30-07-2025
5 Perfect Turkish ‘Town-Sizing' Destinations To Tack Onto Your Trip To Istanbul
Sunset in Tekirdag getty
You could spend months exploring Istanbul and still not see everything the megacity has to offer—but if you're looking to escape the bustle of the city for a couple of days during your trip, opting to pencil a nearby 'town-sizing' destination into your Istanbul itinerary can be a great way to get to see another side of Turkish culture without having to hop onto a plane or fight for a restaurant reservation.
Istanbul is located in the Marmara region of Türkiye; it's the most densely populated of the seven geographical regions of the country, which makes it easy to explore different towns and cities by bus and ferry.
The following towns are at most three hours outside of Istanbul and will allow you to experience Turkish hospitality and history without the crowds:
Tekirdag, Turkey: Landscape view of the city of Tekirdag in Turkey getty
Located about two hours outside of Istanbul on the north coast of the Sea of Marmara, Tekirdağ is easily accessible by bus. Tekirdağ is famous for its rakı as well as its preserved historic Ottoman wooden houses. The Tekirdağ coastline is also quite popular for holiday homes but the town remains small and quaint—especially when juxtaposed with neighboring Istanbul.
Hereke Castle in Hereke. Kocaeli, Turkey. Hereke is a town in Kocaeli City. Aerial view with drone. getty
Izmit is just a hundred kilometers outside of Istanbul and can be reached by both bus and train. The city is a great option for history buffs thanks to the abundance of remains of the ancient Acropolis, Agora, and Nymphaeum. It also boasts Roman city walls, aqueducts and cisterns, and plenty of other examples of historic architecture across centuries. Iğneada
People on the square near iğneada city hall at summer in iğneada kırklareli where a river joins the Black Sea on the northern coast of Turkey. getty
Tucked into the Black Sea coast, Iğneada is about a four-hour bus trip or three-hour car trip from Istanbul. The town is home to just about two thousand inhabitants and is famous for its natural splendor, particularly the Iğneada Floodplain Forests National Park. Yalova
Autumn mountain village landscape. Turkiye, Yalova province, Sogucak getty
The fastest and easiest 'town-sizing' destination to explore outside of Istanbul is Yalova. The ferry from Pendik (on the Anatolian side of Istanbul) to Yalova is less than an hour, making this option great for doing a 'town-sizing' day trip. The town boasts stunning waterfalls, hiking trails, and great spas, for a truly relaxing escape from the big city. Bolu
Camping in Bolu yedigöller national park getty
The bus from Istanbul to Bolu is about three hours, which is doable for a day trip but probably best to plan for an overnight 'town-sizing' experience. The town is most famous for its natural splendor; lakes, national parks, and hiking trails are its biggest draw.
