Buyükada island in Istanbul / Buyükada

Buyükada Island - the largest of Prince of Adalar Islands 20 kilometers from Istanbul (Buyukada Island on the map). Its length is 4 and a half kilometers. Most of the island is covered with forests.

This is the most popular, interesting, and developed island of all available to visit the Prince Islands. There are always a lot of tourists here, in the peak season at the height of the day in places it is simply not crowded, which contrasts very much with the rest, much quieter and deserted islands of the group. Most of the tourists come here in the form of a day trip or an independent trip for a walk to local attractions or for a beach holiday. But if you wish, you can stay here for a night or a few days, hotels and all the necessary infrastructure are available. However, to consider Buyukada as a place to rest for the entire period of vacation is not worth it, most tourists here will be bored.

If you decide to relax here or just spend the night, you can book accommodation through the following sites or search form:

• 🛌 search hotels in Buyukada on Yandex.travel
• 🛌 search hotels in Buyukada on Booking.com
• 🛌 Search for hotels in Buyukada on Trip.com
• 🛌 Search hotels in Buyukada on Ostrovok.ru
• 🛌 Search for affordable accommodation in Istanbul on Sutochno.ru

On Buyukada, as on other Adalars, Road Transport is prohibited (except for transport of city and special services). To move, tourists are invited to hire a horse-drawn carriage (Phaeton), an electric car, or rent a bicycle. Bike rental will cost 10 liras / hour (0.21 USD), or 30 liras / day (0.64 USD), cart-80 lire / hour (1.71 USD). You can also get acquainted with the island on foot, but you will have to walk a lot, and in places steeply up and down. In general, in one day you can get around everything here even on foot.

Beach holidays are only on paid beaches. Input from 20 lire (0.43 USD), includes the use of an umbrella and a sunbed. The beaches are sandy, pebbly, or even just a concrete strip for descent into the water.

The high tourist season on the island runs from May to September, but in April and October it is too cold for swimming, the beaches are closed. Despite this, even in April and October, it is crowded with tourists who arrive here for one day from Istanbul. From November to March, the resort falls asleep, many restaurants and hotels are closed, so at this time it is better not to go here even for a tour.

Seasons on Buyukada island by month, when it is better to go

Current Istanbul weather and forecast

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Sights of Buyukada island, what to see

There are not many attractions on Buyukada, in one day you can see everything. For convenience in the city along the streets there are signs to interesting places. Here is a description of the attractions, the cost, and ways to get to them:

• Prinkipo Greek Orthodox Orphanage

  

  This is a unique old building with a special history. It is believed to be the largest wooden building in Europe, with an area of 20,000 square meters. It was built in 1898 as a luxury hotel and Casino Prinkipo Palace. But the then ruling Ottoman Sultan did not give permission to open a gaming institution on the island, and then the building was bought up and donated to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople for the purpose of an orphanage. The orphanage existed until 1964, when due to political problems it was closed, the building was empty and fell into disrepair.

  Now the building is in disrepair, and it can only be viewed from the outside because of the fence. But even this is enough to get an impression of its scale. As of 2019, restoration is underway, and perhaps in a few years it will be restored.

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located in the center of the island in a wooded part on a hill (shelter on the map).

• Monastery of St. George of Kudun (Aya Yorgi Kilisesi)

  

  The Orthodox monastery of St. George Kudunsky is the oldest in the Prince Islands. It is believed that it was founded by the Greeks in 963 during the reign of Emperor Nikephoros Phokas. In 1302, it was burned by pirates, and restored only during the Ottoman Empire in 1751-1752. You can enter the temple at the monastery, and even put a candle. Most of the monastery is inaccessible to visitors.

  This is perhaps the most popular place for tourists to visit. It is located on a mountain, and to get to it, you will have to overcome it on foot, transport does not call there. Upstairs there is a cafe and an observation deck with excellent views of the island. In addition to the observation deck in the cafe, you can go a little to the side on the rocks, from where the views open even better.

  🕐 Working hours: during daylight hours.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: this is the farthest attraction of the island, from the pier you will have to walk or drive 3.5 kilometers (monastery on the map. Moreover, even if you rent a horse cart, the last most difficult part of the way will still have to be overcome on foot. On a protracted climb along the paving stones will have to climb 20-40 minutes.

