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The smallest of the Princes’ Islands in Istanbul is Kınalıada. It also happens to be the first stop on the ferries, and one of the quieter and less visited islands.
If you want to avoid crowds and are happy just to sit near the sea or take a leisurely walk, this is a good island to visit. Don’t pay attention to the ugly antennae on the island – you hardly notice them when you are there.
Beach
Upon arrival, you’ll notice right away that there’s a beach next to the ferry terminal. This makes the island a nice, quick getaway from the summer heat on the mainland. While there are beaches on the other islands, just from a quick observation, the beach on Kınalıada looks much cleaner.
Around Town
The town is very quiet and peaceful, especially compared to Büyükada and Heybeliada. It feels almost deserted at times.
You’ll even be able to find a nice place to sit and drink çay or have a meal right next to the sea.
Exploring town is much like exploring the other islands, but without the crowds. You’ll be able to see some impressive Ottoman homes and new construction.
Mosque
There aren’t many more points of interest in town other than a few religious buildings. Kınalıada Mosque (Kınalıada Camii), for example, is a newer construction, built in 1964.
Surp Krikor Lusavorich Armenian Church
The island is home to some of Istanbul’s minority Armenian and Greek populations. The Armenian church, Surp Krikor Lusavorich, is a short walk uphill from the ferry.
Nativity of the Virgin Greek Orthodox Church
The Nativity of the Virgin Greek Orthodox Church (Τον Γενέθλιον της Θεοτόκου) is near the Armenian church. It’s usually closed, but I was able to meet the caretaker who let me inside to take a few pictures. I sat with him a few minutes to chat. He was a funny old Greek man who joked that our connection was not that we were both Greek, but that neither of us had any hair.
Around the Island
Getting around the rest of the island is pretty easy. You don’t really need a bike. If you’re up for walking, it’s very relaxing to walk along the seaside road that circles nearly the whole island. It’s also not very difficult or hilly, except for a section on the northwest side of the island.
There’s a beach on the southwest side of the island. I guess on the day I visited, they were still preparing for summer. Overall, it looked like a clean place to swim.
Climbing up to the top of the island is worth it. It’s not too steep or too difficult, and the views of the city from the top are really nice.
Transfiguration Monastery
At the very top of the hill is the Transfiguration of Christ Greek Orthodox Monastery (Μονή Μεταμορφώσεως του Χριστού). It’s a very historic place dating back to Byzantine times, when the island was known as Proti (Πρώτη). Proti means “first” in Greek, in reference to it being the closest island to the mainland.
The monastery was originally built between 1070 and 1080 and was used as a place of exile for Byzantine emperors. The first was Romanos IV Diogenes, who was sent into exile after the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, when the Seljuk Turks defeated the Byzantine Empire. The monastery was rebuilt in 1722 by a group of wealthy merchants from Chios.
