ST614 Pirinççi - Eyüp

The ST614 Pirinççi – Eyüp is a point-to-point hiking stage in Turkey, forming the final Turkish approach of the 2,500 km Sultans Trail that runs from Vienna to Istanbul. Descending roughly 250 m from the forested hills north of the city to the shore of the Golden Horn, it is rated expert for its navigation demands and urban-forest transition rather than steepness.

About the ST614 Pirinççi - Eyüp

The ST614 Pirinççi – Eyüp stage carries walkers off the wooded ridges north of Istanbul and down into one of the city's oldest spiritual quarters. It belongs to the Sultans Trail, a 2,500-kilometre (1,600-mile) cultural corridor that traces the 1529 march of Ottoman Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent. That route crosses eight countries — Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey — beginning at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna and ending at the Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, where the sultan and his wife Hürrem are entombed.

As one of the closing stages on Turkish soil, ST614 is short in distance but heavy in meaning. The trail is part of the International Walking Network (IWN), a classification reserved for routes of cross-border cultural significance, and the Sultans Trail earned wider recognition when the BBC filmed its three-part series "Pilgrimage: The Road to Istanbul" along it in 2020. Walkers descending into Eyüp arrive at the Eyüp Sultan Mosque, built over the tomb of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad — making this one of the most venerated sites in the Islamic world and a fitting prelude to the trail's grand finish at Süleymaniye.

The "expert" rating here is less about gradient — the descent is gentle — and more about the challenge of navigating from quiet woodland tracks into a dense metropolis of more than 15 million people. Trail markings thin out at the urban edge, traffic intensifies, and route-finding through Eyüpsultan's lanes rewards a hiker who has prepared. Treated with respect, ST614 is a memorable, accessible cap to a continental journey.

Route Overview & Stages

The Pirinççi–Eyüp leg is the penultimate segment before the historic peninsula. The table below places it in context alongside the adjoining Turkish stages of the Sultans Trail; distances are approximate day-stage figures, as the network publishes the route in linked sections rather than fixed kilometre markers.

Most walkers tackle ST614 as a single half-day, leaving the formal trail-end ceremony at Süleymaniye Mosque for the following morning when the historic peninsula is quieter.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Belgrade Forest (Belgrad Ormanı): A 5,500-hectare ancient woodland on Istanbul's northern fringe, the last green buffer the trail passes through before the city proper.
• Pirinççi: A quiet village neighbourhood within the greater Eyüp district that marks the stage's start, where forest tracks give way to the first paved approaches.
• Ottoman aqueducts: Stone water channels and dams built under Mimar Sinan in the 16th century to supply the imperial city, several visible along the forest descent.
• Eyüp Sultan Mosque: Built in 1458, it stands over the tomb of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari and is one of the holiest Islamic pilgrimage sites in Turkey.
• Pierre Loti Hill: A panoramic café terrace above the Eyüp cemetery, reached by cable car, offering the classic view down the Golden Horn.
• Eyüp Cemetery: Tiered Ottoman gravestones climbing the hillside, among the most photographed historic burial grounds in the city.
• Golden Horn (Haliç): The natural harbour inlet the trail follows on its final run toward the historic peninsula.
• Süleymaniye Mosque: The official trail terminus, Sinan's 1557 masterpiece housing the mausoleums of Süleyman the Magnificent and Hürrem Sultan.

Best Time to Hike the ST614 Pirinççi - Eyüp

Istanbul has a borderline Mediterranean climate, so this stage is walkable for much of the year — but timing changes the experience sharply. The single best month is May. In May 2026 expect daytime highs around 20–23 °C, dry forest tracks after the spring rains have eased, long daylight, and the Belgrade Forest in full leaf. Crowds at Eyüp are also lighter than in peak summer.

April and early June are strong alternatives, with April a touch wetter and June warmer (highs near 26 °C). Avoid July and August, when Istanbul humidity pushes apparent temperatures past 32 °C and the urban descent becomes genuinely draining. Autumn — late September into October — offers a second window with mild 18–22 °C days and clear light, though shorter daylight hours leave less margin for navigation delays. Winter is hikeable here, unlike the impassable Bulgarian mountain sections of the wider Sultans Trail, but as of 2026 expect cold, damp 6–10 °C days with muddy forest tracks and frequent rain between December and February.

Practical Information

Accommodation

Because ST614 ends inside Istanbul, lodging is abundant and flexible. Hostel dorm beds in the Fatih and Sultanahmet districts run roughly €15–25 per night, while mid-range pensions and three-star hotels near Eyüp sit around €40–70. Boutique stays on the historic peninsula reach €90 and above. Camping is neither necessary nor practical on this urban stage — unlike the Hungarian and Bulgarian sections of the Sultans Trail, where wild camping is sometimes the only option. Book ahead for May and October weekends, when domestic pilgrimage traffic to Eyüp Sultan Mosque fills nearby rooms.