• Museum of the Princes ' Islands

  

  The museum presents a small exposition about the history of the Adalar Islands and Natural Resources. Not a particularly impressive place, but to get acquainted with the islands, it does not hurt to visit it.

  🕐 Working hours: from 09:00 to 18:00, Monday is a day off.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: 10 lire, if available museum card Museum Pass Istanbul - 5 lire.

  🚶 How to get there: Museum on the map.

• Church Of Jesus Christ / Isa Rum Manastırı

  Ancient church. Closed to the public and fenced, inspect only from the outside. Located in the center of the island on a hill (( on the map).

• Monastery of St. Nicholas / Nikola Manastırı

  An ancient Greek monastery, the initial mention of which dates back to 1680, but may have been built much earlier. Nearby are the ruins of an ancient settlement. Located in the southeast of the island near the coast (( on the map).

• Trotsky House (Troçki Evi Buyükada)

  The house in which Leon Trotsky lived for 4 years after his expulsion from the USSR. Located at Ciankaya Caddesi 55, in disrepair after a fire, surrounded by a fence, can only be viewed from the outside. Located on the West Bank in the residential part of Buyukada (House on map).

• Old mansions (Mansions)

  In the historical part of the island in the north-west there are several old mansions, distinguished by architecture. Some of them can be visited, and others just take pictures outside. The most famous are Mizzi Mansion and Kosku Mansion (located opposite each other across the street), but perhaps after the restoration others can open. There is also one private house-museum Tas Mektep, in which the family lives and for a small fee allows you to see it inside. Mansions are mostly located on Cankaya Caddesi street, there are signs and maps on them around the city. see (Tas Mektep on the map), and (Mizzi Mansion and Kosku Mansion on the map).

How to get to Buyukada island

Buyukada is 20 kilometers from Istanbul (Byukada island on the map). You can get here yourself or with excursions. If you need excursions in Russian, it is better to purchase them on one of these proven sites:

• Excursions from the tour operator TezTour
• Excursions from Sputnik8
• Trips from Tripster

You can get there yourself by ferry, and most of them are regular public transport, and are paid for by a single transport card Istanbul Kart. It is also possible to pay with one-time cards/tokens, which can be purchased at cash desks or vending machines for cash immediately before departure, but on the Istanbul Kart card it is cheaper: on the travel card 5.2 lira (0.11 USD, see Turkish currency and Exchange Rate), for tokens 7 lira (0.15 USD). Ferries dock at each of the four tourist islands from the Adalar group, but to get to Buyukada from neighboring islands, you will have to pay the same full fare as from Istanbul. However, when paying with an Istanbul Kart card when re-boarding the ferry Within 2 hours, a discount is provided. i.e. if on the way to Buyukada you get off somewhere, take a walk and board the ferry no later than 2 hours, the payment will no longer be 5, but 3.5 lira (0.07 USD).

Ferries depart from the marinas:

• Kabatas Pier / kabatas on the map
• Marinas Eminenyu and Sirkeci / Eminonu & Sirkeci on the map
• Kadikoy Pier / Kadikoy on the map
• Beşıktaş Pier / beşıktaş on the map
• Karaköy Marina on the map (depart from the small Karaköy (Turyol) jetty behind the bridge, not the main Karaköy). These are the most expensive ferries at 10 lire.

Departure several times a day on schedule. Most often, about every hour, depart from the marinas Eminenyu and Sirkeci / Eminonu & Sirkeci (these marinas are nearby, between them there is no clear border). The schedule changes often by season and weekends, so it is better to check it on the sites:

• http://en.sehirhatlari.istanbul
• http://www.denturavrasya.com/en-EN/
• https://www.turyol.com

Please note that due to bad weather (waves, fog) flights are adjusted, and may be canceled on the way. There are even situations where the last ferries are canceled, and then you may be trapped until the next day. In this case, it remains either to spend the night on the island, or to hire small private boats. Therefore, it is highly discouraged to go to Buyukada on the last day before departure from Istanbul.