Nestled on the southern shore of the Sea of Marmara, Çınarcık is a beachside town in Turkey’s Marmara region. It’s a popular summer getaway destination for residents of Istanbul, with a ferry service connecting to the city. In the mountains that rise dramatically behind Çınarcık, you’ll find waterfall hikes, spectacular lakes and plateaus.
Things to do in Çınarcık
Spend your days relaxing on the pebbly shores of Çınarcık Plajı, which extends in both directions from the ferry wharf. It’s particularly popular with families due to its children’s playground and abundance of ice creameries. When it’s time to eat, there are several restaurants nestled behind the beach, including Mosh Burger and the Yogurt Cafe.
Çınarcık makes a good base for visiting the Yalova Atatürk Mansion, which was built for the Turkish revolutionary statesman, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. It’s open to the public as a house museum, with antique furnishings and personal belongings of Atatürk on display. Learn about his visits to the thermal springs of Yalova before strolling through the Atatürk Arboretum.
Also nearby is one of Marmara’s most famous waterfalls, Erikli Şelalesi, which can be accessed along a beautiful hiking trail. You can refresh with a swim in the pool at its base or take advantage of the barbecue facilities. From the waterfall, continue along the road that leads to the Delmece Plateau to find magnificent views across the region. Also nearby is Dipsiz Lake, which has been nicknamed the “Bottomless Lake” due to its depth.
Getting around Çınarcık
Çınarcık is around 1.5 hours’ drive from Istanbul and two hours from Istanbul Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular buses connect to Çınarcık and ferries travel across the Sea of Marmara to Istanbul. The centre of Çınarcık is compact enough to explore on foot.