A Weekend at Adalar
After a huge amount of time, I am able to write something here. I have been to Adalar a while ago, and am explaining my trip to there and explaining what to do if you want to go there now.
First of all, you should decide what you will be doing at Adalar. Most of all, who goes to Adalar for the first time, usually ride bike. There are lots of bike renters in Adalar. In my opinion, you should try to ride bike at Büyükada, if it is your first visit. You should choose a line from IDO web site according to your location in Istanbul. I get on the ship from Bostancı to go to Adalar. There are too many ships available; you can pick one of them according to your schedule.
Istanbul ferries have really funny atmosphere. While you are exploring Marmara sea, seagulls will gratefully follow you. All you have to do is to share and throw some pieces of a bagel towards them while you are eating it. Once you throw, most probably they won’t catch, they will skydive and catch it on the surface of the sea. They will follow you to the end of the trip, if you go on sharing your bagel. All ferries have buffet inside. Besides, ship employees sell tea and fresh orange juices. You can have a breakfast inside a ferry. I suggest you, toast with orange juice.
If you pick a long line to Büyükada, which means the ship steps by each island, in my case, from Bostancı, your trip longs to one and a half hour. At some daytimes, there are short line services to Büyükada which does not stop on any station and directly go to Büyükada. In this case the trip only takes 20 minutes. If you have time and love ferryboat trips you can choose the long lines.
After arriving at Büyükada, you will see Historical Büyükada Square. You can buy waffles in the square. There are a lot of ice cream and waffle sellers. You can find bike renters also here. After negotiating and having your bike and the island map, you will see that there are two lines for bikes. One is shorter but you climb some to the hill. The other is really longer, but you go seaside, so you don’t need to climb. The choice is yours. You can take a break on the hill peak if you choose the short line. I have not gone the long line yet, so can’t tell anything about that line.
For the ones who don’t want to ride bike, they can rent phaeton. You will most probably go through the short line, but an island trip with horses feet sounds may sound good to you. After the island trip, you should try fish restaurants at the seaside on the left hand side after getting out the dock.
A weekend may worth be spent at Adalar, especially at Büyükada. In summer time, you can swim in the sea. There are beaches at Adalar in every island. Adalar can’t be finished by explaining. You should explore it. Please do so and give comments.
By the way, while going back with the ferry, seat outside near to back of the ferry. Before getting into the ship, buy a beer. Nothing makes you relax more than having a beer while seeing that you are getting far away from the island with the phosphorescence in the sea. Don’t let ship employees see the beer; it is forbidden 