Beaches Near Istanbul, Turkey

Looking for a nice, uncrowded beach with clean, warm water and good facilities within a short ride of Istanbul?

So are most of the city's other 12 million residents, so beaches near Istanbul are apt to be crowded on any warm summer day.

Here's are Istanbul's beaches, from nearest to farthest:

Florya & Ataköy
Florya and Ataköy, on the European shore of the Sea of Marmara not far from Atatürk Airport, are the city's traditional summer getaway spots, accessible by banliyö (suburban) train on the Halkali line from Sirkeci Station. Unfortunately, neither the beaches nor the land facilities are in good condition these days.

Başakşehir Aquapark
Here's a way to cool off and have fun easily: Backpackers Travel operates reasonably-priced full-day tours to the Aquapark. You are picked up at your hotel after breakfast, driven in an air-conditioned vehicle to the Aquapark (a one-hour ride), and returned to your hotel in time for dinner. Admission to the Aquapark, lunch, and a dolphin show are included in the tour fee. More...

Princes' Islands
There are a few tiny beaches on the Princes' Islands, and people with boats row away from the shore and swim there, but these places are really mostly for people who know how and when to go to them. Still, if you're going to the islands—especially for overnight—take your swim things. More...

Kilyos
Kilyos on the Black Sea is accessible by city bus, minibus, fast ferry or traditional ferry and minibus. The water can be chilly, but it's refreshing on a hot day. Facilities are adequate. More...

Şile & Ağva
Şile (that's SHEE-leh) and Ağva (AH-vah) are nice long, wide beaches on the Black Sea coast 72 km (45 miles) northeast of Üsküdar. Take Bus 139 (Şile) or 139A (Şile & Ağva) from the Harem Otogar.

In summer there are about 27 buses per day in each direction (Harem-Şile and Şile-Harem) on the 139 route starting at 06:30 am, with the last bus returning from Şile to Istanbul at 24:00 (12 midnight).

Bus 139A, Harem-Şile-Ağva, has 15 trips daily in each direction, from 06:00 am to 20:30 (8:30 pm).

Farther Beaches
Other beaches, such as those near Tekirdağ west of Istanbul, the islands such as Marmara and Avşa in the Sea of Marmara, the Gallipoli peninsula and the northern Aegean coast, are really beyond a day-trip from Istanbul.

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Turkey's Best Beaches

The beach at Kilyos, on the Black Sea 23 km north of Istanbul's Galata Bridge.