Ah, how wonderful it feels to feel the sand while lying under the sun and enjoying cold drinks and something to go with it. My favorites: A tray of fruits with sparkling water or a seafood platter with a big mug of cold beer.
When we talk of the best beaches around the globe, Turkey cannot slip one’s mind. It is home to some of the best sandy shores, especially beaches in Istanbul.
The country, surrounded by three beautiful seas of Aegean, Mediterranean, and Black Sea, is full of pristine beaches adorning its geography. No matter which tourism hotspot you might be, it will have a beach where you can spend some lazy time with your near and dears. After all, it is not a summer vacation if you don’t go to a beach and get a tan, right?
Applying sunscreen, feeling the sand while walking, and playing volleyball with friends or hunny ball with your children make up for a beautiful experience. These moments will always put a smile on your face whenever you take a trip down memory lane.
While speaking of beaches, we have to talk about the beautiful metropolitan city of Istanbul, a financial and tourist hub of Turkey.
So let’s discover the top 6 best beaches in Istanbul where you can bask in the sun!
#1. The Famous Blue Lagoon, oka Ölüdeniz:
Sitting in the laps of mountains and valleys, the Blue Lagoon offers a marvelous beach experience. You can do paragliding here or enjoy the turquoise and blue hues of the lake. Walking on the soft sand or swimming in the clear waters is what makes Blue Lagoon a tourism hotspot.
Located in Istanbul’s Fethiye district, the lagoon lies some 20 kilometers away from the city center. You can take a taxi or a minibus transport services, which is way cheaper.
Getting to the beach is not troublesome at all. Also as the lagoon lies away from the city center, a pleasant and calm experience awaits you. For thrillseekers, there is a lot you can do than just put your feet in the water or go for a swim in the pristine waters.
For excursions, the lagoon is famous for paragliding. Many companies provide paragliding services at the beach, so you can easily get a good deal. If paragliding is not your thing, you can also get a motorboat to ride in the waters. Riding a motorboat is thrilling and exciting as you can travel the coastline and see the lagoon’s scenery more vividly.
#2. The exotic Golden Beach Istanbul:
Located in Rumelis Hisari, where the Marmara and Black Seas meet, Golden Beach offers a magical experience.
It is lined with beautiful huts and some of the best Istanbul beach resorts, which you can book if you want to spend more than a day. For families, these beach huts are very comforting. You can get them at a reasonable price, and they are pretty clean and well-maintained.
Those who want to indulge can activities can choose to play volleyball, go paddle boating, and even mountain climbing.
You can also find a classic beach bar at various spots, where you can sip on your favorite mocktail and dance to the music.
#3. The enchanting Heybeliada beaches:
Istanbul is also known for its enthralling Princes’ Islands, a cluster of nine islands in the Marmara Sea. Heybeliada is one of the nine islands and the second-largest with beautiful beaches and historical architecture of the Byzantine era and is the greenest island of them all.
The island’s administration prohibits motor vehicles in order to protect its environment from pollution. One can travel through the island using electric scooters. You can also book tours to see the historical heritage of the island and other museums depicting different eras.
You can reach the island by taking ferry services from Bostancı, Beşiktaş Eminönü, Kabataş, and Kadıköy.
It takes about 90 minutes to reach the island from the European side. And it takes only 30 minutes from Bostancı, lying on the Asian side.
Speaking of the beaches, you can explore Değirmenburnu Beach, German Bay, Akvaryum Bay, Aqua Green because, and especially the Ada Beach Club.
The Ada Beach Club is a complete package in itself. One can see the pine grooves, spend time at mini-golf facilities, and play at the volleyball court.
#4. Visit Büyükada beaches for a lifetime experience:
Home to some of the most spectacular and cleanest beaches, Büyükada is one of the largest of Istanbul’s archipelago. Local and foreign tourists travel to the island to cool off the sweltering summer heat.
Out of the many beaches adorning the island, Halik Koyu, Aya Nikola, Yada Beach, and Prenses Koyu stay on top of the list of travelers.
Halik Koyu beach is considered the cleanest beach on the island. One of the famous Istanbul beach resorts company, Eskibağ Hotels, runs the beach. With a camping and picnic area, you can have a wonderful time here while swimming in the cleanest waters. It is definitely among the safest Istanbul swimming beaches.
Aya Nikola beach is known to be the calmest one on the island. This is a free public beach, which can get crowded at times. The waters of this beach are pretty calm and not wavy, so the swimming experience is the best here. Options for fine dining experience are also available, as many luxurious hotels line the area.
The island is best for those looking to travel and see the beauty around them while having a good vacation at the beach.
#5. Kadıköy’s Caddebostan beach:
Located in Kadıköy, one of the most laid-back neighborhoods of Istanbul, Caddestan beach is popular among local and foreign visitors.
Kadıköy is a tourist attraction on the Asian side of Istanbul, and the beach catches the eye of visitors exploring the district. Hot summers and the urge for a pleasant and serene experience attract people to the beach.
You can rent an umbrella and chair at the beach for a nominal price (changes as per season) and bask in the sun. With a chain of eateries near the beach, you can enjoy a chilled bear with a seafood platter or barbeque some meat while enjoying cold drinks as you like.
To have an umbrella shielding you from the sun while you lie down on the sand and feel the breeze running your hair is the most relaxing thing one could experience.
#6. Serene Sile beach:
Lying some 70 kilometers from Istanbul, Sile has some of the most serene beaches where people can have a wonderful time.
Sile Central Beach is a tourist attraction run by different Istanbul beach resorts, one of them being Green Park. Istanbulites weary of the heat often take their tents and chairs to spend a night at the beach. You can also book a beach hut, especially if you are not a local. Accommodation at these beach huts is quite reasonable and cheaper than at the hotels.
There are also quite many restaurants offering seafood, burgers, beers, and more. But those coming with their families prefer sitting at the table and barbequing meat and chicken, in particular, “kofte,” meatballs.
Akcakese Beach is another one that is quite famous in Sile. Quieter than other beaches, it is perfect for camping. With a small bar nearby, it is best if you prefer barbequing. You will probably see Turkish people with small gas stoves, which they use to make tea, and grilling meat on charcoal.
You might also want to purchase beach water shoes as the stones will poke you as you leave the sand and enter the water.
For those who do not want to bother about cooking themselves, cafes nearby are wonderful too. The people working there are very friendly and helpful. You will always see a smile on their faces.
To wrap it up:
Istanbul is Turkey’s tourism hub. Therefore, the country invests a lot in making the experience of tourist worth the while. Transportation is easy, ferry services are available for the convenience of tourists, and eating places are everywhere.
The beaches in and near Istanbul are easy to reach. You can use a minibus service or rent a car to get to the beaches on the outskirts of Istanbul.
You will always find delightful packages at Istanbul beach resorts, including breakfast options, lunches, and dinners. If you are there, you must try the authentic Turkish kahvaltı (breakfast) platter. It will have cheese, olives, Turkish flatbreads (stuffed with spinach, minced meat, or potatoes), some jams, and many other delicious bites.
Beaches near Istanbul offer a calm experience, especially on the Princes’ Islands. If you are in Istanbul, you have to explore the archipelago. While you trail through its streets on e-scooters and explore the historical heritage, a day at the beach will complete the visit.
Istanbul’s archipelago is also famous for destination beach weddings. Istanbul beach resorts offer quite many options to make your dream wedding come true. With so much beauty around, those seeking a beach wedding should consider Princes’ Islands beaches.
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