TTP

 Burgazada, Istanbul, Turkey

 

Home
Search
Site Index
Turkey Maps
Photo Gallery

Where to Go
When to Go
Where to Stay
What It Costs
Transport
Travel Details

Tours & Routes
Special Interest
Consultations
TTP Forums
Funny Stuff
Shopping
Bright Sun

About Us
Contact Us
Disclaimer
©TIE 2004-2008

 
 

Burgaz island, in the Sea of Marmara (Google Map), has been a favorite island getaway for Istanbul's Greek-heritage residents for a century, as you can instantly determine when you approach the island and see the grand Greek Orthodox Church of St John towering above the town.

But there are mosques and a synagogue here as well, testifying to the islands' rich Ottoman mix of populations and traditions.

Few tourists bother to visit Burgaz which, at 1.5 square km (150 hectares, 371 acres), is only slightly larger than its neighbor Kinali.

The lack of visitors is the island's main attraction: unlike Büyükada, which is always crowded with visitors, on Burgaz you interact mostly with locals.

That having been said, it is also a smaller island with less to see and do than either Büyükada or Heybeli. But if all you want is a sunny cafe, a shady restaurant table, a place to stroll, poke around and explore, Burgaz will do quite nicely.

The beloved Turkish short-story writer Sait Faik Abasiyanik (1906-1954) lived with his mother on Burgaz from 1939 to 1954, and their house is now is the small, modest Sait Faik Museum, worth a look as it is a period piece. His stories, by the way, are delightful character studies. Many are placed in the Islands, especially Burgaz.


Büyükada

Heybeliada

Kinaliada

Istanbul's Princes' Islands

Transport to the Princes Islands

The Bosphorus

What to See & Do in Istanbul

Istanbul Homepage

 

Burgazada, Istanbul, Turkey

The dome of the Church of St John towers above the town on Burgazada, Istanbul.