Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
hotel, turn right as you leave the ferry and head past the waterfront restaurants and cafes
to the plaza with the Atatürk statue. From here walk up İşgüzar Sokak, veering right until
you hit Refah Şehitleri Caddesi. If you don't feel like walking up to the hotel (it's uphill
but not too steep), you can hire a bicycle ( 5 per hour, 15 per day) from one of the shops
in the main street or a
fayton
to take you around the island. A 25-minute tour
(küçük turu)
costs 40 and a one-hour tour
(büyük turu)
costs 50; the
fayton
stand is behind the
Atatürk statue. Some visitors spend the day by the
pool
(weekdays/weekends 40/60)
at the
Merit Halki Palace, which is a good idea, as the waters around the island aren't very
clean. Towels and chaise longues are supplied, and there's a pleasant terrace restaurant for
meals or drinks.
Büyükada
The largest island in the group, Büyükada (Great Island), is impressive when viewed from
the ferry, with gingerbread villas climbing up the slopes of the hill and the bulbous twin
cupolas of the Splendid Otel providing an unmistakable landmark.
The
ferry terminal
is an attractive building in the Ottoman Revival style; it dates from
1899. Inside there's a pleasant tile- decorated cafe with an outdoor terrace.
The island's main drawcard is the
Greek Orthodox Monastery of St George
, located
in the 'saddle' between Büyükada's two highest hills. To walk here, head from the ferry to
the clock tower in İskele Meydanı (Dock Square). The shopping district (with cheap eater-
ies) is left along Recep Koç Sokak. Bear right onto 23 Nisan Caddesi, then head along
Çankaya Caddesi up the hill to the monastery; when you come to a fork in the road, veer
right. The walk, which takes at least one hour, takes you past a long progression of im-
pressive wooden villas set in gardens. About a quarter of the way up on the left is the
Büyükada Kültür Evi, a charming spot where you can enjoy a tea or coffee in a garden
setting. After 40 minutes or so you will reach a reserve called 'Luna Park' by the locals.
The monastery is a 25-minute walk up an extremely steep hill from here. As you ascend,
you'll sometimes see pieces of cloth tied to the branches of trees along the path - each
represents a prayer, most made by female supplicants visiting the monastery to pray for a
child.
There's not a lot to see at the monastery. A small and gaudy church is the only building
of note, but there are fabulous panoramic views from the terrace, as well as the pleasant
Yücetepe Kır Gazinosu restaurant. From its tables you will be able to see all the way to
İstanbul and the nearby islands of Yassıada and Sivriada.
The new
Museum of the Princes' Islands
(Adalar Müzesi Hangar Müze Alanı;
www.adalarmuzesi.org
;
Aya Nikola Mevkii; admission 5, Wed free;
9am-6pm Tue-Sun, to 4pm
