A more detailed version of my article published in Hürriyet Newspaper
There are still beautiful beaches very close to Istanbul. Akçakese Village, where I have been going for 25 years, is one of them.. I’ve been going to Akçakese Village for so long.. As they say, it was always mulberry here. indeed it is. Akçakese can be very crowded in season, especially on weekends
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How to Go to Akçakese Village?
Akçakese, on the road to Agva. After passing the Şile, continue on the road. The road comes and goes is only one road. You will pass Kabakoz on your way. At the last sign of Ağva-Kandıra, you must turn left towards Kandıra.. The next village is Akçakese.. Navigation takes you all the way to the beach.
By public transport; Üsküdar 139A, Şişli/Mecidiyeköy Bus – 252 and 139A, Sabiha Gökçen Airport, Pendik E-3 and 139A, Kadıköy Metro M4 Metro – M4-Bus and 139A, Taksim Bus 66- bus – 522ST and bus – 139A to Akçakese Village. what can you reach. You have some way to walk from the village to the beach. I think you’ll be on the beach in about 20 minutes
How was the old state of Akçakese Village Beach?
If I am in Istanbul, every 1st of May, make sure to Akçakese Village in Şile’ what am i trying to go. 25 years ago, my first time going. Even if you went in July or August, there would be nothing but a few people back then.. There was also a campground run by the headman’s office.. Your tent, which you set up on the lush green meadows, would have a magnificent view.
You would get electricity from the sockets on the electricity poles.. You could even dry your hair in the evening by the sea.. Such a thing is a luxury in a camping environment, of course.. There were places to take a shower.. had a small fountain. You would come here for very low prices and relax for a few days.. This is not what I’m talking about now. Access to the beach by car is prohibited.. You leave the cars outside and you walk.
They have built gazebos now. It’s in a restaurant. Currently not open as of season. I guess it will be open in season. Yeşim Camping is located at the entrance of this beach.. 30 lira to leave a vehicle for a full day. You can also come by caravan.. There are sweet little wooden bungalows here but they are expensive. I came and stayed years ago. There was another camping area called Woodywill just above it.
When I look from below, I see caravans above.. You should see what a beautiful view it is looking at. The view he is looking at is more surprising as it is so close to Istanbul.. It is interesting that Akçakese Village is even connected to Istanbul.
As I said, I’m on the road to Akçakese every 1 May. I will enjoy this beach before the season starts and the crowd falls.. Just like every May 1, the weather will be cloudy and I will go to the sea despite everything and open the season. This did not change on May 1.
- Akçakese Village is suitable for caravan camping with and without facilities.
To Akçakese Village Things to Do Before Going
Taking my friends, we are on the way to Akçakese. One and a half hours from Istanbul to Şile. Of course, this is directly proportional to Istanbul traffic.. No place to shop on the beach. In the past, the road used to pass through the villages and we used to buy fresh vegetables and fruits from the field, but now we can buy them from the markets on the road.
We may not be able to find anything in those markets because the season is not open.. The last option is to shop at Akçakese Village without going down to the beach.. We stop for shopping at the exit of Istanbul.. We are planning to have a barbecue on the beach and we will stop shopping immediately without leaving our business to chance.
Şile Observers on the Road
None of us had breakfast. Şile pancakes that everyone knows on my favorite road. Since this road is also a biker route, we take a break at Hanım Ağa, where we have been going for a long time.. I recommend the spinach and cheddar pancakes. Since it is a holiday, a part of Istanbul, in Şile, these pancakes have also flocked to have breakfast.. It’s very crowded.
I’m in the kitchen as always. First, while the pancakes are being made, a little chat and a little help make them prepare quickly, I grab the cooked pancakes and go back to my friends.. Even asking for tea is a problem in this crowd. I recommend you to eat kuymak here in normal times. They do it really well.
Akçakese Village Beach
Although we left quite late, we reach Akçakese Village at noon.. Green nature and trees accompany us as we wind down from the village to the beach.. Hey, we’re on our way by listening to the Black Sea folk song. Really awesome way. Şile roads turn into a visual feast in autumn and spring. You should see it.
After going down to the beach, we leave the car on the road.. We have to walk the rest of the way. We take our bags and chairs from the car and go to the beach.. Here is my ex girlfriend at her best. No one has. I guess the cloudy weather also helps.. There is a huge rock on the way to the beach. From there we go down to the beach. the sands are warm. Winter is finally over and we can set foot on the warm sands. Thank God.
