Princes' Islands · Burgazada
Burgazada, Istanbul: A Complete Visitor's Guide
Burgazada is the third island the ferry reaches and one of the quietest. Dominated by a single wooded hill, it keeps a genuine village feel: a small waterfront of fish restaurants, the house-museum of celebrated Turkish writer Sait Faik, and the dramatic Kalpazankaya cliffs famed for their sunsets.
- Size
- 3rd largest
- Ferry (Kabataş)
- ~40m
- Area
- 1.5 km²
- Ferry stop
- #2
“Fortress Island” — from the ancient Greek Antigoni.
Why visit Burgazada
Burgazada is where Istanbulites go to escape the crowds. There are few tourist trappings — just a walkable shore, a hilltop monastery view, and Kalpazankaya, a cliffside spot for a long lunch and a swim off the rocks as the sun drops.
Sait Faik Museum
The waterfront home of Sait Faik Abasıyanık, one of Turkey's greatest short-story writers, is preserved as a small museum — a quiet, characterful stop that captures the island's literary reputation.
What to see and do on Burgazada
- Kalpazankaya cliffs and sunset restaurant
- The Sait Faik Abasıyanık literary museum house
- A single hill with a monastery viewpoint
- Local, uncommercialised village atmosphere
- Quiet rocky swimming platforms
How to get to Burgazada
Burgazada is stop number 2 on the Princes’ Islands ferry route. Boats leave from Kabataş and Eminönü on the European side and from Kadıköy and Bostancı on the Asian side; the fastest sailings come from Bostancı. Check the full ferry schedule and tickets before you travel — services are frequent in summer and lighter in winter.
Burgazada FAQ
How do you get to Burgazada from Istanbul?+
Burgazada is reached by public ferry from Istanbul's main piers — Kabataş and Eminönü on the European side, Kadıköy and Bostancı on the Asian side. The crossing takes roughly 40 minutes from Kabataş, and you tap in with an Istanbulkart just as you would on the city's other ferries.
Is Burgazada worth visiting?+
Yes — Burgazada rewards visitors with car-free streets, sea views and a relaxed pace that's hard to find so close to a major city. How much time you need depends on the island's size, but even a half-day gives you a genuine feel for it.
Can you swim on Burgazada?+
There are places to swim on Burgazada during the summer season (roughly June to September), from beach clubs to public shores. Water clarity around the Princes' Islands is among the best near Istanbul.
Planning your Burgazada day trip?
Get the ferry timing right and see how to combine your island with the rest of a smooth day out from Istanbul.
See the day-trip itineraryOther Princes' Islands
Büyükada
Everything to know about Büyükada, the largest Princes' Island near Istanbul — the ferry, the Aya Yorgi climb, mansions, bikes, beaches and things to do.
Read more
Heybeliada
A visitor's guide to Heybeliada, the green second Princes' Island near Istanbul — the ferry, pine-forest walks, the Halki seminary and swimming coves.
Read more
Kınalıada
A guide to Kınalıada, the closest Princes' Island to Istanbul — the quick ferry, its red cliffs, easy beaches near the pier and planning a half-day trip.
Read more