- Sapanca
- Weekend
- Itinerary
A Weekend in Sapanca: A Two-Day Plan
A two-day Sapanca weekend from Friday arrival to Sunday return. Breakfast, the lake, Maşukiye, rainy day ideas and when to avoid the traffic.
- Author
- Feel & Live Hotel
- Published
- Reading time
- 2 min read
Leaving Istanbul on Friday evening and heading back on Sunday is the most common way to do Sapanca. Two days sounds short, but it is enough if you do not rush. We based this plan on the questions our guests ask most. Change the order to suit the weather and the season.
Friday evening
Getting out of Istanbul on a Friday afternoon is slow. If you can leave work early, setting off before 3 pm saves at least an hour. If you would rather skip the traffic altogether, the high-speed train is a good option. We cover the choices in our guide to getting from Istanbul to Sapanca.
If you are arriving late, you can have dinner at the hotel instead of on the road. Ask about restaurant hours in advance. An evening by the sound of the stream takes the edge off the drive.
Saturday
Saturday starts with a village breakfast. Breakfast at the restaurant by the stream is a long affair, so do not plan anything else for the morning.
After breakfast, go down to the Sapanca Lake shore. An hour on the walking path or a hired bike works well. In the afternoon you can sit at a lakeside café in Kırkpınar or take the children to Ormanya. There is more in our guide to things to do in Sapanca.
For dinner out, there are lakeside restaurants in Sapanca centre. If you stay in, the wooden lounge with its fireplace is a good place to spend the evening.
Sunday
Sunday morning is a good time for Maşukiye. It gets busier towards noon, so go early and you will find a quiet table by the stream. On a clear day, take the Kartepe cable car up to Kuzuyayla for an hour's walk.
Sunday traffic back to Istanbul gets heavy after 3 pm. The time we suggest most is lunch in the area and leaving around 2 pm. If you want to stay until evening, leaving after 8 pm also works.
Where to stay
For a couple, a room with a balcony is enough for a weekend. See sizes and capacities on our rooms page. If you are coming with family or friends, a villa with its own kitchen is more comfortable. Message us on WhatsApp for availability. Weekends fill up early, so ask a few weeks ahead.
