Where is Şarkoy and How to Get There?

When we head east, to Thrace, from Istanbul, Şarköy is placed in the south. A charming town on the shores of the Marmara Sea. If you prefer to drive, it takes about 2.5 hours. If you prefer the bus, it is approximately 3.5 hours. If you are going to Şarköy by private vehicle, do not miss eating meatballs at Tekirdağ meatball restaurants on the way.

Şarköy Center

Şarköy is one of the most popular touristic routes in this region with its center and surrounding historical villages. In the center of the town, there is a large square and a cute street. Along this street, you will come across various cafes, shops, ice cream shops, pubs, and restaurants. We recommend that you meet the friendly people of Şarköy and chat with the local vendors. You can taste and shop many flavors unique to this region. The region is especially famous for its olives, grapes, and wines. Also, do not pass without trying the ice cream shops of Şarköy. Other local delicacies you may enjoy include lakör börek and peynir helvası. All these delicacies and the shopping opportunities offered by the shops are budget-friendly options. If you want to swim, Şarkoy has the longest beach in Turkey. It is also one of the cleanest beaches in the Marmara region.

Kartaltepe Nature Park

The natural park, which is 40 kilometers from the center of Şarköy, spreads over an area of ​​approximately 2500 square kilometers. If you have been away from nature for a long time, you can find peace by leaving yourself to this vast forest and this park where it meets the sea. There is also a paragliding option as well as a cable car trip. In addition, you can have a pleasant picnic with your loved ones, eat at barbecue restaurants, take nature walks, and enjoy the view. Nature Park has located 40 km from Şarköy.

Gazikoy

The entire Gaziköy neighborhood is a protected area. The reason for this is that it has a serious historical background and the entire region is a carefully protected and important archaeological site. There are many Byzantine churches and houses from this period in the village, which is 25 km away from the center of Şarköy. Magnificent beauties are waiting for you to discover in the village, which fascinates not only with its history but also with its nature. You can reach the village in approximately 30 to 40 minutes by minibusses departing from the center of Şarköy.

Uçmakdere

Uçmakdere is an old Byzantine settlement and a region inhabited by Greeks for many years, so there is a centuries-old viticulture tradition. There are many vineyards around and it has an amazing view. When you come here, you should not leave without seeing the monumental trees. The most interesting activities in the region are paragliding and camping. Uçmakdere is approximately 30 km from Şarköy. It is possible to reach here in approximately 40 minutes by the Süleymanpaşa buses departing from Şarköy.

Yenikoy

Yeniköy, which is a pleasant travel route with its magnificent sea views from the hill, old Ottoman houses adorning its streets, and its peaceful atmosphere, is approximately 40 km away from the center of Şarköy. It is possible to do paragliding here in fine weather.

Hoşköy

It is a cute area with summer houses, walking paths, fishermen, fruit trees, and flower gardens. Hoşköy is 20 km from the center of Şarköy. It is also home to the French-built Hora Lighthouse, built in the 1800s.

Eriklice

Eriklice is a very rooted and rich region in terms of natural, historical, and cultural aspects. So much so that even in Ancient Greek mythology, it appears as the region where Heracles, son of Zeus, lived. With its olives, grapes, delicious fish, and sea views, Eriklice is a rising value that more and more people discover. You can reach Eriklice in about 10 minutes by minibusses departing from Şarköy.

İğdebağlar

İğdebağlar is a cute village where Greek immigrants still live today. It gives peace with its lush nature, sea, and forest. It also has a special texture with Greek houses from the past. You can reach İğdebağlar by buses departing from Şarköy. Transportation to the village, which is about 5-6 km away from the center of Şarkoy, will take at most 10 minutes.

Chateau Kalpak Vineyards

Chateau Kalpak Vineyards, which are cared for meticulously just like French vineyards and where high-quality grapes are grown, are 10 km away from the center of Şarkoy. Located on a small hill, the vineyard offers a fascinating view. Here you can tour the vineyards and reserves and taste the wines produced by professional hands.

