Princes' Islands · Büyükada
Büyükada, Istanbul: A Complete Visitor's Guide
Büyükada — literally “the Big Island” — is the largest and most famous of Istanbul's Princes' Islands, and for most travellers it is the Princes' Island. Its wide pier opens onto a square crowned by a historic clock tower, and beyond it lie leafy avenues lined with pastel Victorian mansions, pine forest and the long climb up to the hilltop church of Aya Yorgi.
- Size
- Largest island
- Ferry (Kabataş)
- ~55m
- Area
- 5.4 km²
- Ferry stop
- #4
“Big Island” — the largest of the Princes' Islands.
Why visit Büyükada
Büyükada packs the most into a single day trip: grand belle-époque architecture, sweeping sea views, forest walks, and a genuinely car-free atmosphere where the loudest sound is birdsong and the occasional bicycle bell. It is the island most tours stop at, and the one to choose if you only have time for one.
Aya Yorgi (Church of St. George)
The island's signature walk climbs from Lunapark up a steep, cobbled path to Aya Yorgi, a small Greek Orthodox monastery perched on the highest hill. The 30–40 minute climb is rewarded with panoramic Marmara views and a hilltop café. On the way up, visitors traditionally unspool thread and tie wishes to the trees.
Getting around Büyükada
Motor cars are banned. You explore on foot, by bicycle (rentals cluster near the pier), or on the electric shuttle buses that replaced the old horse-drawn phaetons. A flat coastal loop and a hillier interior loop let you tailor the walk to your energy.
What to see and do on Büyükada
- Aya Yorgi (Church of St. George) hilltop monastery
- Grand Victorian and Ottoman wooden mansions (köşk)
- The historic Clock Tower square by the pier
- Pine-covered hills and car-free streets
- Splendid Palace Hotel and Belle Époque architecture
How to get to Büyükada
Büyükada is stop number 4 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.
Büyükada FAQ
How do you get to Büyükada from Istanbul?+
Büyükada 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 55 minutes from Kabataş, and you tap in with an Istanbulkart just as you would on the city's other ferries.
Is Büyükada worth visiting?+
Yes — Büyükada 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 Büyükada?+
There are places to swim on Büyükada 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 Büyükada 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
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Burgazada
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Kınalıada
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