Famous for its mild climate, magnificent nature, and unique cultural heritage, Turkey also offers routes dedicated to cyclists. Specifically designed for mountain bikes, road bikes, and e-bikes, the two-wheel routes promise incredible adventures.
credit: gocyclingturkiye.com
The 5 best routes in Turkey stand out for their stunning landscapes and bike-friendly amenities:
Güvercinlik Valley Route – Göreme Open Air Museum
One of Turkey’s most incredible destinations is Cappadocia. The region is also an excellent cycling destination, offering seven mountain bike trails. The route from Güvercinlik Valley to the Göreme Open Air Museum starts at the Üçhisar Castle—famous for its breathtaking panoramic views of Cappadocia—and follows the path through Güvercinlik Valley, the Göreme Open Air Museum, Meskendir Valley, and Çavuşin Village. Famous for its trekking paths surrounded by rich vegetation, Güvercinlik Valley offers a fresh perspective on cycling, with cooing doves and panoramic landscapes.
Lycian Way – Maden Beach Route
The Lycian Way boasts more than twenty natural wonders and ancient cities, such as Fethiye, Ölüdeniz, Butterfly Valley, Kabak Bay, Kalkan, Kaş, Kekova, Demre, Patara, Mount Olympos, Çıralı, and Göynük Canyon. In addition to hiking the trail, the Lycian Way can also be explored by bike! Designed specifically for mountain biking, the Lycian Way-Maden Beach route in Kemer, Antalya, is a beautiful 18-kilometer trail that rises to 1,115 meters above sea level. The route ends at Maden Bay, a Mediterranean treasure that offers a variety of activities, including hiking, swimming, diving, photography, and cave tours.
Virgin Mary’s House – Ephesus Route
The ancient city of Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Visiting the area by bike is truly a unique experience: this magnificent region, which also hosts the largest temple dedicated to Artemis, has a mountain bike and e-bike route that begins at the Virgin Mary’s House—nine kilometers from Selçuk—and ends in the ancient city of Ephesus. Starting at an altitude of 414 meters and descending to 350 meters over five kilometers, the route takes cyclists on a memorable journey through the pages of history, from a sacred center of Christianity to one of the most important cities of antiquity.
Köyceğiz – Ortaca – Dalaman Routes
In Muğla, Turkey’s tourism paradise, the Köyceğiz-Ortaca-Dalaman routes, created for e-bikes and mountain bikes, offer a relaxed ride immersed in pristine nature. In 2018, 22 Eco Trails were planned in the area; 15 are designated for mountain bikes, and seven for e-bikes. The area’s climate allows cycling year-round, and the signage meets international standards. The route, which starts in the center of Ortaca district, passes along the Dalaman stream, İztuzu Beach, and the Blue Flag-winning Sarıgerme Beach, important nesting areas for the Caretta Caretta turtles.
Istanbul – European Side Forests Route
For centuries, visitors have been enchanted by this exciting city, a meeting point between Asia and Europe, attracted by its unique position, stunning Bosphorus views, and vast nature. Today’s Istanbul stands out for its history, culture, and ancient and modern art. In addition to world-class shopping and gastronomy, the metropolis offers routes dedicated to e-bikes and road bikes. Located in the forests on the European side, the routes embrace the coast along the Bosphorus’ sparkling waters. From the European shores of the Bosphorus to Belgrade Forest—considered the “lungs of the city”—cyclists can enjoy a new perspective of Istanbul.
Sustainable tourism is also supported by studies on the Bicycle Friendly Accommodation Facilities certificate.
Cycling activities in Turkey are not limited to the routes: accelerating its efforts for sustainable tourism, the country implemented the Bicycle Friendly Accommodation Facilities Certificate last year as part of sustainability studies. Thanks to this certification, visitors cycling across the country can find information about bike-friendly accommodations before arriving in Turkey.
Information about the services offered by certified accommodations is available on the GoTürkiye platform, Turkey’s digital face. Currently, 17 establishments in Turkey meet the criteria for the Bicycle Friendly Accommodation Certificate.
Happy cycling!
