Although Istanbul is not really a bike-friendly city, nor it does have a vibrant biking culture, it is still a good idea to buy a bike and explore the city in a different manner. No doubt you will have a cool experience of the magical Istanbul.
In my case though, I bought it mainly to commute from home to my university campus – as I am lucky enough the road is not lumpy. I know Istanbul is full of hills, which makes it hard to cycle. Nevertheless, there are many routes you can take to enjoy the ride.
According to a recent research, biking is the most enjoyable medium of commute for people. So why spend time in crowded and stinky public transportation if you can enjoy good weather, scenery, and if there is a quicker way to get to your destination!
If you agree with me and yet you don’t know where to cycle, let alone where to buy a bike, here is all you need to know to set out this adventure on the right track.
Bike Shops in Istanbul
So let’s start by where you can buy a bike. Well, there are many bike shops in almost all districts of Istanbul, but if you are on a tight budget, or if you are a student like myself, I would recommend the Köprüaltı Bisikletçiler Çarşısı in Fatih. You must have passed by this market at some point in your life in Istanbul; as it is a vast market under the bridge of the main road that cars pass over. When it comes to bikes and bike accessories, this market has all the varieties that suits all sorts of budgets, starting as cheap as 350 TL and going up to the thousands of Turkish Lira. Do your research and decide on what kind of a bike you want to buy and you can get it very easily from this market. The vendors are open to bargaining and they are more than willing to give you extra free bike accessories to lure you into their shops.
One last tip: Whatever you do, DO NOT ORDER ONLINE! I repeat, do not ever order a bike online. Before going to this market, i ordered a bike online and it came broke, and it took me a ton of time and energy trying to return it back.
Cycling Routes in Istanbul
If you plan on using your bike not only to commute between your work/school but also want to bike around the beautiful and cycle-friendly routes in Istanbul, here are some routes to explore on a bike.
The European Bosphorous coast: it is very easy and enjoyable to bike all the way from Karaköy up to Sarıyer. It is straight and by the Bosphorus shore, and a big part of this route has a wide pavement to bike on.
Kadıköy – Bostancı: This could be the most beautiful and bike-friendly route of the city on the Asian side. Beside that, both Kadıköy and bostanci are beautiful and worth the visit, the route in the midst is enjoyable.
Golden Horn: Hop on your bike and ride all the way from the Galata bridge, to Eminönü and till Edirnekapı. You can visit the Orthodox churches of Fener and Balat, as well as the Chora Church & Mihrimah Sultan mosque in Erdinekapı.
Old City: You can cycle from Galata Bridge to Sirkeci and reach the Sultanahmet area and Gülhane Park.
If you live in the Fatih area, it is also mainly straight neighborhood, you can easily commute around its corners and streets.
You can definitely take your bike on the ferry and go to the Prince’s Islands. Very scenic and relaxing destination to cycle at.
Other areas to enjoy the silence while biking are Belgrad Forest and Çamlıca.
Parking
Since Istanbul is not accustomed to urban life with bikes, parking can be a struggle. You might need to roam around a little bit before you can find some strong fence to tie your bike to. Keep a really good chain with you, and tie it to the body of the bike, not the wheels. If you have an extra chain, make sure to luck the front wheel as well, for extra security.
Riders of Istanbul
I recommend you to follow the YouTube channel of Serdar Yıldırım: Cyclistanbul. He posts his daily commute on his bike and what he encounters on the road. Although sometimes he is really pessimistic about biking in Istanbul, it is very useful to check his videos to have an idea of how it is to commute daily in Istanbul, learn from his mistakes and avoid taking the same risks.
Cycling Groups in Istanbul
If you want to try biking in Istanbul before purchasing a bike, or if you want to join weekly / monthly tours definitely check out Istanbul on Bike! They are renting bikes for afforable fees and organize biking tours in historic, scenic and touristic parts of Istanbul. You can start at Sirkeci from their store, get your helmet, bike, snacks and start the tour with the group. Check their website to learn more about their facilities and various tours they offer. It may also inspire you to plan similar routes for yourself or with your friends.
Recording Your Rides
I think it is a cool idea documenting Istanbul via GoPro on your helmet. You will eventually find great footage that you will start to vlog more, and perhaps start your own Youtube Cycling series on Youtube. I started this on my first bike ride, and now it is so tempting to do everytime I go for a ride.
Another privilege is that any vehicle driving illegally or harrassing you will be recorded on your camera, if you ever needed this for the police – hopefully never.
Must Have Applications
Here are two applications, one that is extremely useful for Biking in Turkey and another that helps you maintain your health through biking.
One of the the most useful applications when it comes to biking in Turkey is Bisiklet Ulaşım Platformu ( Found on the app store as BUP or Bisikletli Ulaşım Haritası). It has an online map that shows Turkey’s bike repair shops, bike parking units, biking routes, rental shops and bike share system stations, dangerous drain inlets, bike friendly enterprises / restaurants, some main public transport stations and rules, time, limit, & cost for bikes in metro, metrobüs, trams, boats, etc. The app currently runs on Android, and is in the updating phase on the Apple Store.
On a fitness note, there are two good applications that can help you keep track of the calories burnt during your rides as well as your routes. Cyclemeter, which is what I use, is great at keeping track of everything. Strava on the other hand, ranks its members each week for most kilometers / miles cycled in every city. Both of these apps are used for running as well. So if you are getting ready for the upcoming Ironman 70.3 competition, it should be on your checklist.
Safety Tips
Safety is the most important. Make sure you always put on your helmets and gloves! At Night you may almost turn invisible if the streets are not lightened enough. So either refrain from biking in really dark areas or use good LED lights on your bike.
Istanbul already does not have enough bike lanes. Try to follow traffic lights meticulously, and slowly you will learn how to communicate with cars as they signal which direction they will go. Follow all traffic signs and make sure to be alert at all time.
My first mini accident was with a Taxi, and the driver was so ready to fight. I suggest being extra careful when you are around Taxis.
Maintenance
Make sure your bike is in good condition at all times. Each time you set out for a new adventure / for your daily commute, you should check the tires, the brakes and the lights.
If you want to survive out in the Istanbul traffic as a rider, you better learn how to fix the bike chain, because it is not easy finding a nearby bike shop to have it fixed when the chain breaks or falls. Plus, fixing the chain is not even that hard! When I had to fix mine that one time, I felt like a strong, independent woman.
Coming Up: The Turkish government is working on implementing a “Smart Mobility Biking System” as a part of the smart city plan. For more details you can check the official site.
For more Biking in Istanbul, check out this article.
For a reliable well -priced range of bikes, you can’t go wrong with Decathlon, which has an increasing number of branches throughout the city.
That was useful Thanks!
I have a question, is it possible to rent a bike in Istanbul for a month? and if so how much would be?