Discover 10 Must-See Islands of Turkey

Turkey is surrounded by many seas and the three biggest of them all are the Black Sea (to the North), the Aegean Sea (on the West) and the Mediterranean Sea in the South. Connecting Europe to Asia, is of course, the beautiful city of Istanbul. The country also boasts a number of beautiful coasts and even islands. Not many are aware that Turkey has its fair share of islands, but they’re not as popularas their neighbour Greece’s Mykonos and Santorini.

Turkey’s islands offer the same Mediterranean experience and should not be missed if you ever plan a summer vacation to the country. Want to know more about what’s summer like in Turkey? Check out our article on the Ultimate Guide to Summer destinations.

Summer on the Turkish coast is just like the rest of the Mediterranean countries such as in Spain, Italy, France and Greece. People like to enjoy their time out with family and friends. They prefer to spend the day lying on the beach on hot summer days. This is usually followed by an evening of barbecue enjoyed on the patios of their summer houses; and for the young and hip, in clubs and beach resorts that offer concerts, great music and parties.

Photo by Hazal Ozturk on Unsplash

If you’re headed to Turkey, then make a note and plan your trip to one of these breathtaking islands!

Turkey is full of natural wonders and one of the best times to visit the country is during early summer or after the summer season in September. Summers are usually hot and humid on the beautiful Turquoise Coast of Turkey.

Scattered with ancient ruins, breathtaking natural landscape and boat tours, this is our round up of the best islands the country has to offer. We’ve even picked some islands not particularly on the coast, but further away! Plan your trip to one of the coastal cities of Turkey and don’t forget to explore the nearby islands. Let’s get started!

1. Princes’ Islands

Image sourced from Wikimedia Commons

Our first stop for the most beautiful islands in Turkey are the Princes Islands of Istanbul. Situated on the Asia side of Istanbul, these small, nostalgic and quiet islands offer an escape from the bustling city on the main shore.

A relaxing day walking on the Bostancı seaside in Istanbul will bring you to a few great cafés in this lesser-known part of the Asian side. For more on what to do in Asian Istanbul, check at the Top 10 Things to do on Asian Istanbul!

From here, you can access the big island of the Princes’ Islands group in the Sea of Marmara. Escape for the day here and enjoy Istanbul, free of cars and noise, for instance. 

The islands were settled by wealthy Greek and Armenian residents and continue to offer an escape from the chaos of mainland Istanbul. Take a stroll in the biggest island called Buyukada and admire the Ottoman-era architecture and of course, take in the view of Istanbul as a whole.

Find a few gems such as the Aya Yorgi Church, east-meets-west hotels such as the art nouveau Splendid Hotel, Leon Trotsky’s house and other summer residences built by Ottoman Istanbul’s wealthy Greeks, Christians, and Armenian families. Try a local fish restaurant but a picnic is also a possibility so pack one if you wish.

Finish or start your day with some local island ice cream on the street right opposite the ferry terminal. If you have more time, you can hop onto another ferry that takes you to the other islands, but they have much less to offer than Büyükada. 

2. Cunda Island

Image sourced from Wikimedia Commons

Made popular by Istanbullites, this quiet island is now a must-visit for most Turkish people. Boutique hotels, waterfront cafes and fish restaurants are part of the appeal here for those that like to vacation far away from their bustling cities.

Situated opposite the mainland of Ayvalık, Cunda island or Alibey Adası in Turkish even has some historical landmarks you can visit. You can choose to visit both Ayvalık and the island Cunda itself when you come here. In Ayvalık, spend a nice afternoon in one of the waterfront coffee shops such as Olifant coffee, or take a walk to the Marina or the Antique shopping area. If you don’t need a visa, you can even plan to book a ticket to the Greek island of Lesbos from here.

Image sourced from Wikimedia Commons

On the other hand, Cunda also offers great boutique hotels for all kinds of budgets. Plan to spend a great evening enjoying fish and mezzes at any of the waterfront fish shops. Karadeniz Patisserie is famous for their puddings and cookies and the atmosphere is just beautiful. If you want to visit an old stone house with a great view, then head to Aşıklar Tepesi, a scenic spot and enjoy the views with a lemonade.

If you’re there in the summer, then don’t miss out on enjoying a dip in the waters in any of the beaches on the island. There are some expensive but classy beach clubs such as Ayayorgi or you can choose to find a public beach at many of the coves on the island if you’ve got a car.

3. Gökçeada & Bozcaada

Gökçeada Island, Turkey | Image sourced from Dincer Celik, Google Maps

Rarely visited by foreigners, Gökçeada and Bozacaada are also known by their Greek names – Imbros and Tenedos. They’re both located in Çanakkale province. We recommend a day or two on both islands to enjoy the local wines, vineyards, food and beaches. Both are popular tourist destinations today thanks to their natural environments with less crowds and more calm.

Both islands are mentioned in Homer’s Illiad and the Odyssey as Tenedos and Imbros, for instance:

..in the depths of the sea midway between Tenedos and rocky Imbros; here Neptune lord of the earthquake stayed his horses, unyoked them, and set before them their ambrosial forage. He hobbled their feet with hobbles of gold which none could either unloose or break, so that they might stay there in that place until their lord should return.

Bozacaada, Photo by Osman Yunus Bekcan on Unsplash

The small island of Bozacada or Tenedos was a place where Turks and Greeks had coexisted for generations. However, war and politics influenced the history of the islands and now you can find a few remnants of that era with monasteries such as Ayazma Monastery and the Virgin Mary church. There’s also a historical Greek area on this island.

