Summer 2015 on the Islands

Schools, exams, rain and Ramadan, now, finally it is mid-summer. Exciting days have come after relatively calm days. We want to concentrate on another side of the activities. Culture and art activities.

While activities in the city consist of open air concerts only, activities on the Islands increase in every aspect.

Restaurants, beaches, water sport clubs, Anadolu Club of Büyükada are becoming addresses of entertainment, concerts, races and exhibitions from time to time.

Summer programs of Çelik Gülersoy Culture and Art Center (old Adaevi), Saklı Bahçe, Büyükada Library, Adalar Kültür Derneği Club House have been already announced.

A new one, Dutlu Bahçe at Heybeliada is added to the above centers.

Some important cultural activities in this summer are as follows;

Austria Days in the Islands will be held between 21-25 July. There will be 4 concerts at cultural activity areas of Büyükada and Heybeliada and one movie at Lale Theater, the only open air theater of Büyükada and all Islands. Details can be found below.

This year, Islands are also included as one of the activity areas of 14th İstanbul Biennial, from 5th of September to 1st of November. 5 areas of Büyükada will be used for the Biennial.

It was our dream to see the Islands as an important culture and art center. Now it is being realized by civil initiative. This dream is developing step by step not like the festivals made by municipalities of seaside towns, which were bursting like bubbles. Now our target is to increase cultural activities on the islands covering whole year instead of summer months only.

This article is prepared for those asking what they can find if they go to Islands in the summer months.

Read more: Summer 2015 on the Islands

June on the Islands

Elections, schools, exams and everything is over. Now, it is vacation time. Hooray!

Weather is still cool. Don’t say, ‘where is summer?’ Don’t be pessimistic. Cool weather and rain will go away soon. Swimming time is starting in Adalar.

On some days in April and May, Marmara was covered with brown foam. We witnessed the white foam before. Unfortunately, this problem, defined as algae burst by scientists, repeats more frequently. People living around Marmara and especially local managements bear big responsibility for this. Seawater around Adalar has still the cleanest in Marmara. You can find pollution measurements on our site. You can see the most recent measurements of the beaches and decide accordingly.

Almost all sea vehicles switched to summer timetables. You can look at timetables of IDO, City Lines, Mavi Marmara and Prens Tour at their own web sites. You can also find the schedules all together in our website.

Spring in the Islands

After a cold and long winter, in May, spring is finally here in Istanbul. Now, it is the right time for Adalar.

Gardens and small streets are colored with wistarias, judas trees, lilacs and various flowery plants.

Temperature is ideal for hiking, cycling or making phaeton tours.

Number of boat services that were reduced in winter are increased now. It is easier now to reach Islands from Kabataş, Bostancı or Kartal. (Summer Schedules of Seabus and City Line ferries will start after beginning of school vacation).

Please see Mavi Marmara and Prens Tour websites for motorboat schedules. You can also find the schedules all together in our website.

Photo: Turgut Kuli

November on the Islands

Autumn is coming to an end. Winter is very close. But in İstanbul, winter does not come before January. Rarely, snow cold shows itself in November or December but does not last long. It keeps its momentum until January and February.

When you are bored of crowd, traffic and noise, think about Islands. If you are coming from outside of İstanbul, do not return without visiting Islands.

Reaching there, is not as difficult as in the past. Frequent trips from Bostancı, Kartal and Kabataş in spring, autumn and winter are now available.There are trips at every 45 minutes in average to Büyükada and Heybeliada.

But Kınalı and Burgaz are not as lucky as them. It is better if you look at timetables before coming, you do not need to look at each timetable at City Line Ferry, Mavi Marmara or Prens Tour websites. You can easily see all available trips by just clicking ‘when can I go’ link in transportation section of our website. Please note following link for shortcut:

http://www.adalarturizm.org/cms/en/transportation/when-can-i-go

February and March on the Islands

Now it is Mimosa time.

As we mentioned before, every season is beautiful on the islands. Islands are getting ready to be colored yellow while everywhere else colors of nature are fading due to dark winter days. With mimosas, the Islands are greeting the awakening of nature earlier than everwhere else.

