Located in the Sarıyer district of Istanbul, Kilyos is one of the top destinations for weekend escapes. Also known as Kumköy, Kilyos is famous with its broad, sandy beaches and forests.

There are historical evidences that there was a population in the village around 14th century. There is a Genoese castle in the village dates back to 14th century. The castle was restored during Sultan Mahmud II era. The castle is not open to the public visits, since it is located in the military zone. There is a historical cistern, eight cannons and a 26 meter-high monumental plane tree inside the castle area.

At Kilyos, you can swim, enjoy the water sports, walk inside the forest, eat some seafood. There are public and private beaches around Kilyos. Some of the private beaches are popular with their parties, festivals and such events.

To reach Kilyos, you can take IETT buses or minibuses from Sarıyer; it’s approximately 20 minutes from Sarıyer. There are also shuttle services from and to some of the beach clubs at the area.