Büyükada Nature Park occupies 4.45 hectares on the largest of the Princes' Islands, in the Adalar district of İstanbul, and it was declared on 11 July 2011, taking its name from the island. It is both a day-use park and a place to stay, with accommodation units in several sizes, and its position gives it a view worth the walk.
The shore is the main draw. There is a beach with showers, changing cabins and sunbed-and-umbrella service, and picnic spots looking out to sea; there are also sports grounds, a pool, a country restaurant, a country coffee house and kiosks. The directorate gives one warning for anyone going into the water: watch for the currents. Stated capacity is 1,100 visitors. The lease is held by Kartal Municipality, which also runs the bungalows.
The tree cover is largely coniferous. Red, maritime and stone pine grow alongside sessile and Turkey oak, Mediterranean cypress, fir, Norway spruce, savin juniper, mimosa, Chinese arborvitae and Atlas cedar; beneath them are blackthorn, privet, guelder rose, oleander, strawberry tree, bay laurel, bramble, dog rose, hairy rock rose, tree heath and ivy. Judas tree, hackberry and bay are named in the park's own summary as characteristic of it. Wild boar, squirrel, fox, hedgehog, hare, mole, magpie, sparrow and crow are the animals recorded on the island.
Getting there means taking a ferry. Boats on the Adalar-Yalova services run at set times from Sirkeci, Kabataş, Kadıköy, Bostancı and Kartal; from the landing at Büyükada the park is reached on foot, by electric motorcycle or by rented bicycle.
- Designated
- 11.07.2011
Entry fee
- Marmara group 2 · category 1 · Per person
- 75 ₺
Visiting hours
- Visiting hours
- 08:00 - 20:00
Getting there
- Access
- Take one of the scheduled Adalar–Yalova ferries from Sirkeci, Kabataş, Kadıköy, Bostancı or Kartal to Büyükada, then reach the park on foot, by electric motorbike or by hired bicycle.
When to go
- Climate
- Across İstanbul as a whole, monthly mean temperatures run from 6.8 °C in January to 24.7 °C in August; the mean stays between 15 and 25 °C in May, June, July, August, September and October; rainfall is heaviest in December (99 mm) and lightest in July (22 mm). Long-term means for 1950-2025 from the Turkish State Meteorological Service (MGM).