Mimosas in the gardens and the hills of the Islands are going to show themselves by blooming yellow flowers starting mid February. This festivity will continue up to the end of April, depending on the weather conditions. Mimosa is one of the plants of this region, it is a kind of acacia. There are two mimosa species in Turkey. One is İzmir Mimosa that has no scent and the other is the Island Mimosa that has a beautiful fragrance. People are very much interested in mimosas because of their beauty and pleasant scent. They are sold on the Islands and in the city. But they are more beautiful on their branches. Come to the Islands to see them in their own environment. Walk around deserted roads and streets. Take pictures of yellow Mimosa trees and branches. Do not forget to bring food for cats and dogs that are waiting for you. You will feel wonderful there.

October on the Islands

Last days of September in İstanbul were cool and windy but after these three days of extraordinary weather, beautiful autumn days are back.

Swimming season on the Islands still continues. Water temperature is not below 23-24 degrees. Excluding mornings and evenings, weather and sea water temperatures are nearly equal. Most of the beaches on the Islands will be open until the end of Sacrifice Feast, mid October. Islands are not only beaches and the sea. As we mentioned in September article, the most beautiful days of Islands, magnificent autumn, continue till December.

Despite raining and cool winds from time to time, sunshine is always there.

It is the time for biking, trekking, photographing the colors which cannot be found in cities any more, sitting at cafes, restaurants on the seaside, watching amazing scenery of Marmara sea and Islands from Aya Yorgi or Kalpazankaya.

We also would like to remind you, Heybeliada (Halki) Seminary is now open everyday, as you know it could be visited only with special permission in the past.

September on the Islands

It is often said "September is the best month for visiting Istanbul and the Islands". Weather is around 20 °C. There may be days as warm as summer. Seawater temperature is not less than 25 °C.

After schools are opened, summer vacationists turn back to city. Intensity of crowds decreases.

But this is true only for mornings and evenings. During the day, especially Büyükada continues to attract thousands of daily visitors. September and October are the best months for taking photographs. Sunshine softens, nature changes its color from green to yellow, red and many other colors.

Fish mongers and fish restaurants of the Islands liven up after opening of fishing season on September 1st.

For the last two years, fishing with drag net at surroundings of the Islands were forbidden for the whole year. Thanks to this precaution, fish populations around the Islands have increased considerably compared to previous years. Local fishermen of Islands carry more fish to the market. You can find various very fresh fishes such as bluefish, bonito, horse mackerel, red gurnard at fishermen’s tables on the streets.

Sedef, the quietest of islands that are inhabited, is followed by Burgaz, Heybeli, Kınalı and Büyükada with respect to quietness.

As Büyükada attracts daily visitors the most, it seems that it will also be the liveliest in September. But every island has places that are out of sight and away from crowds. We suggest that you should first decide how you would like to spend your day, then make your choice.

But, the best choice is to stay for nights on few islands during week or weekends. Although transportation is quite frequent now, do not forget that the best time on the Islands is either morning or evening hours. Enjoy beauties without having the stress of going back to the city. How about finding a hotel to stay? There are many alternatives. You can reach them from hotels page of our web site.

August on the Islands

Ramadan Feast crowd has disappeared. Typical pace of summer months is back on the Islands. Number of visitors on Islands is changing from one island to another.

Sedef, the quietest of islands that are inhabited, is followed by Burgaz, Heybeli, Kınalı and Büyükada with respect to quietness.

As Büyükada attracts daily visitors the most, it seems that it will also be the liveliest in August. But every island has places that are out of sight and away from crowds. We suggest that you should first decide how you would like to spend your day, then make your choice.

But, the best choice is to stay for nights on few islands during week or weekends. Although transportation is quite frequent now, do not forget that the best time on the Islands is either morning or evening hours. Enjoy beauties without having the stress of going back to the city. How about finding a hotel to stay? There are many alternatives. You can reach them from hotels page of our web site.

Büyükada Map – Guide

Guide with map for Büyükada. Places to visit. Sightseeing. Tips for daily trips., Turkish- English. 70x100 cm, coated paper.

Guide Books, Albums, Documentaries for Islands

You can buy Guide Books, Albums and Documentaries for Islands at the bookstore at the entrance of historical boat pier and at newsstand next to pier at Büyükada, at Information booth nearby Kartal Boat Pier, at Heybeliada and at newsstands at Burgazada and Kınalıada. Books and guides are also sold at large bookstores in İstanbul.

Please visit İdefix in order to buy Guide and books via internet.