We leave Istanbul via the Bosphorus Bridge also known as the July 15 Martyrs Bridge, or as the First Bridge. This is one of three suspension bridges over the Bosphorus that connect Europe and Asia. From the bridge you have a beautiful view of the city and the Bosphorus.

The first short stop for photos is at Kuleli Military High School, a beautiful historic building on the banks of the Bosphorus. This was the oldest military high school in Turkey and is being turned into a museum. Enthusiasts can plan a longer stop to visit the museum in the future.

After about 15 minutes we arrive at Kandilli Park, where we stop briefly to enjoy the nice view over the Bosphorus and take pictures of the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge in the distance.

The next longer stop is at the Küçüksu Pavilion. This route does not pass, to visit this point you have to follow the signage "Küçüksu Kasri". The Küçüksu Pavilion is one of the most famous tourist sites on the Asian side of Istanbul. Completed in 1752, the wooden mansion housed the sultans of the time for over a hundred years. Sultan Abdülmecid had the new mansion built in 1856, replacing the damaged wooden mansion. The mansion is surrounded by a beautiful park.

After about 6 kilometers we enter the nature park and recreation area Göztepe. This beautiful area was declared a natural park in 2013, which is mainly used as a picnic area and you can take nature walks. In the Natural Park surrounded by the 164th Year Police Memorial Forest and Çavuşbaşı Forests, you can spend a wonderful and peaceful time under the pine trees and hornbeams in the picnic areas. In general it is not very busy. You can barbecue in designated areas. There are plenty of sitting areas, gazebos, power points at some points, toilets and sinks, a prayer room and a walking trail for nature walks.
In some periods, spring festivals are also held in the region. The entrance fee for the nature park is 6 TL (€ 0.45) per person. Regardless of the number of people, a fee of 18 TL (€1.35) must be paid for entry per vehicle. There is a car park, should you wish to plan a longer stop.

The next longer stop is Polonezköy, formerly known as Adampol, a historic village located in the Natural Park and Protected Area Park Polonezköy. This is a beautiful Polish village that you should definitely visit. Polonezköy has an interesting history, the village was founded after Poland was invaded in 1775 by Russia, Austria and the Prussians. The word "Polonez" is related to Polish in the Turkish language, and "koy" means "village", which gives the meaning of "Polish village" or "the village of the Poles". The current village was founded by Adam Czartoryski in 1842. With the help of the Ottoman Empire, the Polish immigrants settled here.
This unique village has built a reputation for protecting the green nature and environment around Istanbul, it was opened for tourism in the early 20th century and has become one of the most popular recreational spots in Istanbul.

Many locals flock to the village at weekends to have a great day out at the quality hotels, guest houses, restaurants, parks or to have a barbecue. There are opportunities for day trips, nature walks, cycling, picnics and weddings or other parties are regularly organized.
Polonezköy is also one of the most famous villages in the world. And for more than 150 years, the inhabitants of the village have preserved the Polish language, culture and traditions of their ancestors. Many famous people have visited the village, including Polish President Lech Walesa and author Pierre Loti. The Polish culture is alive here through the village buildings, the lifestyle of the people, leisure activities and is also loved for traditional wedding ceremonies.
Sights such as Zofia Ryży's house, where the history of the village and old photos are exhibited, the historic Mother Mary Church of Czestochowa, the house where Ataturk (the founder of the Turkish Republic) stayed during his visit to the village, the culture house or the outdoor exhibition of wooden art, are the most popular places to visit and see in Polonezköy.
You can plan an extra day with an overnight stay in one of the many luxury hotels in this beautiful village.

After leaving Polonezköy Park, we drive on a beautiful winding road through the woods to the coastal town of Şile, on the way we can deviate briefly from the route to have a drink and take pictures at the lake Şile Saklıgöl.
In Şile we stop to photograph the Şile Castle, also called Ocaklı Ada Castle. This castle stands on a rocky island off the coast and served as a lighthouse. It was restored in 2015 and has since been criticized for its appearance, as it resembles SpongeBob SquarePants.

From Şile it is another 120 kilometers on beautiful winding roads through a beautiful green and mountainous landscape to Karasu. The roads are of reasonable to good quality. From the seaside town of Karasu we drive the last 40 kilometers along the coast of the Black Sea to the end point Akcakoca. Along this last part of the route are beautiful beaches to relax after this beautiful day.