Buyukada ("Big Island") is the largest of the nine Princes' Islands (Adalar) in the Sea of Marmara, a short ferry ride off Istanbul. From the late 19th century it grew into a summer retreat for the city's Ottoman, Greek, Armenian and Jewish elite, leaving behind ornate wooden mansions and Belle Epoque landmarks such as the 1908 Splendid Palace Hotel. Since horse-drawn phaetons were retired in 2020 it has remained a car-free island where you get around only by bicycle, electric bus and electric taxi. In 2026 it is still one of Istanbul's favourite day-trip escapes for locals and visitors alike.
Aya Yorgi (Monastery of St. George) atop Yucetepe, the island's highest point: a steep climb rewarded with sweeping views over the Marmara Sea, famous for the wish-making pilgrimage on 23 April and 24 September.
Splendid Palace Hotel (1908): a white wooden Art Nouveau landmark with red shutters, a protected national monument that has recently been restored.
Historic Ottoman timber mansions along Nizam and Cankaya streets, a rare surviving example of late-Ottoman Belle Epoque island townscape.
Cycling the roughly 12 km island loop through pine woods and coastal roads.
Trotsky's House: the villa where Leon Trotsky lived and wrote in exile after his 1929 expulsion from the USSR.
Beaches and seafront promenades for summer swimming and seafood dining.
Good to know
SeasonSummer weekends are extremely crowded with day-tripping locals, and both the ferries and the island fill up. Aim for a weekday and an early ferry; note that in winter many shops and restaurants close.
RulesPrivate cars are banned, so you get around only by bicycle, electric bus (Adabus) or on foot. Load an Istanbulkart on the mainland beforehand, as it covers both the ferry and the Adabus.
SafetyThe climb to Aya Yorgi is a 20-30 minute uphill on cobblestones with little shade, so wear good shoes and carry water; the cycling loop also has hills, so pace yourself.
MannersAya Yorgi is an active place of worship: dress modestly (cover shoulders and knees) and keep quiet, and be aware that tourist access may be restricted during Sunday services.
CautionSome waterfront seafood restaurants price 'fresh fish' by weight, which can run up a large bill, so confirm prices before ordering and check the tab. For bike rentals, offer a photocopy rather than your original passport as a deposit.
SafetyThe last evening ferries back get very busy in summer, so check the final departure time and get to the pier early so you are not left stranded.
Practical info
Reach Buyukada by ferry from Kabatas on the European side or from Bostanci and Kadikoy on the Asian side (Sehir Hatlari plus private lines such as Turyol and Mavi Marmara); Bostanci is the fastest at about 25-30 minutes. The Aya Yorgi church is generally open around 10:00-16:00 with no entrance fee, and bike rental runs roughly 300-500 TL a day, but always confirm the latest fares, ferry timetables and opening hours before you go.
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