Things to Do Around Istanbul: 4 Nearby City Escapes
Istanbul is an excellent base for discovering more of the country. After exploring landmarks such as Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar, or taking a Bosphorus Cruise, you may want to continue your trip beyond the city. Here are four places often considered for travel around Istanbul.
Balıkesir
Balıkesir is a lovely city between Çanakkale and Bursa. You can get on the ferry in Yenikapı and be there in two hours. Besides, you can travel by bus and be there in five hours. Its seaside districts are popular in Turkey for summer holidays.
Ayvalık is the best-known of those districts. It is a small town with lovely beaches such as Sarımsaklı and Badavut. There are also attractive places to visit, including Taksiyarhis-Kirche Church and Çınarlı Mosque. Besides, you should try local meals prepared with fresh herbs and fish.
You can finish your day by watching the sunset from the Devil Table and learning the story of this mysterious place. On another day, you can discover Cunda Island and walk in its cute, narrow streets.
Why visit Balıkesir from Istanbul?
- Easy access by ferry or bus
- Popular summer districts on the seaside
- Ayvalık beaches and local food culture
- Sunset views from Devil Table
- Charming streets on Cunda Island
Bursa
Bursa is one of the big cities of Turkey, and it was the capital city of the Ottoman Empire in the early periods. You can get on the ferry and be there in two hours. If you choose the bus, you can be there in three hours.
In the city center, there are many historical places to visit such as Green Tomb, Green Mosque, and the Grand Mosque of Bursa. Nearby, there is an old bazaar called Koza Han, where you can find silk clothes and some souvenirs.
When you visit, you should try Bursa iskender, the special kebab of Bursa. Maybe the most exciting experience in Bursa is to get on the cable car and go to the peak of Uludağ. It is a well-known mountain in Turkey and a great place to spend a winter holiday.
What makes Bursa a good trip?
- Short travel time from Istanbul
- Strong Ottoman heritage in the city center
- Traditional shopping at Koza Han
- Local taste of Bursa iskender
- Cable car ride to Uludağ
Çanakkale
Çanakkale is a charming city with its history and natural beauties. You can go there by bus and be there in around seven hours. The Bosphorus in Çanakkale separates the city center from the historical peninsula, Gallipoli.
In the city center, you can see the Trojan statue monument, the same statue used in the famous Brad Pitt movie “Troya.” Along the seaside in the city center, you can visit museums such as the Çanakkale Military Marine Museum and the Çanakkale Ceramic Museum.
You can visit ancient Troya by taking the bus from the city center and explore the story of this mysterious city. You can also get on the ferry and discover the Gallipoli peninsula, where many people from different nations died during World War One. Besides, you can attend daily tours such as Troy and Gallipoli and Gallipoli and Troy, since it is better to visit those places with experienced guides.
For broader background on Troy, you can also check UNESCO.
Top reasons to add Çanakkale to your plan
- Important layers of history from Troy to World War One
- Museums along the seafront
- Access to ancient Troya from the city center
- Ferry connection to Gallipoli
- Guided tours available for deeper context
Denizli
Denizli is a fantastic city in the Aegean region. You can go there by bus and be there in eleven hours. Luckily, you can also go there by flight, which lasts an hour and a half from Istanbul.
It is a city famous for Pamukkale. This natural beauty is shaped as white travertine terraces on a hill, and those terraces are full of mineral-rich water. You should visit to feel refreshed and take some fantastic photos.
Moreover, you can visit the ancient city of Laodicea, where the ruins of ancient Greek buildings promise a magnificent experience through history. It is worth seeing and listening to the mysterious story of the city. To make your visit more exciting, you may attend tours such as Pamukkale, Ephesus and Pamukkale, and Ephesus, Pamukkale and Priene.
For general travel information about Turkey, see GoTürkiye.
Why Denizli stands out
- Reachable by long-distance bus or short flight
- Famous Pamukkale travertines
- Ancient atmosphere at Laodicea
- Suitable for photography and history-focused trips
- Easy to combine with regional tours
Final Thoughts
Istanbul is the perfect choice to start discovering Turkey and having unique experiences. Around Istanbul, you can visit many cities and enjoy very different atmospheres. Balıkesir is lovely, and Ayvalık is worth visiting for its beaches and tasteful meals. Bursa offers both Ottoman spirit in its historical buildings and the mountain scenery of Uludağ. Çanakkale has many tales to tell, from Trojan times to World War One. Denizli amazes visitors with its travertines and its journey into ancient history.
Whenever and however you come, you are welcome. Before or after your regional trip, you can keep exploring Istanbul through places like Sultanahmet Square and many more cultural highlights across the city.
