GOEZThe Şile to Ağva motorcycle route is about 28 km of wide, flowing road along the Black Sea coast, on the Asian side of Istanbul. It has around 30 corners and is rated easy. Ride it in about 35 minutes without stops, or make it a relaxed half-day trip from the city.
Distance and corner count are approximate; use an up-to-date map for navigation.
Where is the Şile to Ağva route?
Şile and Ağva are seaside towns in the far north-east of Istanbul province, on the Asian side of the city. From central Istanbul you ride out through the Asian suburbs and the forested countryside behind them to reach Şile, where the route starts. Ağva is a small village set on a river close to the sea, known as a weekend escape from the city.
If you're visiting Istanbul and have a bike for a day, this is the easiest way to swap city traffic for open road. It works as a half-day ride on its own, or as the first leg of a longer loop east towards Kocaeli and the Maşukiye to Kartepe climb.
What's the road like?
This is a riding road, not a racing road. The line runs roughly parallel to the coast, rising and falling over green hills, with long, open corners rather than tight hairpins. Around 30 corners over 28 km means you're turning often enough to stay engaged, but you rarely need to brake hard.
Sightlines are generally good, which makes it a comfortable road to build confidence on. Expect a mix of forest stretches and open sections where you can see the sea. The surface is typical for a busy regional road: mostly fine, with the occasional patch or rough edge — keep an eye out, especially after rain.
When to go
Late spring to early autumn is the usual season, when the road is dry and the days are long. The Black Sea coast brings rain at any time of year, and fog can roll in over the hills, so check the forecast before you go.
Summer weekends are busy: Istanbul heads for the coast, and you'll share the road with cars, buses and slow traffic around the villages. For an emptier road, ride on a weekday or start early in the morning.
Ride safe
- Watch for traffic stopping suddenly near beaches, cafés and village centres.
- Look out for sand, gravel and wet leaves on corners, especially in the forest sections.
- Plan your ride back in daylight; unlit roads and holiday traffic make the evening return harder.
- Fill up before you leave the city if your range is short, and wear full gear even on an easy road.
Riding in Turkey for the first time? Read our practical tips for riding in Turkey and the motorcycle trip checklist.
Nearby routes
Make a longer trip of it with Maşukiye → Kartepe Summit and Bolu → Lake Abant, or browse all motorcycle routes in Turkey.
Ride it with GOEZ
Şile → Ağva is one of the suggested routes in the GOEZ Routes tab. Bookmark it to keep it in Saved routes, and tap Ride it to start recording with the route's line on your map — see how Routes works.
When you're done, your ride summary shows distance, moving time, speed and how many corners you actually rode. Recording works offline, so a weak signal on the mountain doesn't matter — more on ride tracking.