Büyükada — the Big Island

By the Princess Island Guide editors · Last updated August 2026

Büyükada — literally "the Big Island" — is the largest of the Princes' Islands and, if you only have one day, the one to choose. In a few square kilometres it packs a hilltop monastery with the best view in the Marmara, streets of Belle Époque mansions, sandy beach clubs, pine-shaded bike routes, a serious museum, and the ghosts of exiled princes and revolutionaries.

The lay of the land

Ferries dock at the single harbour on the north shore. Just inland is Saat Meydanı, the square named for its 1920s clock tower and backed by the old municipality building — the island's natural meeting point. A little further in lies Luna Park square (Lunapark Meydanı), the transport hub where the electric buses and taxis gather and where the climb to Aya Yorgi begins.

Büyükada has two hills. The southern, higher one — Yücetepe (~203 m), the highest point in the whole archipelago — is crowned by the Aya Yorgi monastery. The northern hill, İsa Tepesi (~164 m), carries the older Hristos (Transfiguration) monastery. The town spreads between them across two neighbourhoods: Nizam to the west and Maden to the east, their avenues — Çankaya, Nizam and 23 Nisan — lined with the island's famous wooden villas.

Aya Yorgi — the island's crown

The monastery of Aya Yorgi (St. George) — Agios Georgios Koudounas, "St George of the Bells" — sits on the Yücetepe summit. Its present stone church opened in 1909 (built from 1905) beside a much older chapel; the site's monastic roots run back to Byzantine times. From Luna Park square a steep path climbs about 1 km and 150 m of ascent to the top — roughly 20–45 minutes on foot, and genuinely steep near the summit.

The climb has its own folk ritual: pilgrims tie coloured threads along the way, or unspool a whole reel of thread as they walk up in silence without looking back, making a wish at the top (red for love, white for health). The monastery draws its biggest crowds on its two pilgrimage days — 23 April and 24 September — when thousands of visitors of all faiths make the climb; 23 April also falls on a national holiday, so the island fills by late morning. Entry is free (dress modestly for the church), and the Yücetepe Kır Gazinosu café beside it — run by the same family since 1978 — serves meze and grills with a view over the whole island chain. Full Aya Yorgi guide →

The Prinkipo orphanage

On the wooded slope toward İsa Tepesi stands one of Büyükada's most extraordinary sights: the Prinkipo Greek Orthodox Orphanage, the largest wooden building in Europe (and reputedly the second-largest in the world) — roughly 20,000 m² over six storeys. Designed in 1898 by the architect Alexandre Vallaury as a grand hotel and casino, it was refused a licence and became an orphanage instead, home to thousands of Greek children until 1964. Today it stands empty and weathering on the hillside — a haunting monument on international heritage-at-risk lists, striking even from outside the fence.

Mansions & the Trotsky house

Büyükada's streets are an open-air museum of Belle Époque timber mansions (köşkler) — ornate verandas, fretwork eaves and coloured shutters, built by wealthy Greek, Armenian, Jewish and Turkish families. Look for named villas such as the Con Paşa and Mizzi köşks along Çankaya and Nizam avenues. The most storied is the ruined Yanaros Mansion, where Leon Trotsky lived during his island exile (1929–1933) and wrote his History of the Russian Revolution — today high-fenced and closed to visitors. More on the mansions → · Trotsky's story →

Beaches

Büyükada's beach clubs run roughly from June to late September. The flagship is Yörük Ali Plajı on the Nizam side, reached by a free shuttle boat from town (included in the fee); Nakibey is a long-running, more family-oriented beach on the south coast; and Aya Nikola lies on the east side near the island museum. Sunbed-and-umbrella entry fees change every season and rose sharply in 2026 — expect roughly ₺800–1,000 at the flagship clubs as of 2026; confirm on the day. Guide to the beaches →

Dil Burnu nature park

For a quieter, cheaper afternoon, head about 2.5 km along the shore to Dil Burnu (Dilburnu Tabiat Parkı) on the island's western tip — a red-pine nature park with shady picnic and barbecue grounds, sea-view terraces, a children's playground and a gentle walking trail. A favourite family and cycling stop.

The island museum

The excellent Museum of the Princes' Islands (Adalar Müzesi), in a converted hangar near Aya Nikola, tells the whole archipelago's story — from Byzantine exile to belle-époque resort — through interactive exhibits, some 20,000 documents and 6,000 photographs, and even a 400-million-year-old fish fossil. Open daily except Mondays (roughly 09:00–18:00 summer / 10:00–17:00 winter, free on Wednesdays — verify current hours & ticket). Museum guide →

Getting around

There are no private cars on Büyükada. The horse-drawn phaetons were retired in 2020 (after a disease outbreak among the horses) and replaced by the municipality's "Adabüs" electric buses and "Ada Taksi" electric taxis; privately-owned e-vehicles have been restricted since 2021. Most visitors simply walk, rent a bicycle (the coast loop is about 10 km) or hop an electric bus for the hills. How to get around →

Where to eat

By the harbour you'll find seafood-and-meze restaurants like Milto and Prinkipo Meyhanesi; up top, the Yücetepe Kır Gazinosu is famous for its köfte. Don't leave without a scoop of thick Turkish ice cream from the island institution Roma Dondurma, or a bag of midye (mussels) and a gözleme from the bazaar. Where to eat on the islands →

How to get there

Büyükada is the last stop on the island ferry line, so it's the longest crossing: about 35 minutes from Bostancı on the Asian side, or ~90 minutes from Kabataş/Eminönü on the European side. Ferries are frequent but fares are charged per crossing, not round-trip — easiest with an İstanbulkart. Full ferry guide →

A perfect day on Büyükada

1. Catch an early ferry and get your bearings at Saat Meydanı before the crowds.
2. Wander the mansion streets of Nizam.
3. Climb to Aya Yorgi for the view (and lunch at the hilltop café).
4. Cool off at a beach or ride the coast road by bike.
5. Ice cream at Roma Dondurma, then a mid-afternoon ferry back before the evening rush.

On the map