Turkey · Religious & Spiritual

8-Hour Büyükada Island Tour with Byzantine Exile History

8 Hours Round trip from Büyükada Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Explore Büyükada, the largest and most populated of the Princes' Islands
02 Ride a phaeton around an island shaped by Byzantine exile history
03 See mansions, palaces, churches, and convents across Büyükada
04 Learn about the exiles of Irene, Zoe, Anna Dalassena, and Leon Trotsky

Ride a phaeton and explore Büyükada, the largest and most populated of the Princes' Islands. See mansions, palaces, churches, convents, and more while learning about the island's remarkable past as a place of exile during the Byzantine Christian period. Discover the stories of Byzantine empresses Irene, Zoe, and Anna Dalassena, as well as Leon Trotsky, who stayed here for four years after his deportation from the Soviet Union in 1929.

It was on Büyükada that the Byzantine empresses Irene, Zoe, and Anna Dalassena were sent into exile.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 8 Hours

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Istanbul, Büyükada

Languages English, French

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Büyükada Island Discovery

Visit Büyükada, the "Big Island" in Turkish, an original Princes' Island and the largest as well as most populated of the Princes' Islands. Büyükada was used as an exile destination and as a monastery region during the Byzantine Christian period.
During Byzantine history, the island was also used as a prison for those who opposed the Emperor. It was on Büyükada that the Byzantine empresses Irene, Zoe, and Anna Dalassena were sent into exile.
After his deportation from the Soviet Union in February 1929, Leon Trotsky also stayed on Büyükada for four years. See mansions, palaces, churches, convents, and much more.
At the end of the tour, take the ferry back to the city and then drive back to your hotel.