Mürefte

Mürefte, which is a summer town 10-12 km away from Şarköy, can be visited on hot summer days to enjoy the sea, sand, and sun, and to have a pleasant wine-tasting tour. The olives of the region are also quite famous. Mürefte, which has been inhabited since 2000 BC, is famous for its fertile lands and vineyards. In addition, its sparkling and clear sea is also quite impressive. It is possible to visit the vineyards and taste delicious wines in the region known as the wine beach. Mürefte is especially famous for its white wine. The small square in the coastal area is also very active, especially in summer. In this square, there are options such as fish restaurants, a long pier, a grocery store, and a market.

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You can easily reach Ağva either by public bus 139A from Üsküdar or by renting a private car. Your journey will take 1 to 1.5 hours from the city center. It can be extra crowded on weekends. For this reason, you can also choose weekdays for a quieter holiday.

You can enjoy the sand and sun on the beaches of Ağva. These beautiful beaches have fine, clean sand. Although it is possible to enter the sea from this point, we recommend that you do not enter. The reverse wave prevailing along the entire Black Sea strip in Ağva, located on the Black Sea coast, is a type of wave that can be life-threatening even for those who know how to swim. Instead, you can take a canoe or pedalo trip in a still bay. We also recommend you take nature walks to discover the rich nature of Ağva.

Lighthouse

There is a fairly small but active lighthouse in Agva. This lighthouse is located just in the middle of the river and the sea. You can take a beautiful photo with the lighthouse, the mysterious companion of the sea.

Ağva Port

When the Black Sea is mentioned, there comes fishing to mind. This does not change for Ağva, which is located in the easternmost part of the Black Sea. The fishing boats and rowboats at the confluence of the river and the sea offer a landscape as if out of a painting. You can sit here and enjoy a cup of tea.

Hacıllı Waterfall and Gürlek Cave

Ağva is a magnificent spot for camping lovers. You can feel refreshed by camping near incredible natural beauties such as Hacıllı Waterfall and Gürlek Cave, and you can relax in this serenity and nature as much as you have not been able to rest for years.

Yeşilçay River

Yeşilçay Stream, which embraces Ağva in a round shape, is of great importance for this small settlement. You can take fascinating photos of the river and the natural beauties around it.

Kurfallı Village

The village of Kurfallı is an ideal place to go hiking with its magnificent view.

Fish Restaurants

You can enjoy fresh and delicious fish in the master fish restaurants of Ağva.

Ağva Beach Park

You can enjoy a nice walk or lie on the grass against the sea in the seaside park, which is parallel to the sea and stretches along the entire coast.

Lake Saklı Göl

Located close to Karamandere village, Saklı Göl is one of the natural beauties you should visit when you come to Ağva. Here you can watch the ducks swimming happily, and enjoy a meal in the cafes and restaurants by the lake accompanied by the lake view. The lush forests around are an oxygen store. Saklı Lake and its surroundings are perfect for nature walks.

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How do I get from Istanbul to Şile?

The distance between Istanbul and Şile is approximately 70-80 kilometers. If you want to go to Şile with your private car, you can reach Şile by following the Şile sign over the 1st and 2nd bridges (just before and after the exits and entrances), and by following the Sarıgazi-Şile direction via TEM. Transportation with your private vehicle will take approximately 45 minutes.

If you do not have a private vehicle, you can use a public bus or Şile Ağva Üsküdar tourism buses that run regularly from Üsküdar and Harem to Şile. The journey to Şile by bus takes about one and a half hours, and the journey by public bus takes about 3 hours. If you prefer the public bus, two separate lines are running from Üsküdar to Şile, which are 139 and 139A.

History of Şile

It is known that the first settlers in Şile were the Greeks. It is understood that the first settlement dates back to the Paleolithic and Mesolithic periods, and this shows that Şile is one of the oldest settlements in Istanbul. The name of Şile, on the other hand, emerged when the Miletos tribe was influenced by the beauties of Şile and named it “Marjoram” in their language. Until the region had its current name, it was called by similar names such as Philee, Shila, Aschil, Artena, Kilio, and Kalpe.

