Beyond Istanbul · Beyond Istanbul
Büyükada
The largest island
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Ozalphakan2 · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Büyükada
Büyükada, “the big island”, is the largest and liveliest of the Princes’ Islands. From the harbour, with its clock tower and cafés, streets of 19th-century wooden mansions lead uphill. Rent a bicycle and ride around the island, or climb to the Monastery of St George on Yücetepe.
Why it's on our list
- Wooden mansions
- Bicycles and electric vehicles
- Two hills to climb
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Büyükada before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from Büyükada are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest taxi ranks
- Taxi rank50 m1 min walk
Key sights
- Blue Mosque19 kmCar or taxi 61 min
- Hagia Sophia19 kmCar or taxi 61 min
- Topkapı Palace20 kmCar or taxi 62 min
- Basilica Cistern20 kmCar or taxi 62 min
- Grand Bazaar20 kmCar or taxi 64 min
- Spice Bazaar21 kmCar or taxi 65 min
- Galata Bridge21 kmCar or taxi 65 min
- Süleymaniye Mosque21 kmCar or taxi 66 min
- Galata Tower21 kmCar or taxi 67 min
- Dolmabahçe Palace21 kmCar or taxi 67 min
Getting around
- Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW)15 kmCar or taxi 49 min