You want to get away from the hustle and bustle of Istanbul, but you have to get to work or school on Monday… It’s alright! Nature is closer to you than you think. Beautiful, natural wonders are waiting for you, where you can go and return with your family or friends without even consuming a tank of gasoline!
Kocaeli, Kandira
Kandıra, which is only 146 kilometres away from Istanbul, stands out for the serenity you’re looking for. If you have been to Kandira, which generously offers its blessings in the spring months, you can stop by Sarisu, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the unique view of Kandira. Another frequent destination is Kefken… When the sun starts to set in the evening, Pink Rocks will offer you a visual feast. If you have time to stay here, you can choose Kandıra hotels or Kefken hotels. Accessing many more beauties to be discovered in Kocaeli is as easy as choosing one of the Kocaeli hotels.
Bolu, Yedigöller (Seven Lakes)
Yedigöller is the place you seek for trekking and camping, with both its formation and its lakes, each of which has its own unique beauty and characteristics. In Yedigöller National Park, it is possible to go to Kapankaya Mountain Peak and watch the lakes to your heart’s content. There is also a monumental tree here, don’t pass by without seeing it.
Yedigöller is a well-known, protected and must-see beauty… This place is almost an award bestowed on Bolu and its surroundings. In Yedigöller, which has been in the status of a national park since 1965, sportive hand-line fishing is carried out between May and September every year. You may also want to attend this event while you are there.
You can reach Yedigöller, which is 305 kilometres away from Istanbul, after an average of 4 hours by car.
Istanbul, Ağva
If you live in Istanbul and haven’t seen Ağva yet, how about spending the weekend with a short trip?
Ağva is the charming holiday town of Istanbul, famous for its nature on the Black Sea coast. It is a frequently visited town in terms of both its proximity to Istanbul and touristic places.
The most important one among the symbolic structures of Ağva, Crying Rock, or alias Gelin Kaya, will be the first place you will see on your trekking route. Karacaköy Beach is a natural harbour known for its calmness. If you go there for one day, there are many beaches you can choose to swim in. Apart from Karacaköy Beach, Doğancılı Beach, Sofular Beach, Kurfallı Altı Beach, Sahilköy Beach offer beautiful options for you.
Getting to Ağva is also much more comfortable than you might think… You can dive into the cool waters of the Black Sea from Ağva beaches in 1 hour. If you do not want to return from these places immediately, you can quickly book your place by checking out the Ağva hotels!
Kırklareli, Kıyıköy
Kiyikoy is a fishing town in the Vize district. The beauties waiting for you in Kiyikoy, where green and blue meet, will spice up your weekend! In addition to its natural beauties, this region is also famous for its historical assets.
The Monastery of St. Nicholas is at a distance that you can reach by walking on a day-trip. The monastery, which is 800 meters away from the center, is located on the shore of Papuç River. This monastery was carved into the rocks between years 527-565. When you walk past the monastery, you will come across Kıyıköy Castle. It is known that the castle was built by the emperor who built the monastery. The town, which was established between the Kazan and Pabuç rivers, which is a first degree natural protected area, offers a natural habitat for many species.
If you want to visit Kiyikoy, which is about 155 kilometres away from Istanbul, you can choose among the Kiyikoy hotels for accommodation!
Bursa, Tirilye
Tirilye is a very old Greek village in Mudanya district. Tirilye is a town that has been ruled by Ancient Rome, Byzantium and Ottoman throughout history and has many historical structures. When you see these structures, you will feel like you are in a museum.
If you want to visit historical buildings such as Kemerli Church, St. Vasilios Church, Dündar House, Taş Mektep, Fatih Mosque, Ottoman Bath, Kapanca Harbour, you can stay in Tirilye hotels. According to your preference, you can choose any of the hotels located in narrow streets or hotels with sea view.
You can reach Tirilye, which is approximately 176 kilometres away from Istanbul, in 2.5 hours by car. It’s also possible to go with a ferry from Istanbul, as it has a coast to the Marmara Sea…
Kırklareli, Igneada
When one thinks of the natural beauties close to Istanbul, one of the first places that comes to mind is Igneada. Here, the forests overlooking the Black Sea coast are under water during the rainy seasons and are covered with small lakes in the summer months. These forests, which are home to hundreds of animal and plant species, are beautiful enough to store energy after city life. You can reach the depths of the floodplain forest by rowing in the lake, and watch the birds from the birdwatching tower with the help of binoculars and telescope.
You can reach Igneada, which is about 240 kilometres away from Istanbul, in 4 hours by taking one tank of gasoline at most. If the road gets tiring, you can choose among the Igneada hotels to stay and book your room!
Bursa, Gölyazı
Gölyazı, which was established on the peninsula, was the capital of the Apollonaia. Gölyazı, a nostalgic town where you can feel history in every street, still hosts Turkish and Greek cultures together. Having an authentic architecture, Gölyazı is almost a work of art that also offers suitable materials for photo safari.
If you want to go to Gölyazı from Istanbul with your private vehicle, a 180-kilometer road will be waiting for you. If you wish, you can also prefer the ferry. If you have come this far, you should definitely join the tours organized from Ulubat Lake to the islands. If you don’t want to worry that the day is ending, Gölyazı hotels are ready to welcome you!
