Day trips

The 14 Best Day Trips from Istanbul

Drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan for every place worth the trip.

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There are 14 good day trips from Istanbul, Turkey, led by Bursa, Küçükçekmece, Sancaktepe. The closest is Küçükçekmece, about 25 min by car, and 9 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.

Day trips from Istanbul at a glance

DestinationDistanceDrive timeBest as
Bursa91 km S1 hr 25 minFull-day trip
Küçükçekmece15 km W25 minHalf-day trip
Sancaktepe24 km E35 minHalf-day trip
Maltepe19 km SE30 minHalf-day trip
Beylikdüzü26 km W40 minHalf-day trip
Sultanbeyli28 km E40 minHalf-day trip
Adapazarı125 km E1 hr 55 minFull-day trip
Gebze47 km SE55 minHalf-day trip
Çorlu98 km W1 hr 30 minFull-day trip
Arnavutköy26 km NW40 minHalf-day trip
İzmit87 km E1 hr 20 minFull-day trip
Başakşehir17 km NW25 minHalf-day trip
Büyükçekmece31 km W35 minHalf-day trip
İnegol114 km SE1 hr 45 minFull-day trip

Drive times are estimates from the distance. Check live traffic before you leave.

The best day trips from Istanbul

  1. 1

    Bursa, Turkey

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 25 min by car91 km south of Istanbul2 hr 50 min round trip

    Known for Ulu Cami.

    Also nearby: Nilüfer.

  2. 2

    Küçükçekmece, Turkey

    Half-day trip
    About 25 min by car15 km west of Istanbul50 min round trip

    Known for Kıbrıs Anıtı.

  3. 3

    Sancaktepe, Turkey

    Half-day trip
    About 35 min by car24 km east of Istanbul1 hr 10 min round trip
  4. 4

    Maltepe, Turkey

    Half-day trip
    About 30 min by car19 km south-east of Istanbul1 hr round trip
  5. 5

    Beylikdüzü, Turkey

    Half-day trip
    About 40 min by car26 km west of Istanbul1 hr 20 min round trip
  6. 6

    Sultanbeyli, Turkey

    Half-day trip
    About 40 min by car28 km east of Istanbul1 hr 20 min round trip
  7. 7

    Adapazarı, Turkey

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 55 min by car125 km east of Istanbul3 hr 50 min round trip
  8. 8

    Gebze, Turkey

    Half-day trip
    About 55 min by car47 km south-east of Istanbul1 hr 50 min round trip
  9. 9

    Çorlu, Turkey

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 30 min by car98 km west of Istanbul3 hr round trip
  10. 10

    Arnavutköy, Turkey

    Half-day trip
    About 40 min by car26 km north-west of Istanbul1 hr 20 min round trip
  11. 11

    İzmit, Turkey

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 20 min by car87 km east of Istanbul2 hr 40 min round trip
  12. 12

    Başakşehir, Turkey

    Half-day trip
    About 25 min by car17 km north-west of Istanbul50 min round trip
  13. 13

    Büyükçekmece, Turkey

    Half-day trip
    About 35 min by car31 km west of Istanbul1 hr 10 min round trip
  14. 14

    İnegol, Turkey

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 45 min by car114 km south-east of Istanbul3 hr 30 min round trip

A sample day trip: Istanbul to Bursa

A realistic pace for Bursa, 91 km from Istanbul. Packy AI builds this for any place on the list, with a route, opening hours and timings you can edit.

  1. 08:30Leave Istanbul
  2. 09:55Arrive in Bursa (1 hr 25 min drive)
  3. 10:10Ulu Cami
  4. 12:10Lunch
  5. 13:25Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Bursa
  6. 15:55Head back to Istanbul
  7. 17:20Home in Istanbul

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What are the best day trips from Istanbul?
The best day trips from Istanbul are Bursa, Küçükçekmece, Sancaktepe, Maltepe, Beylikdüzü. The closest is Küçükçekmece, about 25 min away by car.
What is the closest day trip from Istanbul?
Küçükçekmece is the closest, 15 km west of Istanbul, roughly 25 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
Where can I go within an hour of Istanbul?
9 places are within about an hour's drive of Istanbul: Küçükçekmece (25 min), Başakşehir (25 min), Maltepe (30 min), Sancaktepe (35 min), Beylikdüzü (40 min), Arnavutköy (40 min).
What is the biggest city near Istanbul for a day out?
Bursa is the largest city in day-trip range, 91 km south of Istanbul and about 1 hr 25 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
How far is too far for a day trip from Istanbul?
Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Adapazarı at 125 km, around 1 hr 55 min by car.

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