Sapanca Lake provides a beautiful natural retreat close to Istanbul.

This time we escaped from the city and came to Sapanca. Approximately 1.5 hours after leaving Istanbul, you can sip your tea on the shores of Sapanca lake…

Sapanca is a region well known to those traveling on the Istanbul-Ankara road. Sapanca Lake, which you suddenly encounter after Izmit, and the greenery surrounding the lake immediately begin to delight you. It is also possible to reach Sapanca by train.

The shortest way to get from Istanbul to Sapanca, which is connected to Adapazarı, is via the toll TEM Highway… As soon as you arrive, it’s best to go to a restaurant by the lake and start enjoying Sapanca. We decided to start the day with a nice breakfast.

Sapanca’s local eggs and honey are delicious at Özkum Restaurant… While sitting by the lake, you can watch people catching catfish… Or swimming in the lake and doing water sports…

You can spend your whole day reading a book or relaxing in silence at the lakeside facilities. Of course, accompanied by the sounds of frogs, geese and ducks. People usually come to Sapanca for the day. Because there are not many facilities to stay. If you are thinking of staying, you need to choose one of the few hotels in the town center. Lale Hotel is the only large hotel in Sapanca.

A place where you can sit on the colorful pillows in the garden and enjoy the fresh air.

Sapanca’s baskets made of wild willow are famous. It is possible to find baskets that can be used everywhere in the house, from engagement baskets to waste baskets, from baby cradles to flowerpots. We say we shouldn’t leave here without buying a few types of baskets. Akçay basketry carries out both production and sales. They say their baskets are heirlooms. We say let’s learn how to make some baskets, but making baskets is not an easy task at all.

Both patience and manual strength are required… The willows are knitted while wet, then left to dry.

We leave the basket makers behind and go down to the city square. The fountain here is truly remarkable. It is especially refreshing during the hot summer months. As you go up from the lakeside in Sapanca, you come across trout production facilities and restaurants. Here we say, let’s first eat trout by the Istanbul stream and then take a walk. You should not return from Sapanca without enjoying the trout on the tile.

Trout is a type of salmon. Rainbow trout is produced in Sapanca. The secret is to slow cook the fish… The trout is grilled, stewed, and pan-fried in corn flour. Murat Tıknaz, the owner of İstanbuldere Trout House, recommends his fried fish to those who love sea fish. We prefer casserole this time…

Melted cheese and mushrooms with cheddar cheese are also dishes that must be eaten in Sapanca… Kırkpınar town is right next to Sapanca. On the Kırkpınar road, there are restaurants such as Atlıköşk and Küçük Ev that serve meat dishes as an alternative to trout. It is also extremely enjoyable to have a tea at Dedeman Lake House, surrounded by the greenery of the reeds by the lake. It is possible to find many varieties in the rich menu.

There are many places, large and small, that produce garden plants in Sapanca. If you want, you can take a piece of nature home from here on your way back to the city. Sapanca’s climate is very suitable for garden planting. In this way, nearly 50 plant species are grown here. The Natural Botanical Park in Kırkpınar is especially ideal for families with children.

You can spend the whole day from breakfast to dinner next to the pool where ducks and geese swim. After leaving the botanical park behind, we go to a place that overlooks Sapanca. But when we see various animal statues on the way, we decide to stop.

Sculptor Nuh Açın, whom we talked to among the sculptures of dolphins, horses, cats and dogs, says that he can make sculptures of anything upon order. While traveling on the road in Sapanca, you always come across summer houses. Sapanca becomes much more lively during the summer months and on the weekends. Sapanca is an extremely peaceful place. Especially as you go inland from the lake, even mobile phones have no reception.

Therefore, those who are far from the city and do not want to disconnect from it should take this into consideration. (Thank you to Sapanca Municipality for the photos.)

TRANSPORTATIONThe shortest way to get from Istanbul to Sapanca, connected to Adapazarı, is via the toll TEM Highway.

FOOD

İstanbuldere Trout House0264 582 67 39

Dedeman Lake House0264 592 00 70

ÖzkumRestaurant Cafe0264 582 23 76

Little House0264 592 63 95Atlıköşk0264 592 20 05

Where to stay?Club Lale Otel0264 582 89 30

Kedikaya Aparts0264 592 28 94

Sakarya University Education and Accommodation Facilities0264 592 25 30