With fancy streets, vivid nightlife and crowded cafes and restaurants, Istanbul is a complete metropolis that thousands of tourists visit every year. It mesmerizes all of its visitors with its historic beauties, cultural diversities and unique destinations, but sometimes, even if you feel you are in the most beautiful city in the world, you may need a nice and quiet getaway. Those who live in Istanbul will quickly understand. Even one week away from Istanbul will suffocate you as sometimes the crowd of Istanbul is suffocating. So, if you do not want to become too distant, but definitely need a quiet place around the town, here are the best destinations where you relax and enjoy the serenity.Ağva on the Asian side of IstanbulAğva, also known as Yeşilçay, is an escape for Istanbulites with its different beauties in the changing seasons. The small town is only 97 kilometers from Istanbul's city center and is mostly preferred by young couples. Situated on the delta of the Göksu and Yeşilçay rivers, Ağva offers all shades of green all year round and an exotic atmosphere on the rivers. Ağva has been a summer holiday destinations for Istanbulites once, but there are currently many tourist discovering this little town all year long from neighbor cities. With a variety of fish, you can go fishing during your stay in Ağva. You can also go trekking and spend time near the fireplace pn winter days enjoying the tranquility.How to get there: It takes nearly three hours from Istanbul's city center to Ağva. You can go by private car if you have one or use the public transportation that regularly departs from the Anatolian district of Üsküdar. Where to stay: Tranquilla River Lodge is a perfect spot to stay on a visit to Ağva. It is located next to the Göksu River and includes 14 bungalows and log cabins. With the friendly personnel and peaceful atmosphere, the lodge is a perfect getaway for couples.Riva on the Asian sideNamed after the Greek word meaning "resident near the waterfront", Riva is a small village in the Beykoz district. Even though many local tourists and foreigners visit in summer, Riva is a destination whose beauty deserves to be seen all year round. With a fascinating view, Riva is where the Black Sea meets the Bosporus. There are many campsites and luxurious hotels in Riva where you can spend a night. If you visit for a one-day excursion, you must have dinner in local seafood restaurants. You can also take a boat trip on the Riva River, which passes through the village. Riva Castle is also another destinations that draws visitor to the village as you can see the fascinating landscape from the castle. Riva is like a heaven within Istanbul away from all the crowds, rush and traffic. If what you want is to feel at peace and the quietude but not completely get away from the city, Riva should be your first choice.It takes nearly one hour from Istanbul to Riva. The village is only 22 kilometers away from the district of Beykoz. There are public transportation buses that go from Beykoz to Riva.Where to stay: Rhebas Hotel in Riva is a nice and luxurious spot for those who want to spend a night in the village. With its natural landscape, the rooms in the hotel will let you embrace the nature. It is only 55 kilometers from Sabiha Gökçen Airport.Kumburgaz on the European sideOnce a favorite destination among Turkish celebrities, Kurburgaz in Istanbul's Büyükçekmece district is still a popular destination for those who want to get away from city life. With Its natural beauties, clean beaches and high-quality hotels, Kumburgaz draws many tourists, especially in summer. This does not mean that this time of the year is not good for a visit though, as Kumburgaz is off-season. If you want to rest and relax near the sea, visiting Kumburgaz in winter is better than the crowded summer days. It is mostly preferred due to its proximity to Istanbul and beautiful beaches along the Marmara Sea. Families generally prefer Kumburgaz as most of them stay at seaside resorts in the village. Unfortunately, many historic remnants in Kumburgaz have been destroyed, but the beauty of the sea remains and is now the main attraction in Kumburgaz. Visiting tea garden is a must when you arrive in Kumburgaz. It is priceless to sip your tea and look out over the sea.Kumburgaz is 56 kilometers away from Istanbul and it takes one hour by car. There is also public transportation that goes directly to the Büyükçekmece district.There are many high-quality hotels in Kumburgaz. Artemis Marin Princess Hotel is one of the best hotels to spend a night during your visit. It is only 35 kilometers away from Atatürk International Airport.