Useful Tricks

Book well in advance for your stay, especially during summer weekends or holidays since this is one of the most in-demand hotels in the region for Istanbul residents. Request, if possible, an upper-floor room with a sea view to appreciate that it's close to the Black Sea. Take my advice: Forget the half board at the hotel reservation, and book for bed and breakfast only so that you give yourself a chance to sample some of the local restaurants.

One of the best life hacks is having at least one meal from the local dining scene. The hotel restaurant may be convenient, but it is in the harbor of the small, family-run fish restaurants in the town that one may get an authentic and often better culinary experience. Just ask which fish is fresh today; ‘kalkan’ (turbot) in the spring and ‘palamut’ (bonito) in the autumn are seasonal Black Sea catches, and they will be prepared very simply and very expertly.

There’s always the main one for which one would go to Igneada- the Longoz forests, hence, do not stay simply by the pool. The greatest manner in which one can experience this unique flooded forest ecosystem is by water. Talk to the hotel reception or the local operators in town about how to set up a boat or canoe trip on Lake Mert or one of the other park lakes. Thus, you can float silently through the surreal landscape and so it is much more worthwhile than just walking along the edge.

Finally, come prepared for a nature-focused retreat. İğneada is not crowded with nightlife entertainment or huge flashy buildings – you will spend your evenings in total peace and silence. The sea, on the other hand, is the Black Sea, which means its water is colder and its waves stronger than those along the Turkish Riviera. The visitor should also take along comfortable walking shoes and a potent mosquito repellent since the mosquitoes may abound near the forests and lakes, mainly in the evening. Thus, one would be enabled to take entire advantage of touring through restful and exquisite sites.