Sapanca a Beautiful Paradise near Istanbul

If you live in Istanbul or have traveled to this beautiful and historical city for a vacation, the Sapanca is one of the places you must visit, especially for spending your weekend. The calmness of this place and its location in the heart of nature have made Sapanca, with its beautiful forest and lake, an unforgettable travel destination.

Where is Sapanca, Turkey?

The beautiful city of ​​"Sapanca" in the province of "Sakarya" is in the northwest of Turkey and the northeast of the Marmara region; bordered by Sakarya, Geyve, and Pamukova districts to the south, Arifiye to the east, Serdivan to the north, and Kartepe district to the west, this lush area is an ideal vacation spot.

Therefore, perhaps the main factors of Sapanca's popularity can be stated as clean air, very beautiful nature, far from the hustle and bustle of the city, ideal for relaxing and spending memorable moments; also, being able to do activities such as: camping, nature tourism, boating, swimming, eating in famous restaurants, paintball, photography, etc., are other reasons for the importance of this area.

Sapanca weather

Due to the geographical location of Sapanca in Turkey and its proximity to a lake of the same name, the climate of this region is mainly Mediterranean and influenced by the Black Sea. This city, which has less rain in summer and more in winter, the average temperature is 15 degrees Celsius during the year and reaches about 23 degrees Celsius in summer and 6 degrees Celsius in winter.

Distance from Sapanca to Istanbul

In general, the distance between Sapanca and Istanbul is about 134 km (one hour and 30 minutes), and there are 4 access methods from Istanbul to Sapanca or vice versa, which are: train (2 hours and 30 minutes), bus (3 hours and 15 minutes), and taxi or private car (1 hour and 30 minutes); meanwhile, traveling the distance between Sapanca and Istanbul in terms of price and high cost includes: taxi, private car, bus and train respectively.

Note that due to the time-consuming travel by train and bus, as well as the fact that they operate only at certain hours of the day and night, and the high cost of taxi fares in Turkey, so another method is recommended to travelers. Accordingly, by renting a car in Istanbul, you can easily go to Sapanca or other destinations of your desired and no longer have to pay high fees or be delayed on the way.

Important Note: Another reason for the justification of this recommendation is the reasonable price of renting a car in Turkey for trips of several days or more to any city in this country. Based on this, it is interesting to know that the taxi fare in Istanbul for just one route from Sabiha Airport to Taksim Square is the same as renting a car for a whole day, where you can go to several different destinations.

Sapanca Tour from Istanbul

As mentioned earlier, one of the ways to go to Sapanca is to travel to Istanbul; accordingly, you can travel to Istanbul first and, from there, come to Sapanca yourself or via a Sapanca tour from Istanbul. The advantage of traveling to Sapanca through Istanbul tours is that if you have never traveled to this city or do not have much experience in this regard, these tours can bring you a good experience.

Sapanca Attractions

One of the first attractions that attracts everyone's attention when coming to this city is the green nature and Sapanca Lake; therefore, the opportunity to walk on the beach, take beautiful photos, drink a cup of tea by the beach or nature and watch beautiful and colorful scenery is the most impressive experience of all tourists who come to Sapanca.

At the same time, in addition to the natural attractions of Sapanca, we can mention other works, such as: mosques, caravanserais, and historical baths from the Ottoman period, which are very valuable to visit. Also, it is interesting to know that in the center of Sapanca itself, there are approximately 60 historical houses dating back to the 1800s, which can attract the attention of visitors; the most popular attractions in Sapanca are:

·        Sapanca Lake

·        Kırkpınar Beach

·        Sapanca Forest Nature Park

·        Maşukiye Nature Park

·        Kartepe Ski Slope

·        Gölpark Region

·        Vecihi Gate

·        Sapanca Clock Tower

·        Justinian Bridge

·        Crystal Glass Terrace

Lake Sapanca

Sapanca Lake in the northern part of the city is one of the largest fresh water lakes in Turkey, which has very beautiful views of the surrounding green areas and the mountains of the region. Therefore, tourists who come to Sapanca Lake can go on a boat ride in the lake or do fun water sports. Also, there are favorable conditions for camping and picnics around the beach, hiking on the surrounding trails, and nature tourism.

Sapanca Lake is located between "Izmit Bay" and "Adapazari Meadow," and its water is used for domestic and industrial purposes. This lake, is the habitat of various types of fish, the most famous of which are: European Eel, Carp, Goby, Catfish, and Salmon.

Sapanca Forest, Istanbul

Sapanca Forest, in the northeastern part of the city, which is also known as "Sakarya Province Forest Nature Park," is another attraction in Sapanca. This forest park, which is a protected area and adjacent to Sapanca Lake, is an ideal place for nature tour, hiking, picnics, and photography.

It should be noted that going to Sapanca Nature Park is possible in any season, and as it is full of greenery in spring and summer, it is very colorful in autumn and white in winter. Therefore, you can enjoy the beauty of this area more in any season, especially in winter, in the huts that are intended for tourists to stay in the Sapanca forest.

Sapanca Glass Terrace

This glass terrace is built on the west side of Sapanca, which is actually in the Kartepe region of Kocaeli province, at a height of 185 meters above the ground. Sapanca glass terrace, with a glass base of 105 square meters, has a 360-degree view of the green areas and Sapanca lake, and for this reason, it is also known by this name.

The important thing about this glass terrace is the possibility of watching the views below from the glass embedded in the floor of the terrace, which usually people who are afraid of heights do not dare to step on it. Sapanca Glass Terrace is located in the west of this city and is more interested in photography enthusiasts, nature lovers, and those who are looking for excitement.

