A calm Turkish island in the Aegean Sea, with Greek Orthodox churches from the 1800s, traditional stone houses and small fishing villages along its rocky coastline.
On Turkey's largest island Imbros, you'll walk past stone houses in Kaleköy village, where the İskiter Fortress towers above the Aegean Sea. Wind surfers catch waves at Aydıncık Beach, while divers explore the underwater national park at Mavikoy. In the town center's Sunday bazaar, locals sell thyme honey and warm cicirya cheese pastries, and during summer months, flamingos wade through the shallow waters of the Salt Lake.
Getting to Imbros
Take a 4-5 hour drive from Istanbul to the Gallipoli Peninsula, then catch a ferry from Kabatepe or Çanakkale ports. If you prefer flying, choose from twice-weekly flights between Istanbul and Imbros's small airport. Ferries run 24 hours from Kuzu Port, the main entry point to the island.
Beaches and Water Activities
Wind surfers gather at Aydıncık Beach, which stretches 13 kilometers from the town center. The steady winds make this spot particularly good for beginners. Dive into Turkey's first national underwater park at Mavikoy, where you'll swim alongside groupers, sea bass, and other Mediterranean fish. Walk along the 91-kilometer coastline to find Marmaros Beach with its freshwater waterfall, or spread your towel on Pınarbaşı Beach, the island's longest sandy stretch.
Village Life
Climb through Kaleköy's narrow streets, split between upper and lower sections, until you reach the 13th-century İskiter Fortress. Stop at one of Zeytinli Village's small cafes to try Dibek coffee while watching farmers tend to their olive groves. Visit Tepeköy, the island's highest village, during the Virgin Mary celebrations in August when locals gather for traditional music and food. Walk through Dereköy, where 600 stone houses line the streets, making it one of the island's largest communities.
Natural Features
Hike the slopes of İlyas Dağ, an extinct volcano that shapes the island's landscape. During summer, the waters of Salt Lake near Aydıncık Beach recede, leaving behind mineral-rich black mud that locals use for joint pain relief. At the Kaşkaval peninsula, three seas meet - the Black Sea, Marmara, and Aegean - creating rich feeding grounds for various fish species.
Food and Markets
Browse the Sunday bazaar in the town center for efibadem (almond cookies) and honey made from local thyme flowers. Try cheese and meat from the native Gökçeada sheep, raised by local farmers. Each morning, fishing boats return to the harbor with fresh catches that you'll find in the island's restaurants by lunchtime.
