Aya Yorgi (St. George) Monastery

By the Princess Island Guide editors · Last updated August 2026

The hilltop monastery of Aya Yorgi (St. George) is Büyükada's most famous sight — the highest point in the whole Princes' Islands, an atmospheric Greek Orthodox pilgrimage site wrapped in a folk wish-making ritual observed by visitors of every faith.

What it is

The monastery crowns Yücetepe, the southern and higher of Büyükada's two hills, at about 203 m — the highest point in the entire archipelago. Its full name is Ayios Georgios Koudounas, "St George of the Bells," from a legend in which a shepherd heard bells ringing underground and unearthed a buried icon of the saint. The present stone church opened in 1909 (built from 1905) beside a much older chapel, but the site's monastic roots reach back centuries into the Byzantine era. Inside are celebrated Greek Orthodox icons, including the famous image of St. George.

The climb

The monastery is reached on foot. From Luna Park square (Lunapark Meydanı), the transport hub inland from the harbour, a path — the Aya Yorgi Yokuşu — climbs roughly 1 km and about 150 m of ascent to the summit. Most people take 20–45 minutes; the final stretch is genuinely steep and cobbled, slippery when wet. There are benches to rest, but no vehicle goes to the top — not even the island's electric buses — so this is a climb for everyone who wants the view. Wear proper shoes and bring water; there's little shade.

The wish tradition

What makes the ascent special is its folk ritual. On the pilgrimage days especially, visitors tie coloured threads and ribbons to the trees and railings, or unspool a whole reel of thread the entire way up — traditionally walking in silence, without looking back, and making a single wish to be granted at the top. The colours carry meaning: red for love and relationships, white for health and peace. It's a shared, cross-faith custom — you'll see Orthodox Christians and Muslims climbing side by side.

The pilgrimage days — 23 April & 24 September

Twice a year the hill fills with thousands of pilgrims: on 23 April (St. George's Day, which in Turkey coincides with the National Sovereignty & Children's Day public holiday) and 24 September. On these days ferries are jammed and the climb becomes a slow, shoulder-to-shoulder procession — moving but very crowded. If you want to join, take the first morning ferry (around 06:00–07:30); the island saturates by late morning. For a peaceful visit with the same view, come on any ordinary day instead. (Confirm the dates each year.)

The view & the café at the top

The reward is one of the best panoramas near Istanbul: on a clear day the whole chain of the Princes' Islands, the Asian shore of the city, and the open Sea of Marmara. Beside the church, the Yücetepe Kır Gazinosu (also known as the Aya Yorgi restaurant) has been run by the same family since 1978, serving meze, grills and its well-known köfte with that view — around €15 per person as of 2026; confirm on arrival.

Visiting essentials

• Entry: free (candles and devotional items are voluntary).
• Dress code: shoulders and knees covered to enter the church.
• Hours: the church is generally open in daylight hours, though there's no single official timetable — reported roughly 08:00–16:00/18:00; verify locally.
• Access: the climb is not wheelchair- or stroller-friendly, and no vehicle reaches the summit.

How to get there

First reach Büyükada by ferry (about 35 minutes from Bostancı, ~90 from Kabataş). From the harbour, walk or take an electric bus to Luna Park square, where the climb begins. More on getting around the island →

On the map