Running can offer you a welcome break from the usual tourist trail and help you discover places you would not see otherwise. Particularly in Istanbul, you can get sight and discover the endless hidden treasures of the city while exercising. In this article, we’ll cite the best places to run in İstanbul – all you will need to do is to gear up and sweat off your busy itinerary. Let’s discover İstanbul’s running routes together!

You may already know that İstanbul straddles the Bosphorus Strait, spanning across two continents. Have you ever thought of its coastal neighbourhoods as parts of a running route? Well, you should!

From Kuruçeşme all the way to Tarabya, the best places to run in İstanbul are situated along the most beautiful waterway, Bosphorus. Located on İstanbul’s European side, these districts feature great Bosphorus views that mesmerizes you while running. There are beautiful Ottoman-era mansions and homes, cool boutiques, famous restaurants, and third-generation cafés. If you’d like to take short breaks from running to grab a coffee or simply to sit down and take a deep breath, there are many spots along this route.

If you’d like a run-seeing tour of İstanbul, we suggest running near Tarihi Yarımada, the Turkish term for İstanbul’s Historical Peninsula. This part of the city features some structures that have in fact become the symbols of the city such as Sultanahmet (Blue) Mosque and Hagia Sophia. However, you should note that you had better to start running early in the morning before the tourists’ flock to the peninsula.

You can start at Sultanahmet Mosque and pass through Sultanahmet Square to arrive at Hagia Sophia and the grounds of the Topkapı Palace. Go through Gülhane Park, which is adjacent to the palace, and arrive at J.F. Kennedy Street, a waterfront path that continues for 4 kilometres.

İstanbul has vast forests and running tracks to offer. The two we will mention here are Belgrade Forest and Aydos Forest. Depending on which side of İstanbul you’ll be visiting, you can choose one of them!

Located 15 km north of İstanbul, Belgrade Forest is a shady forest with a lot of hiking and running tracks. It’s perfect all year round and loved by local fitness enthusiasts who come here to exercise in groups. You can customize your running route to whichever length you wish as the forest extends over 5,000 hectares and contains a 6.5 km running track. The forest accommodates a lake, nine nature parks, and many recreational areas. Its lush greenery and rich wildlife are sure to impress you!

There’s also a famous spring in the forest named as Neşet Suyu (Neşet Spring), whose water is drinkable. When you head 2.5 km north of the spring, you’ll arrive at Atatürk Arboretum, a botanical collection of endemic plants and trees situated in Belgrade Forest.

If you make time for a day trip, İstanbul’s Princes’ Islands offer some of the best places to run. We’ve chosen one of the nine islands, situated off the coast of İstanbul in the Marmara Sea - Büyükada. You can customize a circuit of the entire island, following the perimeter road. The view of its Ottoman-era houses and endless greenery is a bonus!

Since the cars are not allowed on the island, you’ll be able to run comfortably - only make sure to watch out for electrical carriages and bikers. It’s recommended you visit the island on weekdays when the atmosphere is generally calmer. Don’t forget to check the timetable for the boat tours.