The 5 nicest beaches in Istanbul

Very similar to a cool Bodrum beach club, Elio is located on Istanbul’s Sedef Island, which is only accessible by a morning and evening ferry from Büyükada or Elio’s private boats (upon request). After spending the day swimming, grab some dinner and a sunset cocktail at the restaurant and bar.

About a 20-minute walk from the ferry port (follow Gönüllü Caddesi and then Köknar Sokak), this beautiful cove is named after Madame Marta, one of Turkey’s first ballerinas who lived on Burgaz island and was in love with the sea. Lovely in its seclusion, Madam Marta is also a great place to camp.

One of the lesser-known Princes’ Islands is the perfect place to go for a swim without all the crowds. Grab one of the sun-loungers at this beach club and restaurant to forget you’re in the city and enjoy a day swimming and tanning like you’re on a summer holiday. Sunset cocktails included.

Dive into a real summer holiday feeling at this very cool beach club on Kinaliada. Spend the day swimming and tanning on the beach, dining on modern Aegean cuisine at their own restaurant Nolina Ada and sipping cocktails at Yuka Beach Bar with DJ performances on the weekend for the party people. Reserve in advance.

About a two-hour drive from the city centre is Istanbul’s seaside district of Şile and the beautiful beach of the Akçakese village. The turquoise sea and a white sand beach are quite popular among locals, so if you’d rather avoid the crowds, try to go here on a weekday.