Polonezköy

Polonezköy, also called Adampol, sits in the Beykoz forests on Istanbul’s Asian side, about 30 km from the old city. It was established in 1842 by Polish exiles who fled after the November Uprising, with the support of Prince Adam Czartoryski. The small village still holds a Polish community, a wooden church, and a cemetery that ties it to that past. Today, it’s a popular nature day trip. The surrounding woodland is a protected nature park with walking trails, picnic spots, and a small zoo. On weekends, the village restaurants serve long, lazy breakfasts that draw crowds from the city. Despite its nearness to Istanbul, the air feels cooler and the pace slower up here. You can stroll under oak and pine trees, visit the Polish memorial house, or just eat gözleme under the shade and forget the traffic.