Where to go for the weekend? What are the places to visit near Istanbul? Weekend getaway

MUDANYA

The first address for places to visit near Istanbul is Mudanya, a charming district of Bursa. We are not exaggerating when we say "near Istanbul"; it takes about 95 minutes to get to Mudanya from Istanbul by sea bus.

When you go to Mudanya, be sure to visit the Armistice House (Mütareke Evi), the Tahir Pasha Mansion, and the beautiful Trilye, which is 11 kilometers from the center. You can easily reach Trilye in 15-20 minutes by minibus. Also, don't forget to spend time in Halitpaşa Neighborhood, also known as the Cretan Neighborhood or the Greek Neighborhood, and get lost in the warm atmosphere of its wooden mansions and narrow streets.

CUMALIKIZIK

Located 11 kilometers from the city center of Bursa and attached to the Yıldırım district, this beautiful village should definitely be on your list of places to visit near Istanbul. With its colorful, bay-windowed old houses and its lack of concrete structures, Cumalıkızık is a route that can make almost anyone interested in history, architecture, and photography happy.

If you want to start the day with a good breakfast in Cumalıkızık, which is also famous for its morning breakfasts, you should be in the area before 10:00 AM to secure your spot at a place you like. After that, you have a whole day to explore the streets inch by inch.

YEDİGÖLLER

Our next stop is one of the pearls of the earth located in Bolu: Yedigöller National Park. Highly preferred by campers, Yedigöller National Park invites its guests to discover the perfection of nature with the thousand and one colors it hosts in autumn. As the name suggests, you can camp around one of the seven lakes in Yedigöller National Park, or you can visit the region for a day trip and enjoy trekking routes, the famous rainbow trout, and fishing.

ARMUTLU

Armutlu is a good choice for times when you are tired of Istanbul, whether it's for swimming in the sea in the summer or visiting thermal springs in the winter. Armutlu, one of the regions that comes to mind when thermal holidays are mentioned, is located quite close to Istanbul. Armutlu, which can also be reached by sea from Istanbul, is ideal both for those who want to benefit from the healing properties of thermal waters and for those who want to take a short break from city life in one of the most enjoyable districts of Yalova.

İĞNEADA

Located just a few hours away from Istanbul, İğneada is a complete reservoir of peace with its calm atmosphere and natural beauties. This small corner of paradise, attached to the province of Kırklareli, is an ideal choice especially for nature lovers and those looking for a peaceful getaway. İğneada is home to the Longoz Forests National Park. You can choose it for camping, and you can go for pleasant walks and have picnics. Canoeing is one of the most enjoyable activities you can do.

EDİRNE

Edirne is one of the most beautiful routes in Thrace that can be visited at any time of the year with its historical texture, the bays of Saros Bay, natural wonder picnic areas, and delicious cuisine. In the center of Edirne, there are many architectural structures where cultural trips can be made for history buffs. The most famous of these are, of course, the Selimiye Mosque and the Grand Bazaar.

SAPANCA

Sapanca is located in the province of Sakarya. Located 20 km from the center of Sakarya, Sapanca is a neighbor to Kartepe, one of the districts of Kocaeli. To the west of Sapanca is Kartepe, to the north is Serdivan, to the east is Arifiye, and to the south are Geyve and Pamukova. Sapanca is 2 hours away from Istanbul and is one of the most important tourist centers of the Marmara region. For this reason, it is among the most preferred routes for weekend holidays from Istanbul and the Marmara region.