Lonely Planet İstanbul Guide

day-trippers from İstanbul, who flock here on weekends to walk in the pine groves and swim from the tiny and usually crowded beaches. As you arrive, you’ll see the Deniz Lisesi (Turkish Navel Academy) to the left of the iskele . This was founded in 1824. The island’s major landmark is the Hagia Triada Monastery (Aya Triada; % 0216 351 8563; Ümit Tepesi; h daily by appointment; f Heybeliada) , which is perched above a picturesque line of poplar trees in a spot that has been occupied by a Greek monastery since Byzantine times. This 1844 complex housed a Greek Orthodox theological school until 1971, when it was closed on the government’s orders; the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate is waging an ongoing campaign to have it reopened. There’s a small church with an ornate altar and an internationally renowned library that houses many old and rare manuscripts. To visit the library, you’ll need to gain special permission from the abbot, Metropolitan Elpidophoros. A fayton will charge around ₺ 30 to bring you here from the centre of town. The delightful walk from the iskele up to the Merit Halki Palace hotel at the top of Refah Şehitleri Caddesi passes a host of large wooden villas set in lovingly tended gardens. Many laneways and streets lead to picnic spots and lookout points. Bicycles are available for rent in several of the town’s shops ( ₺ 10 /30 per hour/day). The fayton stand is on Araba Meydanı behind the Atatürk statue. Hire one for a one-hour tour of the island ( büyük turu , ₺ 63) or a 25-minute tour ( küçük turu , ₺ 50). 1 Büyükada The largest island in the Adalar group, Büyükada (Great Island) is impressive viewed from the ferry: gingerbread villas climb up the slopes of the hill and the bulbous twin cupolas of the Splendid Palas Hotel provide an unmistakable landmark. There’s plenty to keep visitors occupied for a full day, with an excellent museum showcasing every aspect of island life, streets dotted with handsome 19th-century timber villas, heavily wooded pine