Unspecified/General

The largest forest near Istanbul, the Belgrade Forest is a vast expanse of mixed deciduous woodland spreading across the hills north of the city, a green lung and a much-loved escape from the noise and crowds of the metropolis. Covering several thousand hectares mainly in the Sariyer and Eyupsultan districts on the European side, it takes its name from a village settled by Serbs deported from Belgrade after the Ottoman conquest of that city in 1521. For centuries the forest played a vital role in supplying water to Istanbul, and it still contains a series of historic Ottoman dams, reservoirs and grand aqueducts, several attributed to the great architect Sinan, which now stand as picturesque monuments among the trees. Today the forest is above all a place of recreation, dotted with picnic and barbecue areas, cafes and nature parks, and laced with trails for walking, jogging and cycling, the best known being the popular Neset Suyu track of around six and a half kilometres with exercise stations along the way. Beyond the main recreation grounds, quieter paths wind deep into the woods, where sessile oaks, pines and beeches shelter birds and small mammals, and a walker can spend hours meeting almost no one. Entry on foot is free, with a small charge for vehicles, and the forest is reached by metro and bus toward Bahcekoy or Kemerburgaz. Open year-round, the Belgrade Forest offers fresh air, history and natural beauty within easy reach of the city. The historic waterworks scattered through the forest, the dams that gathered the rainwater and the long aqueducts that carried it toward the city, are a reminder of the ingenuity that supplied Istanbul for centuries, and several of the grandest, attributed to the great Ottoman architect Sinan, make striking sights among the trees. For visitors, the forest is above all a breathing space, a place to walk, jog or cycle, to picnic with family and friends, or simply to sit and enjoy the quiet beneath the canopy, far from the intensity of the city. The well-used recreation grounds near Bahcekoy and Neset Suyu provide the easiest introduction, with facilities and gentle trails, while the wider woods offer scope for longer and more solitary rambles for those who come prepared. Wildlife including squirrels, foxes and many birds can be spotted by the patient. Open all year and free for those arriving on foot, with only a small charge for cars, and reached by metro and bus, the Belgrade Forest is the green heart of Istanbul's surroundings and a refreshing contrast to the monuments and bazaars of the historic centre.

Type: Outdoors

Address: Istanbul, Turkey