Ascot Hotel Buyukada

About Ascot Hotel Buyukada

Buyukada is the largest of the Princes Islands, an escape from the great metropolis, where life moves at a slower pace with no cars or traffic. Ascot Hotel is its new boutique destination, a short ferry trip from mainland Istanbul, just a few minutes walk or phaeton ride from the harbour, with restaurant, bar and private pool. 22 ensuite guestrooms with balconies offer elegant stylish accommodation and best of all, a comfortable bed for a perfect nights repose. It is the ideal base to relax, recharge, and to explore the beauty and history of the island and of Istanbul.

Buyukada is the largest of the Princes Islands off the coast of Istanbul, and is easily reached all year round by ferry from the mainland. It is such a pretty place to walk around and soak up the relaxed atmosphere of this jewel set in the blue Sea of Marmara. Historically Buyukada was largely Greek Christian and it retains a strong multicultural identity with churches, synagogue and mosque. Sultan Abdulhamid II 1842-1918 required his ministers and generals to live on the island where they built villas and waterside residences many of which still remain. Leon Trotsky, the Russian revolutionary, stayed for four years on Buyukada da after he was exiled by Stalin. In the 1920s, a number of Belarussians came to Istanbul to escape the Russian civil war and settled on the island. This has all added to the cultural diversity and harmony of the island. Buyukada is famous for its highest hill Yuce Tepe where the Church of St. George Turkish: Aya Yorgi is located and people from many religions gather and pray and make wishes, especially on April 23 and on September 24 for Yuce Tepe. People come from all regions of Turkey, make their wish on April 23 and then visit the hill again in September to give thanks. The tour of the island is one of the greatest joys, whether on a bicycle or in a phaeton. The track is shaded by pine trees and you can choose to travel 14km for the long ride or 7km for the shorter. Buyukada comes to life in the centre of the village around the ferry port, with its famous fish restaurants on the water s edge and its cafes. There are many places to see in Buyukada, with approximately 900 historical manors, religious buildings, its pine tree forests its 2000 year old history and its unique cultural synthesis of Byzantine, Ottoman, Turkish and western cultures.