Discovering the Beautiful Belgrade Forest

Istanbul has an abundance of beautiful buildings, but it lacks green space and nature. This route takes travellers out of the city and into a few of the most peaceful and stunning national parks in Türkiye so they can rejuvenate and get back in touch with nature.

On the way to endless forest greenery is a smaller patch of park but its full of interesting sights. Miniaturk is an open-air museum that displays a map of Türkiye with miniature landmarks representing the different parks. it's a super cool little stop on the way and helps you gain a better understanding of the country as an added bonus!

Bashavuz is a historical water collection structure, used to gather water from nearby streams and directed to Istambul in the 16-th century. It's an awesome little sight that pops up out of nowhere along the way.

You've now fully entered the beauty of Belgrade Forest, and before you get stuck into the nature, there are many historic and beautiful structures to discover. Egri Kemer is an incredible aqueduct. It's been restored and turned into an attraction where you can walk through it and really understand the structure.

After your visit to the aqueduct, drive into the town located in the forest - Gokturk Merkes - for lunch. There aren't lots of restaurants to choose from, but luckily Chef Erdal's Adana Kebap offers all you need. With quality meals and efficient and friendly service, it's a great stop on a busy day.
They're open every day of the week for lunch and you can make a reservation through their website.

After lunch, it's time to get stuck into the nature of the region at Ayvat Bendi Nature Park. Enter through the wooden gates and park in the assigned parking spots. Once you enter the park, there is an abundance of walking trails that take you to some truly beautiful and remote locations. You can spend about an hour and a half walking around and enjoying the sights before taking off for the next stop.
I followed the short track because I was quite tired here, but it was s a great choice as i got to take it easy and spend more time with the natural findings.

After your forest stroll, drive out of Belgrade Forest but with a stop at the fabulous Tpuzlu Bendie. This historic reservoir offers an exciting mix of urban structure and nature as you stare out into the luscious damn and surrounding greenery.

Drive across the bridge to the other sid of the river to reach Yoros Castle. While you can't enter the castle itself, this site offers spectacular scenery form every angle. I loved being near the historic castle perched up on the hill, rocky formations and cliffs it sat upon and feeling the beautiful power of the river at this location.

Yoros Castle is placed in the gorgeous town of Anadolu Kavağı, which seemingly pops up out of nowhere. Baba Restaurant in Anadolu Kavağı was the perfect stop for this seaside town because of the delicious and traditional seafood they served that made it feel like an authentic experience.
They're open for dinner every day of the week, and you can make a reservation through the WhatsApp link on their website.

Villa Bosphorus Konak was a gorgeous place to stay, with suites in a renovated hsitoricla villa. You'll be located close to the river, in a comfortable room with a kitchen and you can even choose a terrace with great views.