Heybeliada – Princes’ Islands

Heybeliada is one of the islands in the Sea of Marmara that is pretty close to Istanbul. Heybeliada Island is the second-largest island of the Prince Islands. It takes a lot of people’s attraction due to being one ferry trip away from Istanbul. If you get bored of the crowd in the city and want to visit somewhere with a different ambiance, you can visit Heybeliada. The history of Heybeli Island has got marks from many countries and empires. Many people do not know what to see at Heybeli Island if they do not have information about the island’s history. You can see the remains of different cultures on one island.

The island Heybeliada is different from Istanbul. Fresh air, less crowded, and nobody is rushing to somewhere. You see everyone happy and enjoying their trip to the island. If you want to relax all day, Heybeliada is a nice option. When you take the ferry to the island, you will enjoy a long ferry trip on the Sea of Marmara facing the warm sun and watching the shining sea. Despite it is a long trip to Heybeliada, you can either enjoy live music inside the ferry or sit outside and enjoy the sun. When you are close to Heybeliada, the first thing you see is the Cliff Church and the Naval Cadet School.

The island, Heybeliada, has got a low population. During winter approximately 3.000 people live on Heybeliada while in summer it can reach up to 10.000. Because many people in Istanbul have got summer houses on the island.

History of Heybeli Island

Heybeliada is a previous Greek island so that it was also called “Halki” which means copper. The reason for the naming is that Heybeliada used to be a land that copper was extracted out of mines. Moreover, the great philosopher Aristotle mentioned it in his studies. After the island became a Turkish land, the name was changed to “Heybeli Island”. The word “heybeli” refers to the island having a lot of hills.

Throughout history, Heybeliada had multiple functions for the empires. It was used as an exile place during the rule of the Byzantine. During Ottoman Empire, Heybeliada was a place emperors visited during summer. Moreover, when there was a plague in Constantinople in 1958, many people escaped to the island to prevent becoming infected. Edward Barton, the second English Ambassador that was sent to the city by the rising queen of England, Elizabeth I, also preferred to stay on the island. His grave used to be in Heybeliada; however, he was buried in the British Cemetery of the city. If you want to visit the cemetery, it is located in Üsküdar.

Things You Can Do in Heybeliada

Many activities can be done on Heybeliada. For example, sightseeing, visiting historical places and swimming on the beaches of the Sea of Marmara.

1) Renting Bicycles 

It is very common to rent bicycles and biking around Heybeliada. Most of the citizens do not own cars, and they are using either motorbikes or bicycles for transportation. As Heybeliada is too big to explore by walking, visitors prefer biking. At very affordable prices, you can get a bike for the entire day or as many hours as you want to ride on Heybeliada.

If you cannot use a bike, do not worry. There are also buses that you can take with your Istanbul Transportation Card. They are nature-friendly electrical buses that will take you to most of the places on Heybeliada.

The Prince Islands used to be popular with their horsecars that are taking most of the attraction in the islands. However, for animal rights, the government started using vehicles that work using electricity to protect the nature of the island without harming any animals.

2) Having a Picnic

There is an area on Heybeliada that you can have a picnic and barbecue. There are a lot of people who prefer Heybeliada to have a picnic in the middle of the natural park where you can also see the sea.

3) Visiting Historical Places

The island, Heybeliada, is also an important place to see the history of the Greek and Byzantine. There are several monasteries and churches that you can visit during your trip on Heybeliada. They are:

• Aya Triada Monastery and Seminary.
• Teki World Monastery.
• Aya Yorgi Monastery and Cliff Church.
• Aya Nikola Greek Orthodox Church.
• Panagia Kamariotissa – John the Baptist Monastery and Church

You can also visit Turkish historical places in Heybeliada.

• Heybeliada Sanitarium.
• Ismet Inonü Museum.

4) Eating at Fish Restaurants

If you enjoy eating fish or anything that comes from the sea, Heybeliada is the right place for you. Because there are fish restaurants at the seaside with a lot of different food options in Heybeliada. You can enjoy your food next to the Sea of Marmara.

5) Trying Gum Flavoured Ice Cream

Heybeliada is famous for its ice cream with natural gum flavor. Because natural gum is extracted from the trees of Heybeliada. If you are open to different flavors, we highly recommend you to try that ice cream. It can be one of the best ice creams you have ever tasted.

6) Shopping for Gifts

If you want to bring gifts to your family and friends from your visit to Turkey, you can buy many gifts from Heybeliada. There are many small shops selling accessories and clothes. You can find decorative objects made of ceramic or wood, hand-knitted accessories, and many handmade jewelry options.

7) Swimming 

Swimming is one of the common activities people visit Heybeliada for. Because there are many beaches on Heybeliada that you can have a sunbathe or swim.

8) Attending Festivals

If your trip is at the end of May, you can attend Heybeliada Raki and Fish Festival. It is a festival that lasts for two days and celebrated with the traditional Turkish alcohol beverage Raki, music, and fish.

Frequently Asked Questions About Heybeliada