It is understood that the first established and settled city in Şile was founded by the Miletos in the 8th century BC, under the name Philee, in the rocky areas of the district. It is known that the Miletos, who dominated the Black Sea coast, founded Şile as a trade city. After various tribes established dominance in the region, the Romans dominated Şile in the 1st century BC. Gürlek Cave was also an important natural prison that served as a prison for Christians during the conflict between the Romans and Christians in the 3rd century AD. The Genoese dominated the region for a while, and then the Seljuks seized the region in 1050. About 50 years later, the region changed hands with the Crusades. Şile, which officially joined the Ottoman lands in 1401, remained Ottoman for 500 years, and during the First World War, it was under the control of the British with the Armistice of Mudros in 1920. In 1923, one of the first municipalities of the Republic was established in Şile, which was cleared of the enemy in 1922.

Şile Castle

This 2,000-year-old castle is located on a tiny island. Although its construction was started by the Genoese, it was completed and used during the Ottoman Empire. The past of Sile Castle is not well known. It was most likely constructed by the Byzantine Empire as a watchtower to protect a small harbor. It was seized by the Genoese in 1305. It was taken over in 1396 by the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid’s army. Limestone quarried on the island was used to construct the Sile Castle. It had four floors and a square ground plan. It was twice repaired: once during the Byzantine rule and once during the Ottoman era. Subsequently, it was neglected and eventually destroyed. Because of illicit treasure hunters’ excavating, it had significant losses in the 20th century.

Unfortunately, its current appearance was restored in 2015 and the outcome received harsh criticism. As a result, it was given the moniker “Sponge Bob Castle” because of the cartoon character resemblance. It appears to be a newly constructed building in my perspective and has lost some of its historical charms. Since it is located on an inaccessible island, Ile Castle cannot currently be visited.

Şile Lighthouse

This lighthouse has become the most significant symbol of Şile that has protected the Isle for many years. Sile Lighthouse is the largest lighthouse in Turkey and the second largest in the world. Many people find lighthouses fascinating. If you are one of them, you can visit this lighthouse that stretches towards the middle of the sea with the wild winds coming from the sea, and you can visit the tiny maritime museum inside. Built by a French architect in the 17th century during the reign of Sultan Abdulaziz who throughout his 15-year rule built lighthouses along the beaches, this lighthouse is stunning. Its construction was intended to aid in the navigation of ships traveling from the Black Sea to Istanbul during the Crimean War. The largest lighthouse in Turkey, the Sile Lighthouse, conforms with international requirements. Constructed on 60-meter-high rocks, the 19-meter-tall lighthouse features a covered stone tower that is 110 cm thick. It is painted horizontally in black and white so that the lighthouse is clearly visible and can be identified during the day.

Crying Rock

There are some spots in Turkey, and which are known for the legends told about them. Crying Rock is one of them. It symbolizes that the lovers who cannot reunite with each other leave themselves to the wild waves of the Black Sea and that the rock sheds tears for this. If you are going to visit this rock, which has a weeping water flow, you can also consider spending time on the wonderful beaches around it.

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How do you get to Kilyos Beach Istanbul?

Kilyos is 20 km from Maslak and 50 km from the airport. If you are coming with your private vehicle to reach Kilyos, you have two alternatives: you have to use the Bahçeköy pass either via Sarıyer or in the direction of Maslak. As Maslak road is through Zekeriyaköy and the forest, it is more scenic and more enjoyable.

If you prefer to use public transport, you must first come to Sarıyer or Hacıosman. You can reach Kilyos by minibusses departing from Şehit Mithat Yılmaz Street in Sarıyer and by public buses departing in front of Sarıyer Primary School.

If you prefer to reach Kilyos by metro and then by public bus, you can reach Kilyos in 25 minutes by getting off at the Hacıosman metro stop and taking the public bus number 151.