It has such a beautiful view that I feel like I’m here for the first time, like every time.. I know every inch of the bottom of the sea. For example, there is an underwater tunnel under the rocks in the middle of the sea.. You can dive in from one side and exit from the other side.
The first entrance of the sea continues as sand after the stony beach, which normally has golden sands.. This is the Black Sea. You never know when there will be wild waves. This is a very long beach.. Hosted many clips, movies and commercials. I’ve personally witnessed a few of them.
I can’t come here during the season as it used to be, but there are still very few people on weekdays.. They also built a site on the opposite hills.. They didn’t exist before, but the world is changing. Those old ways of this place are in the past, but it’s still incredibly the same as 25 years ago.
In fact, I was quite hesitant to write this article and show the place.. This is my oldest love, my passion. I had wanted to settle here for a while.
And the First Meeting with the Sea of the Year
When the clouds of the weather clear a little, we throw ourselves into the waters. It might be a little cold but that won’t stop me. I couldn’t swim as long as in the summer, but we still got salt water.. A little sun, a little sea, a little conversation, a little music and a purified soul, a happy head. We came to reset our heads.
A few people sprinkled themselves left and right.. We don’t like complete solitude anyway. Walking on the long beach is very enjoyable.. At times like this, my eyes are always everywhere.. A beach that has just come out of winter can give you beautiful shells, pieces of wood. We’re walking across the whole beach. Taking pictures is so enjoyable.
We climb the stairs to the top of the beach.. It will be very nice to look at the beach from a bird’s eye view.. This is how we plan to sink the day. No need to talk too much. The silence, the sound of the waves, the warm wind hitting our faces and the friendly conversation are enough for us.
A few brides are coming.. They chose this place for the photo shoot.. The background gives the impression of the Far East with its beautiful cliffs.
Barbecue Time
It’s getting evening and we are very hungry.. You have to go and start the preparations for carrying the materials in the car and for the barbecue.. There is also a tea spilled into the sea here.. Since we are sitting right there, it is very easy to wash what we bring.. We are trying to light the fire in this secluded place on the beach.
It is not easy to make a fire with wet kindling and coal.. Two girls husbands alone on the beach. Every now and then we joke with the passing brides. I thought it was always the same bride coming and going. Are these girls so alike?. We are alone with the barbecue for the first time in our lives.. We have always seen barbecue as a man’s job.. We’re not really interested but we are strong women. Of course we lit that fire and of course we cooked very tasty meat.. We even had mushrooms.
There is such a beautiful ember… We didn’t even notice the time with the sound of the waves, the full moon above us and the voice of Cem Karaca.. It’s ten at night. I quickly pack up and leave my sanctuary with my mind here. Please take care of this idyllic place, one of the last remaining places. Don’t despise my secret hideout. Do not leave garbage.
How Much Are Beach Prices in Akçakese Village?
Update: From months of 2021 June. I’m going again to Akçakese Village and I’m getting the shock of my life. The beach part of Akçakese Village, run by the headman’s office, was rented by Australian Mark Peacock for 2 years.. 3 years option. Last year, a parking fee of 100 TL was charged for the beach operated by the headman and there was almost zero service.. Toilets were pathetic. This time, entry fee is 50 TL by car, but the whole beach is covered with umbrellas and sun loungers.
How much are the sunbed prices in Akçakese Village? 2 sunbeds and an umbrella cost 80 TL on weekdays. 100 TL on the weekend. There are poufs and lodges on the beach. I forgot to ask their price. If learners write in the comments, I can add it to the article.. Camping, caravan, barbecue and samovar are prohibited. A small part of it was a public beach in the part that used to be operated by the headman’s office.. A place with sun loungers and umbrellas right next to it is reserved for Akçakese Villagers.. Afterwards, it was Peacock’s paid beach until the very end.. When you go down to the beach from the ambulance entrance (next to Yeşim camping), you will see a crowd of sunbeds and umbrellas there.. It has been there for many years. When you move to the right from there, it’s free until the very end.. You will come across many people camping there.. We were one of them.. You should go out and see the world without changing. The place that I said has not changed for 30 years has now changed.
