Originally Posted by
Vaitrucci
Ideally we'd be able to get there from Istanbul and spend another 3-4 days taking in scenery, strolling, relaxing on the beach, etc. I've heard of the Princes' Islands, but wasn't sure if that really fit the bill or was worth several days.
I've found the beaches close to Istanbul to be a bit too urban for anything but an afternoons cooling off. The Princes' islands are nice, but not quite what you seem to seek. Hop a quick and cheap flight on Pegasus or Sun Express down to Dalaman or Antalya. Some of the beaches there are amazing. Check out Oludeniz, Patara, Kabak, or Cirali among others.