Best beaches near Istanbul accessible by public transport

A recent visitor report on Caddebostan 2 confirms cold water (takes time to adjust); entry costs 300 TL, but the water has seaweed and litter — so-so quality.

At The Roof hotel on the islands, instead of a regular beach there are pontoons and a pier with loungers, with ladder access into the water; the seabed is sandy with some visible rocks, but the water is clear enough to easily avoid them. It's clean, with staff regularly tidying up. A boat from the pier to the hotel is included in the entry price.

If Florya is closed after rain, Menekşe Beach can be considered as an alternative.

There is a paid beach near Florya charging 750 TL; visitors are required to hand over water brought from outside at the entrance.

A free option is Yeşilköy Çiroz Beach: take the Marmaray and walk a short distance. It has two small coves with blue water and reportedly no seaweed. You can sit on the sand by the water or on shaded grass.

A visitor reported visiting Aya Nikola beach on Büyükada yesterday and paying 1200 TL per person entry — notably higher than the previously mentioned 600 TL.

Another beach was recommended (with a map link) as good for a calm day out: it has paid gazebos (price not specified, described as very expensive), a seawater pool, and the water is regularly cleaned of jellyfish and algae. Gazebos can reportedly be booked via WhatsApp.

On Büyükada, Family Beach Aya Nikola was recommended as a cheaper option: entry is about 600 TL, and both cash and card are accepted. Sunbeds and umbrellas are included. It suits visitors who do not want pontoon-style beaches, as it has a gentle sandy entry and a relatively small buoy-marked swimming area.

A free option on Büyükada was also mentioned: you can sit on the grass and swim using a ladder near the Fıstık Ahmet restaurant, about a 7-minute walk to the right from the pier when facing Istanbul.

Cevahir Beach on Heybeliada was recently reported at 1200 TL entry: it has plenty of sunbeds with umbrellas, clean changing rooms, toilets, showers, and lockers. The shore and sea are said to be cleaned; the water feels cool at first but is fine for swimming, and there are diving pontoons and slides.

Caddebostan on the Asian side was suggested as a city-beach option: you can reach it by ferry to the Asian side and then continue a short distance by local transport.

Heybeliada has a beach near the Cevahir aquapark — the water is cool but not crowded and generally decent. Accessible by ferry to the island.

The rocky-area beach near Florya is public: locals arrive in the evenings and sometimes leave litter and bottles. No sun loungers are provided or planned there, as it is a public beach.

Noya Beach on Kınalıada (the nearest Prince's Island) costs 1000 TL entry, no outside food or drinks allowed. The beach is terraced with a pool and is usually uncrowded. It closes at 18:00. Access is by ferry/water taxi transfer.

Florya private beach is kept clean with staff regularly tidying the water. Downsides: the toilets are very far from the beach, and bottled water isn't freely available near the main beach area — you have to ask at the bar. A self-serve fridge with water exists only in the 16+ zone. The public toilet opposite Palm Beach on the promenade is decent.