Büyükada vs Heybeliada

By the Princess Island Guide editors · Last updated August 2026

Büyükada and Heybeliada are the two islands most day-trippers choose between. They're only a short ferry hop apart, but they feel quite different.

Büyükada — bigger, busier, more to see

Büyükada is the largest island and the main event: the Aya Yorgi hilltop, the grandest mansions, the best-known beaches and the island museum. It's also the busiest.

Heybeliada — greener, calmer

Heybeliada is quieter and more wooded, with the Halki Seminary, gentle walks and clear-water coves like Alman Koyu. Less to "tick off," more to simply enjoy.

The verdict

First visit, one island → Büyükada. Want calm and nature → Heybeliada. Best of all: start early and do both in a day — which is exactly what most guided tours do.