Turkey’s largest island Gökçeada, in the North Aegean, has an important agricultural and tourism potential with its geographical location and natural resources.. Approximately 10 thousand people, including their villages, live on the island located at the westernmost tip of Turkey.. While the most important activities on the island are organic agriculture, agro and gastro tourism, animal husbandry, honey, olive, olive oil and wine production are carried out with organic methods..
Gokceada, the district of Çanakkale, one of the tourism spots that has attracted attention recently, offers an alternative island trip opportunity right behind Bozcaada.. We hope that our Gökçeada Travel Guide, which we compiled from food, transportation, accommodation and places to visit in Gökçeada, where we stayed for 3 nights, will be useful before your trip.
Below island notes with small titles and what to do in Gökçeada? We will share the topics and go into details..
# Gokceada’s former name is Imroz. You will often see this name in many parts of the island.. Imroz joined the homeland with the Treaty of Lausanne after the War of Independence, and its name was changed to Gökçeada in 1970..
# Places to visit and beaches in Gökçeada are far from each other. A vehicle is absolutely necessary for you to be comfortable in transportation within the island..
# Ata Demirer’s role is behind the popular island of Gökçeada in recent times.. The islanders say that, not me.. Especially on the island where it is difficult to find a place on every public holiday, the movie Destination Sensin , starring Ata Demirer, was shot in Gökçeada and attracted attention.. After Geyikli, Seferihisar and Bozcaada, the last discovery of tourism ambassador Ata Demirer was Gökçeada.. There is a short trailer below, you can check it out. Speaking of
Cinema, the open-air cinema named Ada’s Namık Ustası in a Filmstrip will appear in the center.. We think you will be interested.
# You should taste the flavors of Gökçeada. Taste delicious Greek puddings, try island cookies and ice cream in Tepeköy, Zeytinliköy and Bademli, which have turned into a touristic village.. See their taverns and eat the most popular flavor “Capricorn Tandoori”.
# Explore the island beaches. Black soil and sandy beach “hidden harbour” in the westernmost part of Turkey, Uğurlu Harbor, Laz Bay, Kafelos, İncekum, Kite, Altınkum, Yıldız Bay. Take lessons from Gökçeada Diving Center in Turkey’s first underwater national park. Even if you can’t, you can do a one-time discovery dive.
# Surf, surf at Kafelos Beach, experience kiteboarding at kite beach. Kite : volkite.com Surf: Surfgokceada.com
# Soak the sun in Kaleköy. Kaleköy, the most beautiful sunset spot on the island, is one of the oldest settlements.. Whether you reserve a table at the famous restaurant Imroz Restaurant, or sit on your chairs at sunset against the harbor from the castle.
# Have fun. Island evenings are tasted in Greek taverns. It is possible to find yourself doing sirtaki or watching people having fun in the taverns in Eleni and villages in Kaleköy..
# Explore the island history. Information about the past of the island is in Gökçeada City Museum.. The Olive and Olive Oil Museum, on the other hand, is a museum where production techniques made with traditional methods are exhibited.. Be sure to check out the organic products on this island.. Gökçeada organic farming paradise.
# Don’t forget to take the island flavors and products with you. Jam, olive oil, cookies and a care cream named Balomeni made with an island-specific formula are well-known products..
# If your visit falls on August 15, attend the Virgin Mary Festivals in Tepeköy.
# Gökçeada citta slow, a representative of calm cities. It became the first and only island of the world with the title of calm city in June 2011.. Named as the island of Poseidon (the god of the sea) in Homer’s Iliad, Gökçeada has stepped into this trend with its local dishes of sea urchin, sea bass with okra, mallow, squid with spinach and island salad.. Dolphins and seals are observed in Gökçeada, which also holds the title of Turkey’s first underwater national park.. Cittaslow Gökçeada.
How to Get to Gökçeada and Where and Where?
The most suitable option to reach Gökçeada is a private car.. It was possible to reach the island by the airport, which was located until recently, but since Borajet, which organizes regular flights to the island, went bankrupt, there is no air transportation vehicle yet..
Access to Gökçeada, the largest island in the Aegean Sea connected to Çanakkale in western Turkey, is made by ferries from Kabatepe pier on the Gallipoli Peninsula.. After October, there are 4 reciprocal trips per day on average, while summer voyages are 6. This number doubles with additional flights on public holidays and holidays.. You can use the online application to buy tickets for the flights organized by Gestaş.. Gestaş, which uses a flexible price system, sells tickets purchased early, cheaper. While one-way tickets are 120 TL on average, they increase as the departure time approaches.. Inquire Gestas Online Ticket
Our Istanbul Gökçeada trip took 5 hours excluding breaks. We need to warn you, take the road by considering the traffic density.. There is a serious crowd especially in the exits from Istanbul.. Alternatively, the New Marmara highway can be preferred from the new airport to Silivri..
We have a toaster that has become a ritual of our Çanakkale and Thrace routes. You can make your way to the business owned by Yaman Cheesemaking, located on the Malkara road, and stop by both on the way and on the way back..
Let’s also share the distance information from important points to Kabatepe. Istanbul 310 km, Tekirdag 160 km, Edirne 167 km, Kirklareli 244 km, Malkara 140 km, Sarkoy 101 km. The most suitable option for those who will provide transportation from other cities will be to reach the center of Çanakkale..
Eating & What to Eat in Gökçeada?
You will have many options for breakfast, snacks, lunch and dinner in Gökçeada. It was not possible to try all of them, but we start with what we did and answer the questions of where and what to eat as follows..
