Princes Island

THE LARGEST ONE OF THE PRINCES' ISLANDS

A haunt for locals and foreigners, Büyükada has begun to reflect all of its romanticism and beauty. There are 24-hour transportation facilities conducted by Istanbul Şehir Hatları (The Istanbul City Lines Company) to the island offering its guests the chance to have special hours.

Despite the feeling as if you are pretty far from Istanbul, Büyükada which is just 20 minutes away from Bostancı, hosts locals and foreigners during all the seasons. Regardless of the weather, Büyükada's restaurants' cafes and interesting places are worth seeing along with the uniqueness of nature, its silence, fascinating scent and look.

HISTORY OF THE ISLANDS DATING BACK TO ANCIENT TIMES

The history of Princes' Islands including Büyükada dates back to ancient times. In historical sources, the Princes' Islands (known as Adala in Turkish) first seen as ^Demonisia^ then used to be known as ^the islands of the people^ (Halkın Adaları in Turkish). In the Byzantine time, it was called ^Papadonisia^referring to the monasteries built on some of the Princes' Islands. The islands began to be known due to the emperors', empresses' and patriarchs exiled to these monasteries. 

According to the information received from the historians of Byzantium, the Byzantine emperor Justin 2 got aa palace and monastery on the largest one of the island's monastery in 569. This island is known as ^Megale^or ^Grand (Büyük in Turkish) was named ^Prinkipo-Princes' Island^after the settlement of the emperor on the island, and afterward, all the archipelagoes began to be called ^Prinkiponisos-Princes' Islands. ^Büyükada joined in the Ottoman territories ahead of the conquest of Istanbul, has been home to a multi-faith population and tradition since that period.

Büyükada invites tourists for a tranquil and joyous trip attracting them to its old wooden mansions, pavilions, Judas-trees, linden scents, and many more authentic features. You can arrive in Büyükada through ferry trips running from Eminönü, Beşiktaş, Kabataş, and Bostancı. The island offers activities such as shopping, religious visits, eating-drinking, sports and so on. Büyükada offers convenient opportunities not only for those on daycation but also for those on a long-stay vacation.