Getting There & Back

Istanbul Airport (IST) is the main international gateway, about 35–45 minutes by taxi or the HVIST bus from the Eyüp area. To reach the Pirinççi trailhead, take the M7 metro and a connecting municipal bus toward the Belgrade Forest fringe; the journey from central Istanbul takes roughly 60–75 minutes. From the Eyüp finish, the T5 Golden Horn tram and frequent ferries along the Haliç link directly back to Eminönü and the historic peninsula in 20–30 minutes. Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) on the Asian side is a budget alternative, around 70 minutes away by metro and bus.

Permits & Fees

No permit is required to walk the ST614 Pirinççi – Eyüp stage; the Sultans Trail is a free, volunteer-maintained public route. Entry to the Belgrade Forest is free for walkers, though parking carries a small charge. Mosques including Eyüp Sultan and Süleymaniye are free to enter, but visitors must dress modestly and avoid the five daily prayer times; women should carry a head covering. Budget a few euros for the Pierre Loti cable car if you take the detour to the viewpoint.

Gear & Packing List

This is a low-elevation stage with a mostly downhill profile, so weight matters less than versatility — you move from damp forest into a hot, paved city in a single day. A comfortable 35–55 litre pack handles a multi-day Sultans Trail itinerary without bulk. The Abisko Hike 35 suits day-stage walkers carrying only essentials, while the Aether 65 works for those linking several stages with full kit. Ultralight hikers chaining the wider route should look at the 2400 Windrider for its waterproof Dyneema build — useful given Istanbul's spring showers. If you are still choosing a pack, our roundup of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 compares seven models tested side by side.

Pack breathable layers and a light rain shell, trail shoes with grip for muddy forest sections, a 1.5-litre water capacity, sun protection for the exposed urban descent, and a modest layer to wear inside the mosques. A printed map or offline GPX is essential, since waymarking fades at the city edge. Fuel matters too — the descent burns more energy than its gentle grade suggests, and our guide to how many calories you need hiking a full day helps you plan snacks for the leg.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the cultural depth and warm-climate walking of the Sultans Trail appeals, Turkey offers one outstanding longer adventure on a similar theme of historic, waymarked long-distance routes. The Likya Yolu (Lycian Way) traces 540 kilometres of the Mediterranean coast past ancient ruins and turquoise bays — a natural next step for anyone who enjoyed combining hiking with deep history. For a wilder, mountain-focused contrast, our walkthrough of how to hike the Theth to Valbona Trail in Albania covers one of the Balkans' most dramatic single-day crossings.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the ST614 Pirinççi – Eyüp stage?
May is the best month, with daytime highs around 20–23 °C, dry forest tracks and full spring greenery in the Belgrade Forest. April and late September to October are good alternatives. Avoid July and August, when Istanbul humidity pushes apparent temperatures above 32 °C and the urban descent becomes uncomfortable.

How difficult is the ST614 Pirinççi – Eyüp stage?
It is rated expert, but the challenge is navigation rather than terrain. The descent of around 250 m is gentle and the distance is modest at roughly 15–18 km. The difficulty comes from finding the route where forest waymarking fades into Istanbul's dense streets, so carry an offline GPX track and a map.

How long does the stage take to walk in a day?
Most hikers complete ST614 in a single half-day of 4 to 6 hours, covering roughly 15–18 km. Many split the final approach, walking to Eyüp on one day and saving the short 6 km finish to Süleymaniye Mosque for the next morning, when the historic peninsula is far quieter and cooler.

Where can I stay along this stage?
Because the route ends inside Istanbul, lodging is plentiful. Hostel dorm beds cost roughly €15–25 per night, mid-range pensions near Eyüp run €40–70, and boutique hotels on the historic peninsula exceed €90. Camping is unnecessary here. Book early for May and October weekends, when pilgrimage traffic to Eyüp Sultan Mosque fills nearby rooms.

Do I need a permit or pay any fees?
No permit is needed. The Sultans Trail is a free, volunteer-maintained public route and the Belgrade Forest is open to walkers at no charge. Mosques including Eyüp Sultan and Süleymaniye are free to enter, but require modest dress and avoiding prayer times. Budget a few euros only if you take the Pierre Loti cable car detour.

For official route notes, GPX files and stage updates, see the Sultans Trail organisation website. For practical travel logistics, mosque visiting hours and regional information around Istanbul, the official Türkiye tourism portal is a reliable starting point.