Choosing your beach
- A half-day of sand and open sea: Kilyos, on the Black Sea, 1h30 to 2 hours from Taksim by metro and bus.
- A full day with sightseeing: Şile and Ağva, further along the Asian Black Sea coast, with a lighthouse, a castle and rivers.
- Swimming without leaving the city: the beaches of the residential neighbourhoods of the Asian side, on the Sea of Marmara, such as Caddebostan and Suadiye, popular for their calm water according to travel guides.
- A beach with island charm: the beach clubs of the Princes' Islands.
Kilyos, on the Black Sea
Kilyos (Kumköy) is the closest beach for wide stretches of sand. Take the M2 metro to Hacıosman, then İETT bus 151 (40 to 45 minutes); allow 1h30 to 2 hours from Taksim, using the Istanbulkart. Three areas go by the name of Kilyos: the Kumköy village beach, open to all; Gümüşdere, a free beach without shops, a few kilometres away; and Burç Beach, a paid beach club with lifeguards.
Prices vary a lot by establishment. According to travel sites in 2026: a municipal beach such as Uzunya Sahil, 40 TL on weekdays and 60 TL at weekends; Tirmata Beach, 250 to 300 TL; Solar Beach, 650 TL on weekdays and 950 TL at weekends. These are benchmarks, not official rates. For details, see our Kilyos page.
Şile and Ağva
Şile, on the Black Sea coast, has a long sandy beach, a lighthouse and a castle on an islet; Ağva, 30 to 45 minutes further on, is surrounded by forests and two rivers, the Göksu and the Yeşilçay. Public bus 139 links Üsküdar with Şile (about 1h30 to 2 hours) and line 139A continues to Ağva (about 2 to 2.5 hours). The road is very busy on summer weekends: go on a weekday. Our Şile and Ağva page details the day.
Beaches on the Asian side
On the Asian side, on the Sea of Marmara, residential neighbourhoods such as Caddebostan and Suadiye have laid-out beaches where you can swim quietly, according to travel guides. They are easy to reach from the centre, but used more by locals than by tourists. Information on water quality and entry fees changes with the season: check before you go. To get to the Asian side, see our guide to Kadıköy and the Asian side.
The Princes' Islands
On Büyükada, Heybeliada and Kınalıada, paid beach clubs open in summer: Yörükali Plajı and Blue Beach on Büyükada, Ada Beach Club and Aqua Green Beach on Heybeliada, Kamo's Beach Club on Kınalıada. The public ferry takes 1h45 from Kabataş to Büyükada; our page on the Princes' Islands gives the schedules and fares. It is the simplest option for combining a swim with a stroll on a car-free island.
Summary table
| Beach | Sea | Access from the centre | Beach access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kilyos | Black Sea | M2 metro + bus 151, 1h30 to 2 hours | Free or paid depending on the spot |
| Şile | Black Sea | Bus 139 from Üsküdar, 1h30 to 2 hours | Free and private sections |
| Ağva | Black Sea | Bus 139A from Üsküdar, 2 to 2.5 hours | Free and private sections |
| Caddebostan, Suadiye | Marmara | Asian side, Marmaray or ferry | Varies |
| Princes' Islands | Marmara | Ferry from Kabataş, 1h45 | Paid beach clubs |
Safety and practical tips
- Swimming season: lifeguards are on duty from mid-June to mid-September in supervised areas. Out of season, do not swim.
- Black Sea: the water is cooler than in the Mediterranean and currents are strong, even in fine weather. Swim between the flags, treat a red flag as a closed sea and keep children within arm's reach.
- Summer weekends: roads to the Black Sea are jammed, buses are full from the morning and beaches packed by noon. Leave early or go on a weekday.
- Getting back: check the time of the last bus or ferry. For the transport card, see our guide to transport in Istanbul.
- Dress: in town, as in mosques, cover up when leaving the beach. Public beaches are mixed, but some private beaches are reserved for women and children.
- Be prepared: bring water, sunscreen and a little cash for small snack stands. To choose the time of your stay, see our guide to the best time to visit Istanbul.
Going further
For a family trip, see Istanbul with kids. To lighten the budget, our free things to do in Istanbul list walks and parks without tickets. For the summer programme, see our festival calendar.
