Is there a nice beach on the Princes' Islands? Which one, and how do I find it?

Alternatively, what's the quickest way to get to a Black Sea beach from the Asian side without my own transport? (I went to Şile once but did not really appreciate the 2-hour bus ride.)

[quote user="Bodobar" post="92320"]
Alternatively, what's the quickest way to get to a Black Sea beach from the Asian side without my own transport? [/quote]

Hire a helipcopter (quickest but most expensive)

Hire a car a drive yourself (mid range cost)

Steal a car and drive yourself (cheapest but most risky)

[quote user="Gilly" post="92323"]
Hire a car a drive yourself (mid range cost)
[/quote]

Any recommendations as to good companies?

I once rented a minibus from Sixt (office on the Asian side) they were pretty good and dropped/collected the van to my address.

[quote user="Bodobar" post="92320"]Is there a nice beach on the Princes' Islands? [/quote]

No.

forgive my negativity, but the prevalent smell of horse piss off the steaming asphalt is bound to "dampen" the atmosphere in any case.

I've only been to buyukada, and the beaches I went to there were more construction rubble and rocks than sand. The water was rife with algae/seaweed/ooey green crap.

and the one I've been to on Heybeli, was filled with rubbish and broken glass

Yes the beaches on the islands are absolute crap. People either walk around aimlessly, take horse carts, eat poor but relatively expensive food or if they are regulars go to the "clubs" which are often really quite poor and most tend to feature crappy concrete pools filled with seawater.

As for Black Sea beaches, BURC beach is okay, the water is passable, but it is incredibly crowded most weekends now even with the obvious restrictions.

I am glad I am not the only one on whom the charms of the Princes' Islands is lost.

I was at the kınalı Island at the weekend(first Island) .We went to Kamos beach (entrance 20YTL) was very quite and clean. Has also a swimming pool .I like the place.

Tallpony, how do I get to Burc Beach? And, um, what are the "obvious restrictions"? I'd be going during the week, so the crowds wouldn't be a problem.

Nalan, the beach on Kınalıada sounds very promising, especially as it's so easy to get to from Kadıköy (with a toddler in tow I'm all for short distances). Can I walk to the beach from the ferry harbor, or is there some transport?

We walked around 10-15 minutes but from this week there will be a small boat service to the beach from the harbour .You should ask at the harbour.

I'm not sure what your standards are, bodobar, I'm guessing mine are quite lower than some people's here when it comes to beaches. I like a beach where I can walk into the sea (no need to jump off rocks), where there's a place to spread a blanket or rent a lounge chair, where there's not hundreds of gawking maganda bathing in their underwear, and where there's a place nearby for restrooms, food, and drink. I am also a thrifty gal who doesn't want to pay an arm and leg for the privilege of enjoying what amply abounds in nature. Here are some beach options in Istanbul that I managed to make my way to with public transport:

1) The public beach in Kinaliada. Infrequent direct ferries from Kadikoy (25 minutes) and more frequent indirect ferries from Bostanci. Probably the easiest/quickest beach to reach (especially when catching the direct ferry from Kadikoy). The beach is a short walk to the left as you exit the ferry port (past what I like to think of as the "art deco mosque"). Pebble beach, very female and family-friendly. I have been here several times and have referred friends. There is a great meyhane across from the beach called "Barba Yani" - it was one of the most pleasant meyhane experiences I've had in Istanbul (and I've tried a fair amount). They are open for lunch as well.

Here's a link to the Monday-Saturday ferry schedule: http://www.ido.com.tr/index.cfm?page=Su ... =646&ln=TR

2) The public beach at Riva. Much closer than Sile. Sandy beach, family-friendly and frequent bus service via Beykoz.

3) I did manage to make it to Kilyos via public transport from the Anatolian side although it was a long day. There is a minibus from Sariyer to Kilyos and multiple ways to get to Sariyer (seabus, normal ferry + bus). I didn't go to Burc Beach but another private beach whose name escapes me (I believe it is the one nearest to Sariyer). It was 20 ytl entrance and additional fees for the changing room, bathroom, lounge chairs, umbrellas, etc. The facilities were crap and the beach was strewn with garbage.

4) I've also been to some of the beaches near Yalova on daytrips from Istanbul via ferry but the water was full of jellyfish in each location I tried and it was a bit of a hassle to get there and back so I haven't been back.

Although I have a car now, I still find the public beach in Kinaliada to be my favorite.

[quote user="Bodobar" post="92390"]Tallpony, how do I get to Burc Beach? And, um, what are the "obvious restrictions"? I'd be going during the week, so the crowds wouldn't be a problem.

Nalan, the beach on Kınalıada sounds very promising, especially as it's so easy to get to from Kadıköy (with a toddler in tow I'm all for short distances). Can I walk to the beach from the ferry harbor, or is there some transport?[/quote]

Burc beach is for members only (Bospohorus Uni)

There is a great beach Starman and I went to last year which is where he is proposing the July EIT party.

PM Starry for the name, if he doesn't reply here.


PS All the black sea beaches are next to each other obviously. Don't go to the Solar beach - terrible place!!

Starry