evening.
Avoid Friday midday in mosques and weekends for the Black Sea beaches.
Coaches leave from the big Esenler bus station (metro line M1) or from stations on the Asian side; see our guide to getting around Istanbul for the Istanbulkart and connections.
Budget: compare with the budget for a trip to Istanbul; boat and coach fares vary by season.