Review: Sariyer Kadinlar Plaji: My first visit to a beach in Istanbul – yes it exists!

Being brought up in a coastal town (Durban, South Africa), I am fortunate to have beach hangouts as part of my lifestyle, especially during the Summer. Which is why, this summer in Istanbul, I was on the lookout for somewhere to escape to to swim in and relax in.  I heard before that Istanbul does have beaches, but I had yet to discover for myself.

I did some online research, and had a few names of popular beaches popped up. I was especially intrigued by the “kadinlar/bayan plaji” – ‘women only beaches’, which had a double bonus of not being very far out from where I lived. This website provided clear information on opening hours (yes beaches here come with this!) and entry costs etc for “Sariyer Altinkum Kadinlar Plaji.” However, unfortunately, there didnt seem to be alot of reviews from visitors to these beaches – on TripAdvisor, Facebook groups etc. So I was left a little unsure about the quality of the beach and whether or not it would be suitable for my needs. But, I decided to take the plunge (mind the pun!) and go for it – how else would we learn for the future, and at the very least it would be a nice day out in the sun with my toddler. 
So what was the Sariyer beach experience like? Pleasantly surprised -I found it amazing! I was thrilled to not be disappointed for once!

The beach is not as spectacular as the postcard ones you have in other parts of Turkey such as Cesme, or down south in Turunc, Marmaris etc. However, for a half hour ride away from Besiktas at least, it completely suffices for a day out to be in the water and enjoy the warm sun.
I took a taxi, which costed me 55TL for the 30-35 minute ride. The driver found the way easily and could drop us right outside the entrance. I actually spotted two other beaches right next door (Elma plaji was one of them), which appeared to be “family beaches”, ie mixed gender and I made a mental note to try to come back there with my husband on another occasion.
The entry cost for Sariyer beach was 25TL for adults. You pay separately for beach chairs & umbrellas (25TL), or to rent a table and chairs to eat on for lunch. There is actually like a canvas curtain blocking the entrance to the beach, so everything is completely private to patrons only from the time you enter the beach. This for me was a first – such a thrilling experience as a hijabi to be so well secluded so you can really enjoy being in the outdoors, but not having to be fully covered. Honestly, standing in the cool water, and feeling the fresh beachy breeze on my bare arms was the highlight of my day!
The beach sand was soft, which is lovely to walk and sit on pleasantly. Being a weekday, the beach was busy but not overcrowded and we found a spot to settle into fairly quickly. The water looked really inviting- there was some sea weed present, and its not crystal clear like on the Turkey turquoise coast, but really it was satisfactory to enjoy the beach without having to fly an hour or drive 4 hours out of the city. The waves were gentle and mostly just on the sea shore, with the deepest part of the water no higher than up to your shoulders. There was a female lifeguard present, as the website promised. The water was cool but also warm in parts, and after a few minutes felt very welcome to wade in or just stand around and enjoy. 
The atmosphere was really enjoyable – ladies letting loose in their bikinis or anything they felt comfortable to wear, teenagers giggling with their friends, children shrieking in excitement as the small waves approached them. When there was music playing, women of all ages (and sizes!) happily danced around, including my little one who seems to like upbeat Turkish music!
There is a beach cafe there selling snacks likes crisps and drinks, as well as cooked food like kofte and potatoes or sandwiches at reasonable costs (between 6 and 20 TL). I had taken my own food so I didn’t taste anything from the cafe. The cafe also sells beach equipment like swimming gear, bucket and spades for kids and other beach bric ‘n brac.
There is an outside shower to dust off the sand, and there are change rooms and bathrooms (I didn’t use so cant comment on condition). I was so impressed to spot the “mescit”, which was basically a dedicated prayer room – what an awesome convenience provided. With facilities like this, it means you can spend the entire day out comfortably, knowing all your basic needs are covered. 
To return, I wasn’t able to call a biTakis to that area, however the personnel at the entrance called a local taxi on my behalf (note the driver started the meter from where he was stationed in Sariyer, so it began at 12 TL).
Overall : If you are like me and crave a day out of the busy city to enjoy a beach day, I do recommend this spot!
Exploring Istanbul, one fun experience at a time,
MbyD

8 thoughts on “Review: Sariyer Kadinlar Plaji: My first visit to a beach in Istanbul – yes it exists!”

  1. Unknown's avatar

    Also on Tripadvisorhttps://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g293974-i368-k10653184-o10-Women_only_beaches_in_Istanbul_SarIyer_AltInkum_Florya-Istanbul.html#93155048

    Like

  2. Unknown's avatar

    Salam, thank you for your beautiful review as it was really helpful. I just wanted to ask you, as a hijabi do you need to wear a burkini or is the beach that private so you can wear a regular swimsuit without any concern?

    Like

  3. Unknown's avatar

    Ws, thanks for your comment.Yes the good news is that the beach was completely secluded so you could wear anything you like comfortably ;)Ladies were wearing swimsuits, bikinis and I saw them leave with hijab :)Enjoy!

    Like

Leave a comment