Best Time to Go to Sapanca

As mentioned earlier, the trip to Sapanca has its beauties and charms in every season of the year, but the most ideal time to go is the spring and summer when everywhere is green; during these months, you can spend quiet and pleasant time by the lake and enjoy the fresh air and its relaxing and unique environment more.

How to Reach Sapanca

The best way to access Sapanca is to use a private car because you can stop at any place you want and watch the surrounding scenery; but if you don't have your own car, renting a car in Turkey and any of its cities and driving to Sapanca is definitely a very right decision. In addition to reducing your transportation costs in Turkey, this issue will facilitate your travel to different areas and centers, and the situation will be easier for you with the use of routing applications.

Staying in Sapanca

Due to the popularity of Sapanca among tourists and its proximity to Istanbul, many travelers first book a flight ticket to this city and then come to Sapanca from Istanbul using the above-mentioned methods. In such a situation, not only can tourists book a hotel in Istanbul and come to Sapanca for a few hours, but the conditions for staying in this small town are also provided.

Based on this, you can experience a different kind of stay by renting a villa in Sapanca as the most common type of accommodation in this city, in a beautiful environment with the facilities of luxury hotels; while there are good hotels in Sapanca, tourists usually book their favorite hotel during their short trips to this city.

Sapanca Stone Huts

It should be noted that one of the most popular types of accommodation in Sapanca is the rental of stone huts in the "Yanik" area in the west of the city, which are accessible via the "Garaj Yolu" road. These stone huts, some of which are entirely made of stone, and others only the lower half of the hut are made of stone, are in the heart of nature, and staying in them makes you free from all the daily stress.

It is interesting to know that most of these huts have free internet and Wi-Fi, fireplace, furniture, 24-hour reception, security at the entrance, and many other facilities, and cleaning and sanitary services are also provided in them; the distance between Sapanca Stone Huts and the center of this city is 11 km, and to other important centers and tourist attractions are as follows:

·        1.5 km from Sapanca Lake

·        11.6 km from Sapanca Lake Park

·        11.7 km from Ercan Park

·        12.4 km from Sapanca Municipality Bicycle and Walking Path

·        3.4 km from Kirkpinar Beach Walkway

·        5.2 km from Kartepe Sukay Park

·        7.1 km from Sapanca Cable Car

·        7.9 km from Ormanya Wildlife Park

·        14.6 km from Kartepe Ski Center

·        15.1 km from Sakarya Provincial Forest Nature Park

·        96.6 km from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Intl. Airport

·        164.6 km from Istanbul Intl. Airport

Rent a Villa in Sapanca

When you decide to spend your vacation in Sapanca, you can choose one the types of accommodation in Sapanca or Istanbul, such as renting a suite in Istanbul or renting a villa in Sapanca, depending on your travel conditions. Meanwhile, you can make similar choices regarding the types of hotels in both cities. But if you want to stay a few nights in Sapanca, you should go to holiday villages and bungalows in "Kırkpınar" on the northern side of the city and "Maşukiye" on the western side of Sapanca. The most famous bungalows in Sapanca are:

·        Villa Kirkpinar Sapanca

·        Nibras Villa Resort

·        Villaozil

·        Villa Aysha 1-2

·        Lake Harmony Sapanca

·        Fairy Tale House Villa Sapanca

·        Orchid Hills

·        Villa SD Sapanca

·        Villa Golyolu 1-2

Sapanca Hotels

In general, booking a hotel in Turkey is one of the most common actions of travelers to stay in a place with proper facilities and according to their budget; this decision which is usually recommended in situations where you have traveled to Turkey for a short period of time and with a small number of people, provides travelers with several options in Istanbul and Sapanca.

On the other hand, just as travelers can book any of the famous hotels in Istanbul for their stay, it is also possible for them in Sapanca, which there are high-quality hotels too; some of the most popular hotels in Sapanca are:

·        Elite World Sapanca Hotel

·        Mersu A'la Konak Otel

·        Lale Hotel

·        Richmond Nua Wellness Spa

·        Alfa Suites & SPA

·        Sahra Butik Hotel

·        Sapanca Aqua Wellness SPA Hotel & Aqua Park

·        Room Room Motel

·        SASA Harmanlık

·        Didi Hotel

Crystal Glass Terrace Hotel

Perhaps, among the types of hotels in Sapanca, the "Crystal Glass Terrace Hotel," 15 kilometers from the city center, is the most famous. This beautiful hotel, which is also called "Kristal Teras" in Turkish, is located near "Safranbolu" and above the "İncekaya" valley. What makes this hotel popular and attractive is its location in the heart of nature, a very beautiful view of the surrounding environment, and the appearance and structure of it.

Sapanca Glass Terrace Hotel has a terrace with a glass floor at a height of 130 meters and a length of 11 meters, which was built in 2012 and has multiplied the beauty and charm of this hotel. It is interesting to know that the idea of ​​building a terrace for this hotel was taken from a similar structure in Arizona, America, and it can withstand a weight of 75 tons.

Those travelers and tourists who dare to step on this glass terrace, besides seeing the surrounding scenery from a new perspective, can also take very beautiful and wonderful photos.

The cost of Traveling to Sapanca

In general, the cost of each trip depends on various factors, some of the most important of which are: your budget, the duration of the trip, the number of people with you, the purpose of the trip, the services and features you want from your accommodation, the method of your traffic to different places in the destination and many other things.

Therefore, an exact amount cannot be mentioned as the cost of a traveling to Sapanca, but you can ask travel agencies for detailed information about this before traveling to Turkey and cities like Istanbul and Sapanca.