Princes’ Islands

The Princes’ Islands are among Istanbul’s most peaceful and distinctive destinations. Located in the Sea of Marmara, the islands are known for their historic mansions, religious monuments, wooded hills and relaxed waterfront atmosphere. Büyükada, Heybeliada, Burgazada and Kınalıada are the four principal inhabited islands, each offering a different cultural and historical character. Büyükada is the largest and most frequently visited of the Princes’ Islands. Its streets are lined with elegant wooden houses, gardens and historic buildings reflecting the island’s development as a popular summer destination. At the island’s highest point stands the Aya Yorgi Church and Monastery, an important Greek Orthodox pilgrimage site reached by a hillside path and surrounded by panoramic views. Büyükada is also home to the Museum of the Princes’ Islands, which presents the natural, social and cultural history of the archipelago through documents, photographs and historical objects. Another remarkable landmark is the Büyükada Greek Orphanage, an enormous historic timber building located on İsa Hill. Although it is not generally open to visitors, its scale and distinctive architecture make it one of the islands’ most recognisable heritage structures. Heybeliada is admired for its pine-covered hills, historic residences and quieter neighbourhood atmosphere. Its most significant monument is the Halki Theological School, situated within the Holy Trinity Monastery on the Hill of Hope. Established as an important centre of Greek Orthodox education, the school trained generations of clergy and remains a powerful symbol of the island’s religious heritage. The İsmet İnönü House Museum provides another important cultural experience on Heybeliada. The historic house was used by İsmet İnönü, Türkiye’s second president, and his family. Preserved as a museum, it contains furniture, photographs, documents and personal objects connected with İnönü’s life on the island. Burgazada has a strong connection with Turkish literature through the writer Sait Faik Abasıyanık. His former home now serves as the Sait Faik Abasıyanık Museum, displaying manuscripts, letters, photographs and personal possessions that offer an insight into his life and stories. The island is also home to the Aya Yani Church, an active Greek Orthodox place of worship that continues to host traditional religious ceremonies. Kınalıada is the closest of the main islands to Istanbul and is recognised by its reddish landscape, waterfront residences and relaxed summer atmosphere. Among its historic religious sites is the Hristos Monastery, which represents the island’s Greek Orthodox heritage and continues to be associated with religious and community activities. Together, Büyükada, Heybeliada, Burgazada and Kınalıada offer a journey through Istanbul’s multicultural island heritage.