Polonezköy Travel Guide

Sitting in Istanbul’s backyard, Polonezköy is one of the special settlements of Beykoz, Istanbul: a place where the unique beauty of nature has been preserved, where the forest’s colors shimmer, with a walking trail that is home to wild animals in their own habitat yet laid out without putting anyone in danger, restaurant kitchens graced by the skilled hands of cooks from Tokat, and a story of its own that reaches back through history.

History of Polonezköy

In 1775, Austria, Russia and Prussia signed an agreement to partition Poland among themselves. The Ottoman Empire alone refused to accept the partition of Poland. Thanks to this friendly stance, Istanbul, then part of the Ottoman lands, became a refuge for Polish political émigrés. In response to this gesture of friendship, the Polish prince living in France, Adam Czartoryski, the exiled leader of the Polish Uprising, came to Istanbul and sided with the Ottomans. With two regiments of soldiers, Adam set up a Polish mission on the land of Polonezköy.

The Story Behind the Name

This village of Poles, first called Adamköy by the Ottomans (after its founder), was later named Polonya Karyesi (karye: village). Although the Polish émigrés had lived on Ottoman soil for a long time, they had a problem with their allegiance (citizenship status); in 1894 the Ottoman State included them in the census and issued them citizenship papers. In 1923 the village was named ‘Polonezköy’ and gained an ethnic identity.

Polonezköy Nature Park

Without a doubt, the biggest draw in Polonezköy is its forest and walking trail. The trail can be walked in every season, and because the trees close over it like an umbrella, it is sheltered from the heat in summer and the rain in winter. The forest trail is 4750 meters long, and at the forest entrance there is a large free parking lot, a restroom and a cafeteria. Overnight stays inside the forest are currently prohibited. Barbecues, picnics, any activity involving fire and smoking are also banned in the forest.

Polonezköy Hotels

Dr. Kuşhan Hotel

Dr. Kuşhan Hotel is a four-star weight-loss hotel. It offers diet menus, a spa and fitness workouts, and it runs under the slogan “lose weight on vacation.” With a special program supervised by Dr. Muzaffer Kuşhan (a general surgeon), they focus on helping their guests lose weight. I also happen to be the fitness instructor and social media specialist here.

Granat Polonezköy & Otel Restaurant

Synosse Park Otel

Polonezköy, set amid greenery, is a hotel tourism area with many hotels. Here you can find everything from a diet hotel to a hotel with an aqua park, and venues that host all kinds of events, from weddings and engagement parties to birthday celebrations.

Polonezköy Restaurants

Polonezköy’s restaurants are especially strong when it comes to meat. The abundance of greenery in the area is reflected as flavor in its kitchens. Polonezköy breakfast, too, is a popular choice here and one of the things that supports gastronomy tourism in the area.

Halim Et & Kahvaltı

Polonezköy Cafes

İO Coffee

Leonardo Restaurant & Cafe

1842 Bistro Cafe & Restaurant

Polonezköy Tabiat Parkı & Parkur Cafe

Polonezköy’s cafes and cafeterias pay attention to their interior design, employ waiters who are good with customers, and serve food and drinks with natural flavors. They stay open until 10-11 at the latest on weekdays and until 12-1 on weekends (Friday – Saturday - Sunday).

Getting to Polonezköy

Getting to Polonezköy is a bit of a problem. Because it lies outside the city of Istanbul, there are enough buses during the school term, but in the summer months buses are scarce. In summer, buses leaving from Kavacık run here 2 times a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. The bus number is (137-2), or the sign simply says Polonezköy. A taxi from Kavacık to Polonezköy currently costs 110 lira. (August 2022)

Polonezköy Square

On Polonezköy square there are two grocery stores, a barber, a kahvehane and an İş Bankası ATM.

Polonezköy MUSEUMS & CULTURAL CENTERS

Zosia Rizi Memorial House

Beekeeping Museum

Glass Art Recycling Workshop

Polonezköy Zoo

Polonezköy Zoo is a wildlife park where you can spend time up close with animals and feed the free-roaming (harmless) animals living in their natural habitats.

2022 Full ticket: 130 Discounted ticket 70 TL.

FOREST PHOTOS

Once you truly discover and get a taste of Polonezköy, it is a place you will want to come back to again and again. Every hiking lover who falls under the spell of the forest can happily spend many long years here. Polonezköy is waiting for you. The road is open, so hit the road.