Yalova - Islands Cruise Ticket Ticket

Big Island

Büyükada is the largest of the Istanbul Islands with a surface area of 5.4 km ² . The island, which is 2.3 km away from the Maltepe coast, has two hills on both sides, north and south. The southern hill is Yücetepe and has a height of 203 m. The hill located in the north of the island is known as İsa Hill . Historical texts show that the island was used as a residential area for hundreds of years, dating back to the Byzantine period.

From Past to Present

It is known that the population of the island, which was estimated to be around 3 thousand in the early 1800s, almost doubled in the 1900s with the start of ship voyages. Today, the island has reached a density that can be called crowded, with a population exceeding 8 thousand and thousands of tourists and visitors. It can be said that these numbers increase significantly, especially in summer.

With the decrease in the Greek population during the First World War and the following years, the long period of silence of the island continued until the 1930s. In the following years, with the interest it received from bureaucrats and wealthy people, the liveliness of the island increased and it started to turn into one of the most demanded centers of the summer periods. In the same period, public interest in the island, which was equipped with rich and stylish architecture, increased and the frequency and intensity of daily trips increased.

Buyukada Activities

On the island, there are Yörük Ali and Nizam Beaches on both sides of Dil Burnu, Luna Park, Aşıklar, Viranbağ country casinos, groves, one of which starts from the pier and tours the island all around, the other one starts from Araba Square and goes from Dil, Aşıklar Kır Casino. Car tours, including the small tour that goes to the Luna Park and ends at the point where it starts by passing through Maden, and trips with the decorated donkeys in the Luna Park square, have been the most popular activities during Büyükada visits.

Religious Visitors

Aya Yorgi Monastery is located on the highest hill of Büyükada. The oldest building found in this region dates from the 6th century AD. There are also ruins of many churches and monasteries in the same location. Although some of them managed to survive until today, some of them could not be preserved. Similarly, there is the Christos Church on Isa Hill. Ayios Dimitrios Church , located in the Kumsal district, is one of the most popular religious and historical buildings of Büyükada. The Orthodox community living on the island holds their important rituals and meetings here.

There are four mosques in Büyükada. Sultan II. Hamidiye Mosque, built by Abdulhamid, is the most striking mosque on the island and its architecture is most admired. The construction of the mosque was influenced by western architecture.

How to go?

To reach Büyükada, you can use Ada Ferries departing from Sirkeci, Kabataş and Bostancı and sea buses of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. You can spend a quiet and peaceful day away from the city noise on the island, where cars are prohibited, and enjoy the clean air and dazzling views.