Rest in Kınalıada
Hello everyone! How are you all spending these days with the coronavirus? I hope you've managed to take a few little getaways during this time 😉. This time, I'm going to talk about a beach you can easily reach on foot from the outskirts of Istanbul. But if you go by bike, you can explore the island a bit too, what do you say? Let's not even call it a beach, let's just remember it as a pebbly entrance with a beautiful seashore.
If you take the 8:15 AM ferry from Bostancı, you'll arrive at Kınalıada, the first stop, at 8:40 AM.
After getting off the ferry, you'll see a place to get a sandwich 🍔 on your left. They make cold sandwiches, the bread is fresh, the peppers are crunchy 😊 You can have a few teas, coffees, or beers at your destination, fill your stomach with these sandwiches, and spend time on a reasonably priced sunbed. We get off the ferry and continue to the left. It's walkable, but I recommend going by bike 😎🚲 You can also do some cardio and sweat it out before jumping into the sea. 💪💫
Near the beaches, on the left, you'll see Teos Beach. If you want a lot of music and crowds, you can go in, but I don't think it's necessary.
Keep going, it's the only road anyway. Further ahead on the left, you'll see sunbeds, a rocky area, and a somewhat run-down cafe. That's it. "Poyraz Cafe." Don't let its simple appearance fool you; in the evening, it turns into a self-service barbecue place. It shouldn't be too crowded in the morning hours, it should even be empty 😏
I prefer to spend the whole day lying down with my book, music in my ears, and sunscreen on my body. Around noon, people start arriving, and you might even find yourself a friendly Armenian lady who'll put sunscreen on your back 😬
A cold beer, some fresh mussels from the mussel vendor passing by, and homemade fries from the cafe – that's the recommended trio 🍺🍟🐚
Of course, there are a few beach options in Kınalıada. You might continue on to the other side of the island. There are Kamos beach, where you can't bring food, or Ülker beach, which is a bit more crowded. I didn't really want to choose those. I also don't think it's right to share the prices too much, everyone has their own budget, but if you're curious, I'll add them in the comments ✌👀👍
Poyraz Cafe is a bit windy because it's located to the side, but I can guarantee you can relax and enjoy yourself there more peacefully compared to other places 💛💚💙
Their teas are delicious too.
After 4-5 pm, if you didn't go for a morning ride, you can cycle around the island and work up a sweat.
Or, if you have a friend living on the island, you can go back to the same seaside for an evening barbecue party. If you bought your meat from the butcher, grab your beer/raki and settle down at the tables further down the road from where you're sitting. For a self-cook, self-serve barbecue experience, Kınalıada is the calmest coastal island…the others get really crowded.
After a nice barbecue, pleasant conversation, and a few hours spent enjoying the peaceful waves, you can leave the coronavirus behind and check the ferry or privately operated motorboat schedules for the evening back to Bostancı/Kadiköy. Or you can stay with your friend on the island, the choice is yours! :)
Don't forget to try Ömer Usta's ice cream on your way back! If you like flavors like sorbet, a combination of fruit and ice, this is the place. It was peach/melon season, and their ice cream was amazing. 🍑🍈
Have you enjoyed yourself enough? What are you going to do this weekend?
See you on our next getaway! 😎😘😄💦💧
Places to visit
Transformation Monastery, located at the highest point of Kınalıada
Surp Krikor Lusavorich Armenian Church
Sirakyan Houses
Kınalıada Mosque
Comments
Post a Comment