Beyond Istanbul · Beyond Istanbul
The Marmara coast: the back story
The back story
About The Marmara coast: the back story
East of the city the Asian shore runs on to Tuzla, with its marinas and fish restaurants, and to the Gulf of İzmit. Across the water, Yalova’s thermal springs and the quiet town of Karamürsel are a ferry ride away.
Tuzla
Tuzla, at the eastern end of Istanbul, has shipyards, marinas and a seafront lined with fish restaurants. Viaport Marina combines a yacht harbour with shops and restaurants, and the Marmaray line brings you there from the centre.
Yalova and Termal
On the southern shore, Yalova is a short ferry ride from Yenikapı. In the wooded valley at Termal, thermal springs have been used since antiquity; the historic baths include the Sultan Bath and the Kurşunlu Bath, and Atatürk’s mansion stands nearby.
The Sea of Marmara is calmer and warmer than the Black Sea, and the ferries are half the fun.
Karamürsel and the Gulf of İzmit
East of Yalova, Karamürsel is a quiet seafront town on the southern shore of the Gulf of İzmit, named after an early Ottoman admiral, with a promenade, fish restaurants and old houses at Ereğli.
Our advice: take the ferry to Yalova for a morning in the thermal baths at Termal, and keep Tuzla for a fish dinner by the marina on the way home.
Why it's on our list
- Marinas at Tuzla
- Thermal baths at Yalova
- Ferry crossings
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with The Marmara coast: the back story before you go.