You want to get out of the city at the weekend, but you do not want a long drive either. A morning at the edge of Belgrade Forest (Belgrad Ormanı), in Uskumruköy in the north of Sarıyer, is made for exactly this. You get on a horse, ride through the forest or along the beach, then sit down to a long breakfast in the garden.
In this article we explain how to plan a full day at Kerem Bey Horse Farm, which ride suits whom and what to know before you come.
Why horse riding and breakfast go together
Istanbul has plenty of places for a good breakfast and very few places to ride a horse at the edge of a forest. When you find both at the same address, the day plans itself. That is exactly what most people searching for a horse farm breakfast in Istanbul have in mind, riding in the morning and sitting down to eat in the same place. You park the car once, and the rest of the day is spent at the same farm.
Breakfast is served in the open-air garden, next to the horses and facing the forest. Sitting down hungry after a ride is a pleasure of its own. For details, see our breakfast at the horse farm page.
Two sample day plans
Breakfast first, then a ride
A relaxed order for those who do not want an early start and for larger groups. First you sit down, eat the Turkish village breakfast and top up your tea. Then you head out for a short ride.
With this plan short routes make more sense. After a big breakfast, a 30 minute forest ride or a 45 minute lake ride is not tiring. When you get back you have one more tea in the garden and wrap up the day. For families with children this is usually the easiest order too, because everyone eats well first and nobody waits around hungry.
A ride first, then breakfast
Better suited to experienced riders and anyone who wants a long route. You set off in the cool of the morning and catch the quiet hours in the forest or on the beach. When you get back, breakfast feels like a well earned reward.
On long rides this order is more comfortable. A 90-120 minute Belgrade Forest or beach route can feel heavy on a full stomach. If it is getting close to midday, grills are also a good choice instead of breakfast.
Which ride suits whom
Every horse ride is guided. The choice depends more on who you are coming with and how long you want to ride. You can see all the routes on our horse riding tours in Sarıyer page. If you cannot decide between forest, lake and beach, our guide to horse riding in Istanbul explains the difference between each route.
- For couples the lake ride or the beach ride works well. They are calm and scenic, with plenty of chances for photos. The beach ride takes place on the Black Sea coast. A morning beach ride followed by breakfast makes a nice pair for couples.
- For families the arena ride and a short forest ride make sense. If you are coming with children, have a look at our article on horse riding for kids too.
- For groups of friends a mix of forest ride and ATV is fun. Some ride horses, some take an ATV, then everyone meets at the same table.
- For first-time riders there are beginner rides. Horse riding in Belgrade Forest is a good fit for a short 30 minute start.
Adding an ATV tour
If someone does not want to ride a horse or wants a bit more action, an ATV tour is a good addition. There are forest, beach and Belgrade Forest routes. One extra passenger can ride on an ATV for an additional fee.
A practical order looks like this. First an ATV forest tour, then breakfast, then a short horse ride for anyone who wants one. More about the routes is in our ATV tour guide.
Turkish village breakfast and grills at the horse farm
The farm restaurant serves a Turkish village breakfast, grills such as meatballs and roasted peppers, tea, coffee and hot drinks. The table is in the open air, with the horses right beside you.
The menu is updated from time to time, so we do not list prices here. The current menu and prices are on the online menu. To reserve a table, just write on WhatsApp or call.
Horse riding and breakfast prices, sample budgets
The table below shows only the ride and ATV prices. You can work out breakfast separately from the online menu. The full list is on our prices page.
| Plan | What is included | Ride price |
|---|---|---|
| Short escape, 1 person | Arena ride, 4 laps | 500 TL |
| Couple, quiet morning | Lake ride for 2, 45 min | 4,000 TL |
| Couple, beach day | Beginner beach ride for 2, 45-60 min | 7,000 TL |
| Group of friends, 4 people | Forest ride 30 min for 2 and 1 ATV forest 30 min for 2 | 5,500 TL |
| Experienced rider | Belgrade Forest ride, 90-120 min | 4,000 TL |
In the group of friends row, the ATV is counted as 2,000 TL, the extra passenger 500 TL and the two horse rides 3,000 TL.
Celebrating a special day
The farm also hosts engagements, marriage proposals, birthdays and corporate events. A beach ride with someone you love, or a small surprise at the breakfast table, is a lovely idea. Details are on our marriage proposals and birthdays at the horse farm page, and quotes are prepared on WhatsApp.
Booking tips
- Weekends are busy. Write a few days ahead for both the ride and the table.
- When you write, include the date, the number of people, the route you have chosen and whether you want breakfast.
- If anyone in the group is riding for the first time, mention it and the ride will be adjusted.
- You can ask anything you are curious about, such as opening hours or payment options, on WhatsApp at +90 546 414 00 89.
To book, use the form on our booking page.
What to bring
- Comfortable trousers and closed, flat shoes. More detail is in our article on what to wear horse riding.
- A light jacket or rain jacket depending on the season. At the edge of the forest it can be cooler than in the city.
- Sunscreen and a hat, especially for the beach ride.
- Bring your phone charged, there are plenty of photo opportunities.
If you want to stay in the area a little longer after breakfast, our guide to things to do in Sarıyer adds Belgrade Forest and Kilyos to the day.
Combining horse riding and breakfast in Sarıyer is an easy way to have a full day without going far from the city. Pick your route, write on WhatsApp, and the rest happens at the farm.