Exploring Şile – Day Trip from Istanbul

Şile - If you need to escape the hectic city life like we do now and then, then the sleepy village of Şile is the perfect place for you.

On Sunday morning, we made the quick decision to pack an overnight bag and hit the road. I’ve heard good things about Şile, a small town of 10,000 along the Black Sea, from a Turkish friend whose family owns a weekend house there.

Only an hour outside of Istanbul, we found Şile to be peaceful this time of year, and the northern Black Sea winds chilly. But during the summer months, this town becomes a popular and crowded beach alternative for holiday-goers and Istanbulians.

So, what can you do during the winter in Şile?

Well, we bundled up and took a stroll along the Şile Limanı (port area) where all the boats are docked. You’ll even find several small fishing boats, converted into restaurants, where you can enjoy a cheap and delicious meal. My sometimes-seasick stomach wasn’t up for sitting on a boat then so we opted to keep walking and watch the turbulent Black Sea crash against the giant cement blocks.

Here's a view of the Şile Limanı and Kalesi.

Walking along the harbor area in Şile.

One of the main sites here is the Şile Feneri (Lighthouse), which was built during the Ottoman Era under the command of Sultan Abdulmecid I in 1859-1860. The lighthouse stands at 19 meters tall, making it the second largest in Europe, and its light can be seen from 20 miles away, according to the nearby sign.

The Şile Feneri (Lighthouse) at dusk.

There’s a café right below the lighthouse, Kavala Park Café, but it must be closed until the spring. I’ve heard the owners sometimes will take visitors up to the top of the lighthouse, which must have an impressive view of the coast.

Also near the lighthouse is a large park where you can capture some good photos of the area and another historic site – Şile Kalesi (Castle). This crumbling castle dates back to Byzantine times but was rebuilt under the Ottomans on a large rock overlooking the fishing harbor. 

According to Pat Yale, a well-known Turkey travel writer and co-author of “Istanbul: The Ultimate Guide:” ‘This was originally the harbor of the ancient settlement of Calpe through which Xenophon’s 10,000 Greek mercenaries passed on their way home from sorting out problems in Persia in 400 B.C., as recounted in the “Anabasis.”’

If you feel like monkeying around a bit like we did, climb down a set of stairs from the park and carefully tread over some slippery rocks. You’ll have a different vantage point from here and you can explore along the coast.

Hubby climbing around on the rocks in Şile.

During the summer months, you’ll want to pack a beach bag and head about 3-4 km east past the lighthouse to a long stretch of sandy beaches along the bay called Ağlayan Kaya. There are a handful of beach clubs of which my friend recommends Life Beach. The Black Sea is quite powerful here so you should only swim when a lifeguard is on duty.

Here's the beach area near Şile along the Black Sea coast.

So no matter what the time of year, Şile is a perfect day escape from Istanbul. But if you want to enjoy the warm weather along the Black Sea, go here during the spring and summer months.

How to get here:

Şile is a part of the Istanbul public transport system so you can take an IETT bus from Harem via Üsküdar No. 139 and 139A. The bus ride will be at least an hour without any traffic. If you click on the bus numbers here, you will see the IETT bus map pull up.

Where to eat:

We had a pleasant, moderately-priced lunch of mezes and fish at Iskandil Restaurant (located below the Iskandil Butik Otel near the lighthouse). The view from here is amazing!

Melek Abla, located on the main street towards the Değirmen Hotel, is recommended and features homemade Turkish dishes such as mantı and gözleme.

We saw several different kinds of fish and seafood at the fish market in the Şile harbor.

Where to stay:

We stayed overnight at the Violet Park Otel, a new, clean small hotel in an odd location right off the highway about 3 km. outside of Şile. If we had known better, we would have stayed at one of the small, local hotels in town. You certainly don’t need to stay overnight in Şile, but you might want to during the warmer months to take advantage of the swimming pool and nearby beaches.

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