Tenedos was also where the hero Tenes from the Trojan War was from and Imbros was settled by ancient Athenians. More recent archaeological findings have proven that the island’s been inhabited for at least 5000 years. In recent history, the islands passed from the Venetians to the Genoese, then to the Ottomans, then to the Italians again and to Russians, and eventually to the Turks in the settlement of the Turkish question and the War of Independence with the Treaty of Lausanne of 1923.

Today, both islands are known for their vineyards, fishing and tourism which are the islands’ main sources of income. Get lost in the streets of the islands, see old Greek houses, ancient windhills and even monasteries. There’s even an island museum in Gökçeada so you can learn about its history! You can catch a ride in the ferries from the Çannakale peninsula and straits to visit both the islands.

5. Akdamar Island

Image sourced from Wikimedia Commons

6. Sedir Island

Image sourced from Wikimedia Commons

Also known as Cleopatra island, Sedir is a small island situated in the most beautiful natural landscape of Gokova and Marmaris region.

There is a legend about the island’s sand that is said to be brought in from Egypt for Cleopatra! Local legend has it that Mark Antony, Cleopatra’s lover, imported the sand especially for her.

Sedir Island is known for the Ancient City of Kedrai and the famous Cleopatra Beach. Kedrai was a Carian city. It was later attached to the Rhodes state. The sand found in the northern part of the island is said to be golden in colour and and have some limestone in them, is only found in one other place in the Aegean – in Crete. It is under protection in accordance with the Cultural and Natural Heritage Conservation Law.

Today, Sedir is known for its famous Cleopatra beach, with its sand made entirely of seashells – something that nearby local beaches don’t have! You can reach it easily from the mainland via boats in less than 20 minutes.

7. Gemiler Island

Gemiler Island is located near Ölüdeniz, across the Soğuksu Bay. The island is only accessible for those that want to do daily boat trips and those with yachts or rentals. It is a very secluded place for all nature lovers!

Also called St. Nicholas Island in the Middle Ages, this small island in Fethiye is boat heaven today. The turquoise waters of the Mediterranean steal your breath away for all day trippers and tourists venturing out to the small bay connected to the island. Transportation to the island is provided from Gemiler Koyu near Kayaköy. 

The island also has a few ancient churches. There are 4 church ruins, tomb structures and remains of a medieval settlement on the island. The most magnificent church is named as church no. 3. Civil architectural structures consist of residences and cisterns. Some of the remains can also be observed underwater.

Together with the churches on the island and the other churches located in Symbolon (Ölüdeniz) nearby, it can be considered as a religious center on the pilgrimage route. Religious structures such as chapels, basilicas and tombs were concentrated on the island, probably built during the 5th-7th centuries. It is thought that the attraction of the island is due to the fact that it was a frequent destination for Christians making pilgrimages by ship.

On a fresco located in the second church on the island, “Hossios Nikolaos” is written. Based on this, the church was named the Church of St. Nicholas since it is thought that the church was built in reference to St. Nicholas of Sion, who was born and lived in Alacahisar (Sion) near Demre, Antalya today. Did you know that St. Nicholas from “Noel Baba”  (translates as Father Christmas in Turkish) was born in the city of Patara in Turkey in the 3rd century? Read more about St. Nicholas in our article on The Holiday Guide: How to Celebrate the Holidays in Istanbul. 

8. Kekova Island

Image sourced from Wikimedia Commons

Kekova Island is located opposite ancient Lycian settlement of Simena. It is located between Kaş and Demre districts and known as Kaleköy today, is a small Lycian coastal city. It is a strategic point that has been inhabited since the 4th century. The ruins are vividly located across the bay from Kekova Island. From the ruins itself, it is possible to watch excellent views of Kekova and its natural surroundings.

Simena is one of the rare settlements in Turkey that can be reached from the sea. It is located within the Kekova Special Environmental Protection Area, which covers an area of ​​260 square kilometers. Kekova, which gave its name to the region, is the general name of both the island that’s directly opposite Simena. It is full of traces of civilization that was partially submerged in the earthquakes of the Ancient Period, such as stone stairs, house ruins, pier ruins that’s half underwater and half on land – giving rise to mysterious sunken landmarks. Boat rides to the island are frequent and you can enjoy the calm and beautiful clear waters of Kekova!

9. Güvercinada

Guvercinada Island, Turkey – Image sourced from Wikimedia Commons

Connected to the Western Aegean city of Kuşadası, Izmir, Güvercinada and its castle were built during the Peloponnese Rebellion to prevent attacks from the islands and the sea. The name translates into Pigeon island in Turkish. Today, you can use the causeway to reach the island and there’s also a small botany area with different species of plants and trees.

The castle was established to safeguard the harbor during the Byzantine era. The castle is now listed in the tentative list of UNESCO world heritage sites in 2020. It’s listed for being part of the “Fortresses and Walled Settlements on the Genoese Trade Route from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea.”

Spend a day in the coastal town of Kuşadası and then venture out to the island to take a walk in the castle.

10. Marmara Island

Marmara Island beach, Image sourced from Mustafa Ateş, Google Maps

One of the largest islands of Turkey, Marmara is located in the Sea of Marmara that borders the city of Istanbul. The island is predominately known for its marble that was produced here and was used for many important sarcophagi throughout the ancient world. It was also used for the Hagia Sophia as well as many Ottoman palaces such as Dolmabahçe Palace and Çırağan Palace in Istanbul. Today it is still popular for marble quarrying.

Take a ferry boat from Tekirdağ and Erdek to get to the island and enjoy the good beaches here.