During my trip to Turkey, I spent a day in the outskirts of Istanbul - in Şile, on the northeast part - exploring the Black Sea region. My little adventure involved a 6km hike at Sofular and a 3km trek at Ağva. The trails were a mix of mountains, forests, and beaches - all incredibly rewarding with great views, plus some Turkish red wine and cheese gözleme along the way! 

From Istanbul, the drive to Şile Sofular Village took around 1 hour, which is the jump off point for the hike. You'll be able to get down on the beach as part of the circular route, and that area of the Black Sea is pretty much empty, so you get the opportunity to walk around or even take a dip if you have the time. 

For lunch, I had a stop for some traditional gözleme before continuing to the next stop, which was Ağva Kilimli Koyu along beautiful forests of Northern Istanbul. The trekking trail is quite easy, and after lots of walking, I was rewarded with a great view, which I got to enjoy while having a nice little picnic on the cliffs to cap off the day!