Belgrade Forest Travel Guide: Picnic Areas, Hiking Trails, and Entrance Fee

Imagine a place where you can escape the chaos, honking horns, and concrete blocks of Istanbul in just 45 minutes. Belgrade Forest (Belgrad Ormanı) is one of the city's last remaining green strongholds and, frankly, a lifesaver for us locals. If you want to fill your lungs with oxygen early on a weekend morning or sit quietly by the lake with your thermos of coffee, you are in the right place.

However, let's be honest; this place can be heaven on some days and complete chaos on others. Especially if you go on a Sunday afternoon, you are likely to encounter crowds similar to Istiklal Street on the walking track. Therefore, in this guide, I will not only praise the forest but also tell you how to use it most efficiently, how to avoid crowds, and which trail is best for you with the warmth of a friend's advice.

• Entrance Fee (Car): 90 TL
• Entrance Fee (Pedestrian): Free
• Best Time to Visit: Weekdays or Weekends before 09:00 AM
• Internet/Signal: Weak in deep areas
• Public Transport: Metro (M2) + Bus (42HM)

Belgrade Forest Entrance Fee 2025

First of all, you don't have to worry about searching for cash at the gate because the system is now completely modernized. Entrances are made automatically via HGS (Fast Pass System) or payment is taken by credit card. If you are coming as a pedestrian or entering with your bicycle, you do not need to pay any fee; the gates are free for you.

If you are coming with your vehicle, the fees vary according to the type of vehicle. Make sure your balance is full or you have your card ready to avoid waiting at the booths at the gate.

Where is Belgrade Forest and How to Get There?

Belgrade Forest is located on the European Side, on the border of Çayırbaşı and Bahçeköy, serving as a crucial part of the Sarıyer district route. Reaching here is not as difficult as you might think; in fact, you can come quite comfortably even by public transport.

Belgrade Forest entrance gate and lush green trees in Istanbul

Transportation by Public Transport If you don't have a car or don't want to experience parking stress, the cleanest method is the metro and bus combination.

• Metro: Take the Yenikapı-Hacıosman (M2) metro line and get off at the last stop, Hacıosman station.
• Bus: Take the 42HM (Bahçeköy - Hacıosman) bus from the bus stops at the metro exit.
• Drop-off: Get off at the Bahçeköy stop. From here, you can reach the main entrance gate of the forest with a pleasant 5-10 minute walk.
• Alternatively, you can use 42M from Zincirlikuyu or 42T lines from Beşiktaş, but I suggest you take the heavy traffic into account.

Private Vehicle and Parking Situation When you type Belgrade Forest into your navigation, it will bring you to Bahçeköy from the Maslak-Sarıyer direction. You enter the forest by passing under the historic aqueducts.

Warning: On weekends, especially if the weather is nice, a serious vehicle queue forms at the entrance gate after 11:00 AM. Although the parking areas are large, finding a spot can become a patience test on days when picnickers are intense. My advice is to enter before 09:00 AM if you are coming with your vehicle. You will both grab the best parking spot and catch the quietest state of the forest.

BBQ and Picnic Areas in Belgrade Forest

The first question that comes to mind when mentioning Belgrade Forest: Is barbecue forbidden? This situation changes according to governorship decisions and the season. Generally, during the hottest periods of summer when the risk of forest fire is highest, fire barbecues (charcoal, wood) are completely banned. However, even during these periods, tube camping stoves or smokeless options are usually allowed. It is useful to check the current bans before going.

If barbecue is allowed, this place is a cook-it-yourself paradise. However, if you are uncomfortable with smoke, you should prefer the inner parts of the Neşet Suyu track or the Ayvat Bendi side. The main picnic areas can be under heavy smoke on weekends.

Important Note: Phone signal inside the forest (especially in inner parts and low areas) can be quite weak. Sharing your live location with friends you will meet before entering the forest saves lives.

Most Popular Nature Parks and Recreation Areas

Although Belgrade Forest looks like a single piece, it contains many nature parks with different characteristics. As someone who has visited all of them, I can summarize which one appeals to whom as follows:

Belgrade Forest Neset Suyu hiking trail and joggers

Neşet Suyu Nature Park: This is the heart of the forest. The famous 6.2-kilometer running and walking track starts here. If your goal is to do sports, come directly here. The track passes by the lake, and the ground is a mixture of tile dust and soil specially arranged for running. The probability of encountering squirrels in the early morning hours is very high. It has a large parking lot and a kiosk facility.

Ayvat Bendi Nature Park: If you are looking for a quieter, more isolated place, turn your route to Ayvat Bendi. This place stays a bit further away from the main crowd. The view is wonderful and ideal for listening to your head or reading a book.

Bentler (Dams) Nature Park: If you are interested in history, this place will attract your attention. It is a region where you can see historical water dams remaining from the Ottoman period, offering great frames for photographers.

Fatih Fountain and Others: Other recreation areas such as Fatih Çeşmesi, Irmak, and Kirazlıbent are also available. These are generally regions preferred by picnic-focused families where children's playgrounds are found.

Breakfast Places and Food & Drink

To be open, do not expect a luxury mixed village breakfast from the facilities inside Belgrade Forest. The businesses inside operate more with a kiosk logic, meeting basic needs like toast, tea, and coffee. Prices might be a click above the average.

My Recommendation: The best breakfast is the one you prepare. Put your tea in your thermos, buy your simit (Turkish bagel) and burek from the bakeries in Bahçeköy center, and settle on one of the wooden tables by the lake. It is both much more economical and much more enjoyable. If you are looking for a more comfortable and established breakfast, you can evaluate the venues in Bahçeköy or Sarıyer center before the forest entrance.

Activities to Do in Belgrade Forest

This is not just for picnics; it is an active living space:

• Trekking: You can walk on paths inside the forest by going out of the marked tracks (be careful) without getting lost.
• Running: One of the best tracks in Istanbul is here. The ground does not tire your knees.
• Cycling: There are great trails for mountain biking (MTB) inside the forest. However, be careful on asphalt roads; there is no safety lane and vehicles can pass fast.
• ATV Tour: You can rent ATVs at private businesses around the forest and join tours accompanied by a guide.

Cycling and trekking paths inside Belgrade Forest Istanbul

If the crowd here is too much for you and you want a much more organized nature experience with a "museum taste" where bringing food and drink is forbidden, the nearby Atatürk Arboretum will definitely be your best alternative. Since picnics are forbidden in the Arboretum, the environment is much quieter and more peaceful.

Belgrade Forest is Istanbul's most valuable treasure despite everything. Please do not forget to bring a trash bag with you and ensure that the only thing you leave to nature is your footprints. Although there has been a recession in the pond waters due to drought recently, the orange carpet formed by falling leaves in autumn or that fresh green image in spring is worth everything.