A summer house in Kilyos, a home in Zekeriyaköy or a family escaping north for the weekend. Most people who search for horse riding in Kilyos or a horse farm in Zekeriyaköy want somewhere close by, where they can ride without a long drive. One of the places in this corner of Sarıyer where horses are kept is Uskumruköy.
Kerem Bey Horse Farm is in Uskumruköy, on Ayvacık Sokak. Uskumruköy lies between Kilyos and Zekeriyaköy and borders both. Kısırkaya is one of Uskumruköy’s neighbouring villages too. So for anyone staying around Kısırkaya, Kilyos or Zekeriyaköy, the farm is a nearby address. Below we go through what you can do at the farm, the prices and how to get there.
Where Uskumruköy is
Uskumruköy is a small neighbourhood on the Black Sea side of Sarıyer, on the edge of Belgrade Forest (Belgrad Ormanı). On one side is the forest, on the other are roads leading down to the Black Sea coast. The beach at Kilyos and the quiet streets of Zekeriyaköy are close by. For official announcements about the area, you can visit the Sarıyer Municipality website.
This location is well suited to horse riding. The routes from the farm lead to forest trails, a lakeshore and the Black Sea beach. So if you are staying around Kilyos or Zekeriyaköy, you do not need to head back into the city to ride in the forest or on the beach.
How to get here
From the Northern Marmara Motorway (Kuzey Marmara Otoyolu). After you leave the motorway at the Uskumruköy toll gates, the farm is 5-10 minutes away. For people coming from different parts of the city, this is usually the most practical route.
From Kilyos and Zekeriyaköy. Uskumruköy is between the two, so the drive is short. Just type “Kerem Bey At Çiftliği” into your navigation.
From Kısırkaya. Kısırkaya borders Uskumruköy, so typing the farm’s name into your navigation is enough.
From Bahçeköy and Belgrade Forest. The farm is on the edge of the forest, and people coming this way find it easily with navigation.
The map and address are on our contact and directions page. If you are coming by car, you can ask about parking on WhatsApp when you book. At weekends the roads in the north can fill up towards noon, so choosing an early time makes things easier. Before you set off, you can check the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality traffic information page.
What to do at the farm
Forest and lake rides
Guided horse rides on the trails at the edge of Belgrade Forest. For beginners, the forest ride is 30 minutes for 1,500 TL and the lake ride is 45 minutes for 2,000 TL. The lake ride follows the forest trail down to the lakeshore. For experienced riders, the Belgrade Forest ride goes deeper into the woods and takes 90-120 minutes for 4,000 TL. All the routes are on our horse riding tours in Sarıyer page.
Beach horse riding, a ride by the sea
This is the ride people staying around Kilyos and Zekeriyaköy ask about most. It is also usually the scene people have in mind when they search for horse riding by the sea or beach horse riding in Istanbul, riding along the Black Sea shore. It is a guided route from the farm to the Black Sea sand. For beginners it takes 45-60 minutes for 3,500 TL, and for experienced riders the 90-120 minute ride from the forest to the coast is 4,000 TL. Details are on our horse riding on the beach page. If you are thinking of taking photos on the sand, see our light and posing tips for a horse farm photoshoot.
Children and first-time riders
For someone who has never ridden, the arena is a good place to start. The arena is a fenced practice area. Here you get 4 laps with an instructor for 500 TL, designed as a first meeting for children. After that, for anyone who wants to learn properly, there are one-to-one lessons. A single lesson is 30-40 minutes for 3,000 TL, and a 10-lesson package is 23,000 TL.
ATV
For anyone who does not want to ride a horse, there are ATVs on forest, beach and Belgrade Forest trails. The 30 minute forest tour starts at 2,000 TL, and a passenger adds 500 TL per person. The trails are on our ATV tours page.
Breakfast and grills
The farm restaurant serves a Turkish village breakfast and grills. For people staying in Kilyos or Zekeriyaköy, a short drive on a weekend morning for breakfast next to the horses is a special treat. You can come without riding too, and the menu is on our breakfast at the horse farm page. To fit a ride and breakfast into the same morning, read our two example day plans.
Prices at a glance
| Ride | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Arena ride | 4 laps | 500 TL |
| Beginner forest ride | 30 min | 1,500 TL |
| Beginner lake ride | 45 min | 2,000 TL |
| Beginner beach ride | 45-60 min | 3,500 TL |
| Belgrade Forest or beach, experienced | 90-120 min | 4,000 TL |
| ATV forest tour | 30 min | 2,000 TL |
| Riding lesson | 30-40 min | 3,000 TL |
The full price list is on our horse riding prices page.
Which ride suits whom
If you are an adult riding for the first time, the 30 minute forest ride or the lake ride is a comfortable start. If you are coming with a child, 4 laps in the arena first, and then a short forest ride next time if they enjoyed it, makes sense. If you want to see the sea, choose the beginner beach ride, and if you have ridden before and want a long day out, choose the Belgrade Forest or beach ride. If someone in the group does not want to ride, an ATV tour or breakfast means everyone can spend time in the same place. To compare the routes in more detail, see our guide to all the horse riding routes in Istanbul.
When to come
Kilyos gets crowded in summer, and the roads near the coast can fill up at weekends. In the summer months, early morning is best for both cool air and quiet. Spring and autumn are the loveliest times in the area. The forest is green or turning yellow and red, the beach is empty and the beach ride is much more peaceful. In winter, weather and ground conditions can affect plans, so we suggest asking on WhatsApp whether rides are running before you come.
Groups and special days
If you are staying in Kilyos or Zekeriyaköy with a group of friends or family, the farm can be a shared meeting point. Some of the group ride horses, some ride ATVs, and then everyone meets at the same table. The farm also hosts engagements, marriage proposals, birthdays and corporate events. Send us the date and the number of people on WhatsApp and an offer will be prepared for you.
If you want to compare with other farms, we explain what to look for in our guide to horse farms in Istanbul.
Before you come
- Book ahead for the weekend. You can write to us on WhatsApp, through the form on the site or call +90 546 414 00 89.
- Tell us which ride you want, how many of you there are and your riding experience.
- Wear comfortable trousers and closed, flat soled shoes.
- Ask about conditions for children and parking when you book.
- If you are coming by motorway, head for the Uskumruköy toll gates, and from there the farm is 5-10 minutes away.
If you are staying in Kısırkaya, Kilyos or Zekeriyaköy, you do not need to go far to ride a horse. A morning ride in the neighbouring village, followed by a village breakfast, is a good way to start the weekend.