Büyükada (Princes' Islands)

Büyükada is the largest and most-visited of the Princes' Islands (Adalar) — an archipelago of nine islands in the Sea of Marmara, about 20 km southeast of Istanbul. Cars have been banned on the islands since 2020 (only service and emergency vehicles), so the transport is by foot, bicycle, or the traditional horse-drawn phaeton.

The island has two main hills, Yörükali and Aya Yorgi, connected by a pine-forested central valley. The classic visit is to take a phaeton or bike around the island's perimeter (about 11 km, 2-3 hours), stopping at the old Ottoman wooden mansions along the way, then climbing on foot (or by phaeton) to the Aya Yorgi Monastery at the top of the second hill. The monastery is a small, working Greek Orthodox site with a wishing tree, an iron wishing well, and panoramic views of the Marmara and the other islands.

The waterfront town around the pier is a mix of old wooden houses, fish restaurants, ice-cream shops, and bicycle rental stalls. Lunch is the highlight — fresh fish at one of the waterfront restaurants (about 5 min from the pier), or Turkish breakfast at a back-street café. The island is best as a half-day or full-day escape from the city; allow 4–8 hours including ferry time.

Ferries from Kabataş (Şehir Hatları and BUDO) take 75–105 min and run every 1–2 hours in season. From Bostancı (Asian side) the ride is shorter (45–60 min). See the [ferries page](/ferries/) for full schedule info.