A Weekend in Bakirkoy: Two Days in Istanbul Without Leaving Town

For couples who want a weekend break in Istanbul without leaving the city, Bakırköy (Bakirkoy) makes a good base: the seafront, a lively bazaar and the Marmaray station are all within walking distance. Splitting two days between resting in Bakırköy and a short city trip on the Marmaray keeps travel time down.

Why Bakırköy?

Bakırköy is a district on the European side of Istanbul, on the shore of the Sea of Marmara. We are in Zeytinlik, Bakırköy, and these places are within walking distance:

You can rest and see the city without needing a car. For all the distances, see the location page.

Getting here

• Marmaray: Get off at Bakırköy station on the Halkalı–Gebze line and walk about 8 minutes. The line runs through the tunnel under the Bosphorus, so guests coming from the Asian side can use the same line.
• M1A metro and Metrobus: The M1A Bakırköy-İncirli stop and the İncirli Metrobus stop are both about an 18-minute walk from the apartment.
• By car: Research the parking options nearby in advance.

Timetables and frequencies can change; check the latest information from TCDD Taşımacılık / Marmaray and the relevant operators. Istanbulkart is valid on the Marmaray, metro, Metrobus, tram, ferry and buses.

First evening: settling in

Check-in is from 14:00. The building has an elevator, so getting your suitcase upstairs is easy. Security cameras in the building are reassuring when you arrive late at night. If you will arrive late after work, tell us your arrival time in advance so your check-in can be planned around it. To keep the first evening relaxed, you can eat around Bakırköy Freedom Square and İstanbul Caddesi and turn in early.

Day one: enjoy Bakırköy

• Morning: Breakfast at the cafés around the square, then a wander through the bazaar and along İstanbul Caddesi.
• Afternoon: A long walk on the Bakırköy seafront. The seafront is a long stretch of coast with a walking and cycling path.
• Late afternoon: Stay on the seafront towards sunset; the details are in our sunset walk article.
• Evening: Dinner around the square. At the weekend, booking a table in advance makes things easier.

If you want to see a different stretch of coast, Ataköy Marina is 10–15 minutes away by car; another option is to take the Marmaray to Ataköy station and walk.

Day two: a short city tour by Marmaray

One of Bakırköy's great conveniences is the Marmaray. You can give the second day to another corner of the city:

Spending the day in the bustle of the Historic Peninsula and coming back to Bakırköy in the evening lets you end the night somewhere calmer.

Check-out is by 11:00. If you plan to spend the last day out sightseeing, ask about late check-out or what can be arranged for your luggage when you book.

If the weather turns

A plan works on a rainy or windy weekend too:

• Cafés and the bazaar around İstanbul Caddesi instead of the seafront
• Capacity shopping mall, about a 9-minute walk away, or Galleria shopping mall in Ataköy
• A day on the Marmaray to the Historic Peninsula, focusing on indoor places
• A quiet evening in the living room of the 1+1 apartment with a book, music and a dessert brought in from outside

Bad weather only changes the pace of the break; it stays enjoyable.

Choosing an apartment for the weekend

If you are staying two nights, you will spend more time in the apartment. The 1+1 apartment with a separate living room is more comfortable for morning coffee or a chat after the day out; your own kitchen also makes it possible to prepare breakfast at home. If you will be out for most of the day, the 1+0 studio apartment is a simple, practical choice. For the comparison, see our 1+1 suite vs 1+0 studio article.

In your bag

• Passports for both of you: at check-in every guest needs a passport, and Turkish citizens can show a T.C. identity card instead.
• Istanbulkart
• Comfortable shoes for seafront and city walks
• A light layer for late afternoons by the sea
• Charger and a phone with a map app installed

We recommend asking early at weekends, on public holidays and in summer. To give us your dates and the number of guests and find out about availability and the current price, call 0532 655 43 32 or send a WhatsApp message.

Common questions