Istanbul is not a beach destination. There are hardly any actual beaches but instead there are lots of sea views which are beautiful in many ways. It is often said that Istanbul is not a green city, but I disagree – as you can see from my photos.

You can of course also find some small beaches in Istanbul, but the question of whether you should swim in Istanbul divides the public opinion. I would say no, because the Bosphorus Strait has particularly busy sea traffic. In addition to passenger ferry traffic, the Bosphorus Strait is the only sea route from the Mediterranean Sea to the Black Sea.

In the center of Istanbul, there are plenty of seascapes and turquoise-coloured water for the sea lovers like me. After all, Bosphorus courses the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn through the city’s heart – with its sweet dolphins. After driving further north, you will end up on the Black Sea.

Enjoy the beauty of Istanbul and the stunning seascapes!

However, if you also miss the beaches, that’s not a problem either. When you drive from the city towards Greece to the direction of Silivri, there you will find long sandy beaches. Istanbulites have lots of vacational homes on these beaches, both in blocks of flats and in detached houses. You can see the photo of this area below, the place is called Gümüşyaka Sahil.

Below is the video of the seascape from the fish restaurant of the Galata Bridge towards Bosphorus in Eminönü – the view from Europe to Asia. Fishermen fish above us for fish restaurants below the bridge (you even can see fishing rods and lines on the video), so here you´ll have most certainly fresh local food.

The blue twilight moment of Istanbul evening may also surprise you – the soft and gentle summer night may bring a touch of romance to your path…