Büyükada is the county town of all 9 Islands of Istanbul. With its 6812 inhabitants (in 2009) it covers 5.400km2. Summer habitants can go up to 10-15 times of this number. Most of the houses are used as summer house.

There are two hills on the Island. The one on the north is called İsa Tepesi (Jesus hill) approximately 164m high and the other on the south is called Yüce Tepe (St George) is approximately 202m high.

   FLORA

Apart from settling main flora is formed of spiky leaf plant (Pinus Brutia) and Maki Garig type. The only plant that forms of its own forest is Red Pine tree.

Major forest family, Red Pine tree is southern peninsula plant, which perfectly suits Island’s climate, where Island is the northern tip of its survival environment. Red Pine tree has leaved in shallow soil and in human interference throughout centuries on the island, which led to its deformation; relatively short, bent and crooked body.

Second forest family is Maki. This is the most characteristic and natural vegetation type of all Mediterranean regions in Turkey. These are relatively taller types.

Among settlements there are plenty of exotic plants and flora types, which are seen and adapted to the Island.

   HISTORY

There is very limited information about pre-Byzantine period settlements on Büyükada. The most important antique treasure discovery, Alexander the Great’s father Macedonian King Philip II’s gold coins, on the Island was found in 1930 near the Greek Orthodox cemetery in Karacabey. There were 207 gold coins in total, which are currently in Istanbul Archaeology Museum.

Büyükada, like other Islands, have gained fame with its prisons and monasteries throughout 7 centuries of Byzantine rule. During consequences of fights for throne, political and religious arguments occurred led to exile and torture of many princes, princesses and religious people.

A month and a half before Turks conquered Istanbul, Fatih Sultan Mehmed’s naval commander Baltaoğlu Süleyman Bey, surrounded Kınalıada, Burgazada and Heybeliada. Due to its castle Büyükada resisted for a while before its capture.

After the conquest of Turks, peace and silence have been bought to the islands. Local people leaved on fishing and agriculture. Monks of the monasteries and churches have survived by producing hand made religious works.

Settlements of Turks on the Island have begun with small boats services, which started in 1846. With a bigger boat services and regular timetable has been set in 1875. Thereon population on the Island has risen rapidly. Apart from rich Turks, who preferred the Island, foreigners have shown interest too. Villas, mansions, hotels, buildings, churches and mosques have been built reflecting architectural styles of the period.

In 1861, during Sultan Abdülaziz period Organisation of the Municipality of Adalar called 7th Office that was one of the three municipality offices established in Istanbul, was centralised in Büyükada.

There have been damages in 1894 earthquake and a marketplace fire at the beginning of 1900’s.

An increase in the Turkish population, who came to Island for summer vacation after 1945, has led to its escalation of house buildings, which began along the port later spread from coast to hills.

In 1984 Büyükada has been selected as SITE area in order to protect and maintain its character as being one of the most distinguished places of Istanbul.

    TRANSPORTATION

Büyükada is 21 km from Kabataş pier, 9 km from Bostancı pier and 5.5 km from Kartal.

Transportation services are of traditional and speedy catamaran boats, all being provided by Sea Bus Administration of Istanbul. There is also ‘Sea Taxi’ service provided by Sea Bus Administration of Istanbul.

Traditional boat trips can be taken from piers of Kabataş (European side), Kadıköy, Bostancı, Maltepe and Kartal (Asian side) by purchasing the tokens at site. Furthermore ‘Akbil’, which is an electronic token system used for the transportation amongst all over Istanbul, provides a discount for the trips. Getting back happens in the same way.

Boat trip durations;

Kabataş – Büyükada (direct):                                                                      60 minutes

Kabataş – Kadıköy- Kınalıada – Burgazada -Heybeliada – Büyükada: 105 minutes

Bostancı – Büyükada (direct):                                                                     30 minutes

Bostancı – Heybeliada- Büyükada:                                                            45 minutes

Bostancı – Kınalıada – Burgazada -Heybeliada – Büyükada:                   60 minutes

Büyükada boat pier telephone number: (0216) 382 60 06

Sea bus durations;

Kabataş – Büyükada:   30 minutes

Bostancı – Büyükada:   10 minutes

There are links to and from Büyükada to other islands.

Büyükada sea bus terminal telephone number: (0216) 382 44 36