Kilyos in History

Kilyos has always remained such a quiet and peaceful fishing town. As an important point where Istanbul ends and the Black Sea begins, it has always been important during the Roman and Ottoman Empires. A castle was built at this strategic point. Built-in the 4th century, during the Eastern Roman Empire, this castle was later used by the Genoese and Ottomans. It was of great use in World War I. Unfortunately, this castle is closed to visitors.

What can I do in Kilyos?

There are many activities you can do in touch with nature in Kilyos. You can eat fish at the famous fish restaurants, enjoy the sun and sand on the beaches, and go on long nature walks. Some outdoor restaurants offer barbecue pleasure in nature.

The beaches also offer surfing and different sea activities. However, it is useful to be careful about one thing. The Black Sea is a sea known for its wild waves and swimming in the sea is extremely dangerous even for those who can swim. The reverse wave here can be deadly for those who are in the sea.

You will have to pay a fee to enter the beaches. This fee is constantly updated, but we recommend that you carry cash and take it with you just in case, up to 100 per person for the beach entrance. In addition to these public beaches, there are also beach clubs. If you want to enjoy yourself to electronic music at the seaside, you may have to pay around 300 TL for entrance.

You can find fresh and delicious fish in Kilyos every season. Therefore, we recommend that you do not return without visiting the restaurants in the vicinity.

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Well, the Grand Bazaar is pretty famous for its unique and various collection of things to buy, you can enter the jewelry section which has many shops for you to choose from just have a nice tour and choose your favorite piece to buy. You have also the Turkish delights and food section which the shops there will make you taste before you buy anything, so you know what to buy. Nevertheless, there are the carpets and clothes sections you might not want to miss out on. Bargaining however is pretty easy in the grand bazaar because the merchants are open for bargaining and they speak foreign languages so you might not find this hard from your in-language point of view.

Tour around the Beyazit Square

The Beyazit Square is one of the places that you must visit, it is located in front of Istanbul University and next to the Grand Bazaar and the Old Book Bazaar. If you ever had the chance to enter the university, then do it, the university design is not like any other, it was built as a fortress and has a martial design because it was built by the Ministry of War back in the Ottoman Empire, the university is a historical monument and very delightful to checkout. The Beyazit Tower is on the university’s campus and can be seen from the square.

In fact, the square has been the site for many protests, one in 1969 which is known as Bloody Sunday.

If you really like the area and don’t want to leave it, you can ride the tram and continue your way through the Egyptian spice bazaar and the Golden Horn, in the spice bazaar you can also shop for different kinds of spices and antiques, and eat some fresh fish at the fish bazaar which is one of the best places to eat fish and relax with a view over the golden horn.

Once finished from the spice bazaar, go to the top of the hill to the Suleymaniye mosque which is the largest mosque built by Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent, to reach the mosque you will need a ten-minute walk from Beyazit Square, you can enter the mosque, and wander its magnificent architecture, the mosque is open every day. But keep in mind if you are non-Muslim you should avoid visiting the mosque during the call to prayers and Friday which is the holy day for Muslims, because the mosque will be very crowded and you will not be able to witness its holiness.

The Beyazit district is one of the many places in Istanbul that has its unique identity and never fails to deliver for the people who visit it. The square was the former site of the Forum of Theodosius which was built by Emperor Constantine the Great, it has another name which is the Freedom Square but no one uses this name, it was named by Beyazit Square due to Beyazit Mosque which is located on one of its sides. The main attractions of the district are the Grand Bazaar and Beyazit Square alongside Istanbul University. If you started your journey to the old city in Beyazit, then you were not wrong, from there you can tour the district starting by the grand bazaar and going all the way to its square, later on you can still walk upward to reach the Suleymaniye mosque and reaching the golden horn to the Egyptian Spice Bazaar, or once you finish from the district you can ride the tram all the way through Sultan Ahmet District and discover the wonderful Hagia Sophia and Sultan Ahmet mosque. You can check the old book bazaar if you are a book reader since they have local and international books of every kind.