6 best day trips from Istanbul

Day trips compared

The day trips

25 km · About 1.5–2 hours by public ferry

1.Princes' Islands (Büyükada)

A chain of islands in the Sea of Marmara where private cars are not allowed. The largest, Büyükada, has wooden Ottoman mansions, pine woods and the hilltop Aya Yorgi monastery; visitors get around on foot, by bicycle or by small electric vehicles, which replaced horse carriages in 2020.

Getting there

Public ferry from Kabataş or Eminönü; faster boats from Bostancı

Best for

Families, Couples, Quiet stays

150 km · About 2.5–3 hours each way

2.Bursa

The first Ottoman capital has the Green Mosque and Green Tomb, the multi-domed Ulu Cami, the Koza Han silk market and old thermal baths. It is the home of İskender kebab, and a cable car climbs towards Uludağ mountain.

Getting there

Fast ferry from Yenikapı to the Bursa coast, then bus or metro; or intercity bus

Best for

Culture, Food lovers

235 km · About 2.5–3 hours each way by bus

3.Edirne

Close to the Greek and Bulgarian borders, Edirne was an Ottoman capital before Istanbul. Its Selimiye Mosque, which Mimar Sinan considered his masterpiece, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the town also has the Old Mosque, covered bazaars and the Kırkpınar oil-wrestling festival, usually in early summer.

Getting there

Intercity bus from Istanbul's main bus terminals

Best for

Culture, Quiet stays

30 km · About 1.5 hours by ferry from Eminönü

4.Anadolu Kavağı and Yoros Castle

The full-length Bosphorus ferry ends at the fishing village of Anadolu Kavağı near the Black Sea entrance. Walk up to the ruined Byzantine Yoros Castle for views over the mouth of the strait, then eat grilled fish by the pier before the return sailing.

Getting there

Şehir Hatları long Bosphorus tour ferry

Best for

First-timers, Couples, Families

70 km · About 1.5–2 hours by bus

5.Şile

A small Black Sea town with a hilltop lighthouse, a ruined Genoese castle on an islet and long sandy beaches. It is known for Şile bezi, a light cotton cloth, and is a popular summer escape from the city heat.

Getting there

Bus from Üsküdar or Kadıköy

Best for

Beach, Quiet stays, Families

300 km · About 5 hours each way by road

6.Gallipoli

The Gallipoli peninsula holds the battlefields, cemeteries and memorials of the 1915 campaign, including Anzac Cove and the Çanakkale Martyrs' Memorial. It is a very long day from Istanbul, so many visitors join a tour or stay overnight in Çanakkale.

Getting there

Organised tour or bus to Eceabat or Çanakkale

Best for

Culture

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• City buses reach areas without rail, such as Balat, Fener and the upper Bosphorus villages, and accept Istanbulkart.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask