Most sections of Istanbul are not very suitable for cycling because it’not a city located on a plain ground and also the motorways do not allow cyclers to ride safely in all that mess. But we can stil recommend you a few routes to enjoy a bike tour, but you should be careful because the car drivers are not very familiar with bikers. Always wear your helmet and ride safely.

1 – Buyukada (Princess Islands)
You’ll see many bike renting shops in the center of Büyükada close to the marina. There are two routes for biking: One of them is Büyük Tur, which tours around the coast of the island (12 km), and Küçük Tur which is about half of the other one. With the longer route; you will have the chance to see the non-residential area of the island with a wonderful Marmara view. If you are couple, you can choose the tandem bikes. The cost is around 10 TL for a couple of hours.

2 – Kartal – Fenerbahce
The 10 km coast on the Anatolian side, has a designated road on the pavement for bikers, so you can enjoy the view of the Princess Islands and the Marmara Sea while riding your bike.

3 – Beşiktaş – Belgrad Forest
It’s a difficult route first strating in Beşiktaş from the harbour passing through Ortakoy, Arnavutkoy, Bebek and Istinye on the motorway with a wonderful Bosphorus view; then from Ferahevler to the inside of Belgrad Forest. The route takes about 3 hours one-way with a few breaks to rest; and you should better have a mountain bike to ride in the pathways of Belgrad. There are many cafes in the coast to chill on the way back to Beşiktaş.

4 – Polonezkoy BMX Cycle Track
If you like adrenaline and would like to jump on the hills and ramps of a cross track built inside the forest of Polonezkoy, this place is for you. Official races are also held here from time to time. Please find more information about the track here and about Polonezkoy here.

The island’s name means saddle bag in Turkish, deriving it from the two hilltops that embrace the lower harbours, though the Greeks called the island Chalki.

1 – Visit Halki Seminary:
Dating from 1844, it was the main school of theology of the Eastern Orthodox Church’s Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. It’s on the top of a hill covered with pines; and the harmony of the dark green and dark blue adds to the beauty of this old seminary. You can visit the monastry except on Sundays. Reservation: 0216 351 85 63 – 0216 351 84 17.

2 – Have a breakfast at Halki Palas:
It’s the oldest and the most glamorous hotel in Princess Islands dating back to 1850s, renovated after a fire in 1991. The hotel rooms have a wonderful view, it’s a good weekend break for Istanbul residents. If you are on a daily visit to the island breakfast at this hotel is highly recommended. You can also enjoy the swimming pool from June to the end of August.
Check their website here.

3 – Eat at a fish restaurant in the marina:
There are many restaurants close to the marina with good service quality and delicous food, especially fish with the combination of beautiful mezes and raki.

4 – Relax at Değirmenburnu:
It’s a picnic area with a broad view of Anatolian coast of Istanbul and other Princess Islands with a walking distance of 5 mins from the marina. A bottle of beer at the sunset would be a highlight for your Heybeliada visit.

1 – Go to Kalpazankaya:
The best way to get to Kalpazankaya is by foot, because the nature on your way is beautiful, and it takes around 30 minutes. You may also use the coach, but it would be more costly (around 15 USD one way). When you get to Kalpazankaya, under the shadow of the pines, you’ll see a wonderful foreland creeping into the sea with a wonderful view of Heybeliada. You may enjoy a lunch or a drink in the outdoor restaurant, sunset is the most recommended time for this beautiful place. During weekends, early reservation is a must.

2 – Visit Church of Agios Ioannis Prodromos:
Dating back to 830s, this church was re-established in 1896. Today, it is the parochial church of the Greek residents of Burgazada. The church is close to the center.

3 – Eat at Barba Yani:
It’s a Greek restaurant very close to the marina with delicious mezes, raki, fish and a wonderful hospitality. The music gets louder in the late hours, and you may eventually find yourself dancing on the table thanks to the music, ambiance and raki.

4 – Do Trekking and go to Bayrak Hill:
Don’t use the trackway, but use the direction with the bushes and trees to the get to the highest point of Burgazada (160m). It’s not a very difficult or long trekking route; and when you reach the top you’ll be rewarded with a 360 degrees view of the Marmara Sea including all the Princess Islands and the coast of Istanbul.

Büyük means big and it is the biggest of the Prince’s Islands. Trotsky lived on this island for four years in his exile like some of the Byzantian emperors.

1 – Rent a bike and tour the island:
You’ll see many bike renting shops in the center of Büyükada close to the marina. There are two routes for biking: One of them is Büyük Tur, which tours around the coast of the island (12 km), and Küçük Tur which is about half of the other one. With the longer route; you will have the chance to see the non-residential area of the island with a wonderful Marmara view. If you are couple, choose the two-seated bikes. The cost is around 10 TL for a few hours. You can chill out at a coffee after you’re done– Kahve Dünyası which is a coffee chain close to the marina having a good view, relaxing atmosphere and decent Turkish coffee.

2 – Visit Church of Saint George (Aya Yorgi):
Dating back from 1750s, the church is located on the top of a hill overlooking the island and the coast of Istanbul. You can reach very close to the church by a coach or by a bike; but the last 100 m of the route is a very steep one, and you should walk till the top. The church is a small and an old one but what you get is the wonderful view; while enjoying the scenery, you can eat at the outdoor restaurant, and taste the house wine.

3 – Jump on a coach and tour the island:
If you’d like to have a nostalgic tour in the island; you may hire a coach and make the Büyük Tur or the Küçük Tur. It would be more costly than a bike (around 30 YTL for half an hour journey).

4 – Eat Ice Cream at the Market:
Roma Dondurmacısı has the most popular ice cream in the island. Ice cream with figs and mastika are highly recommended.

1 – Burç Beach:

Originally as a private facility of Boğaziçi University for the graduates, Burch Beach does not strictly require this university’s IDs. If you’re not permitted ask for Dalia Beach which is also in Kilyos. The sea is usually rough, and this offers a great fun; you should do “body surfing”on the waves. International kiteboard championships are held here, and if you stay till sunset, you will have the chance to bump into some concerts or festivals like “Electronica Festival” held in July for 2 days.

2 – Altınkum (Golden Sand):

Being a cooling facility for Istanbul residents from 1930s, this beach is now run by a private enterprise. On weekdays it’s open for only women, so, on some weekends it’s likely to be overcrowded, so try to get there as early as possible. There’s a decent cafe in the facility, but you should also consider one of the fish restraurants by the seaside from the beach to Rumeli Kavagi.

(0212) 325 55 83

Marmaracik Koyu, Rumelifeneri

3 – SuADA:

If you want to swim in the middle of Bosphorus on a floating swimming pool, Suada is the matchless option. Suada is a floating club in the middle of Bosphorus with a splendid 360 degrees İstanbul view.  The restaurants and the bars on the facility are of good quality; the music gets louder in the late hours of the noon.

Click here for the info about location. 

4 – Kamos Beach Club – Kınalıada:

Princess Islands offer many beaches to İstanbul residents, and Kamos could be a good alternative, because the facilty has also a swimming pool apart from the beach. It’s on a very quiet bay surrounded by green trees on the back part of the island; the nature is beautiful and relaxing.

Kamos is in Kinaliada – in one of the Prince’s Islands, you can get there by ferries departing from Bostanci or Kabataş.