Weekend Breaks in Istanbul
There are several options for weekend trips that are a couple of hours’ drive away from Istanbul.
To the West, there is Edirne which is close to the border of Turkey and Greece. It was the capital of the early Ottoman empire and has some wonderful Ottoman architecture. Don’t miss the mosques. It is also famous for its oil wrestling.
To the south-west, and a little further afield there is Gallipoli and Troy. Thousands of people come here on ANZAC day to pay their respects and visit the battlefields and memorials. You can also see a replica of the Trojan horse.
Polonezkoy – this literally means ‘Polish village’, which is exactly what it once was. It is a thickly forested area on the Eastern side of Istanbul. Makes a good day trip, especially in the summer. There are numerous brunch options here.
Sapanca lake – to the east of Istanbul. Beautiful scenery, about a couple of hours’ drive from the European side. For a luxurious weekend break try Richmond Nua Spa hotel. www.richmondnua.com
Skiing in winter – The closest ski slope to Istanbul is Kartepe. It is only a couple of hours’ drive so is ideal for a day trip. It is a small slope and serious skiers will be dissatisfied. It also gets crowded at weekends. For more serious skiing, Uludag is a good option. However this is further east and requires a two or three day trip at least.
Bursa and Iznik – an ideal two or three day trip. Close to the ski resort of Uludag, so can be combined in one longer trip. Bursa has many examples of stunning Ottoman architecture, particularly the Grand Mosque. Iznik is famous for its glazed tiles.
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