Adalar are the islands facing Küçükyalı and Maltepe in the south east part of Istanbul. The islands also known as Prens Adaları (Prince’s Islands) are as follows:
• Büyükada, 5.400 km²
• Heybeliada 2.350 km²
• Burgazada 1.500 km²
• Kınalıada 1.356 km²
• Tavşanadası 1.010 km²
• Sedefadası 0.157 km²
• Yassıada 0.052 km²
• Sivriada 0.045 km²
• Kaşıkadası 0.008 km²
Büyükada is considered as the metropol of all the islands due to population, architecture and lifestyle. Because automobiles are forbidden on all the islands, people and goods move by horse-drawn wagons and by bicycles. As well as ferries from İstanbul, there are also motorboats from Bostancı going to the Islands.
The Islands are a place where İstanbullu go to escape from the noise and stress of the city. On the Islands you can go to the seaside, have picnic and spend a nice time relaxing in a peaceful atmosphere out of the city.
There are quite a few churches and monasteries because the Islands had a greater proportion of non-Muslim inhabitants during the Roman and Ottoman period.
Going for a picnic on the Islands would be a very nice pastime out of İstanbul. The most popular picnic areas are on Büyükada and Heybeliada. To reach the picnic areas on both of these islands, you need to turn right and follow the shoreline when you get off the ferry. You can either bring your food and drinks with you, or you can shop at the çarşı near the ferry station. At the picnic areas you can buy a small mangal and charcoal for a very reasonable price. After your picnic, you can stroll around, rent a bike, or take a tour on a phaeton. İyi eğlenceler!
Did you know ?
The islands of İstanbul had many different names throughout history: Saint’s Islands, Monk’s Islands, Spirits’ Islands, Genie’s Islands, Red Islands, and finally Prince’s Islands. The name Prince’s Islands originated with the Byzantine custom of exiling nobles and even queens to these islands. There on these beautiful islands where today people come to relax and escape from the bustle of İstanbul, the exiled nobles lived lonely, isolated lives, and some were even tortured.
[youtube qqbOXDBAcLg]