Breakfast : Let’s start with a confession here, We didn’t go anywhere for breakfast. And what breakfast? In Europe, one croissant is made with one coffee.. Wait a minute, we are not far from Europe, we are still at home. However, it is possible for you to get the feeling that I am not in my hometown while exploring the Greek villages.. As in many businesses in the country, accommodation businesses in Gökçeada offer breakfast to their customers free of charge.. We also chose this option, but what can replace a nice mixed breakfast, right?
Mustafa’s Kayfesi, is one of the first names that come to mind when breakfast is mentioned on the island.. It serves under a big plane tree in Kaleköy.. Since it is at a high point, it has a view of the Bademli villages from the hills.. Be warned, try to get here early as the place has a lot of customers, or you may have to wait to find a free table.. (this proposition applies to weekends and holidays). (2021: 65 TL) Again in the same village, Salih’s place and Yörük Tent can be preferred as alternatives. Other options are;
Kardeliz and Burnt Spoon in Tepeköy.
Taste, Biyem in Zeytinli.
Sahika, Pollen, Balbadem in the Center.
Gokceada Soykan Farm as a different experience in the south of the island’ you can try it for breakfast. Reservation: +905552225574
The first dish that comes to mind when the island is mentioned is the Capricorn Tandoori. Although I am not good with meat, I tried this flavor at Central Restaurant’. If even I like it, I cannot predict the taste you will get.. Merkez Lokantası is a true artisan restaurant. Soups and meatballs were great..
When you come to Gokceada Merkez, do not think of a big area. It doesn’t take more than 1 hour to walk from start to finish.. Eating and drinking places here are gathered in the square where the municipality is located and on Kadri Üçok street.. In addition to taverns such as Kokina, Avlu, there are cafes, souvenir shops, dessert and ice cream shops..
Eating fish is a ritual, not only when it comes to food in Gökçeada, but if you are on any island.. We performed this ritual at the Imbros Mussels in the center.. This is a business with blue chairs, live music in the evenings, serving fish as well as mussels and kokorec.. We ate sardines at the facility where the fish is fresh and daily.. We can say that it is delicious and enjoyable.
On our last day in Gökçeada, we ate ravioli at Gül Hanım Mantı and Ev Yemekleri located in the square. Alternatively, you can consider.
Let’s move on to the off-center options. Here you will have 2 options. Kaleköy Port or Greek villages.
Kaleköy: If you have limited time on the island, you should choose Kaleköy for dinner and pleasure.. The tables of the places named Eleni, Helen, Mecnun, Karadut, Patika lined along the harbor are filled in the evenings and are cheered up with pleasant music.
A little further up If you leave, you can sit at a table at Poseidon, the most famous place of the island, and sink the day.. By the way, if you are looking for a prominent fish restaurant on the island to enjoy the sunset, this is your place.. If you come across Sinarit wrap, lagos bite, fish iskender, you can easily order them on your table.
Souvenirs and jewelry are sold at the small stands set up in the evenings at the port.. Be sure to check it out.
Bademli: Bademli is located at a high altitude between Gökçeada Center and Kaleköy. You can choose to stay here as well as eat and drink.. You can prefer a pleasant meal against the view of Kaleköy at the restaurants called Sunset Dimitri, which appeals to the sunset concept in particular..
While strolling the streets of Bademli, you will see a cute cafe, Filos. Be sure to sit down to breathe. It will be a good option for a coffee + dessert dilemma.. I drank melon coffee here for the first time in my life.
Zeytinliköy: Zeytinli, which can be described as one of the most colorful villages of the island, stands out with its stone houses and colorful cafes.. While Nastos, Mina and Mylos, where you can taste Greek desserts, come to the fore, the most important face of the village is Barba Hristo.. However, it was closed due to the pandemic on the dates we visited.. You can enjoy coffee & dessert at Nastos in this beautiful village.. Rum flappe, gummy pudding, ice cream panakota, bite, cream caramel, Thessaloniki Dessert and magnolia can be preferred.. Taste the mortar coffee that is pounded in a stone mortar in the village.
Tepeköy: I am sure that the taverns that show that Tepeköy evenings are different will make you feel outside of Turkey. Especially in Tepeköy, the blue and white colored houses, clean streets and Greek conversations made me feel like I came to a country with a military base.. Galaktobureko, which you can find in the village coffee, stands out as a village-specific dessert.. The village is known as a village where most Greek citizens stay in summer and winter.. The village cafe is also open all the time.
If you stay at the tavern in the village for the evening, the Meraklis and Angelikis line in the village square while returning to a full festival area, Barba Yorgo‘s tavern awaits its guests at the village entrance.
If you are on an island tour, you will definitely see the biggest village of the island in Dereköy. This village is essentially deserted and you can find goats roaming freely in it. Recently, settlements have started in the village, but it is far from the old days.. There is a village house / cafe called Kalyopi in the village
Speaking of dessert, I saved the best for last.. The name of the place where you will find Greek Custards in the center is Mina.. You can also taste the legendary desserts of the place, which has a center in Zeytinliköy, at its branch in the center..
Of course, the most exquisite flavor cookies of the island. The address where you can taste it is Efi Badem Meydani Patisserie located in the central square.. Their cookies, ice cream and desserts are delicious. Be sure to taste and get local flavors to take with you when you leave the island..
You can order island delicacies at home thanks to Efibadem’s website. Almond cookies, jams, olives and olive oil and balomoni cream with its island-specific formula are among the best-selling products.. To order: https://www.efibadem.com/
Where to Stay in Gökçeada?
Although Gökçeada has different accommodation options, it cannot meet the demands during public holidays and holidays.. Therefore, before you go to the island, you should definitely choose the hotel where you will stay.. Unfortunately, there are no places available, especially in the season and close to your visit time.. We stayed at Ali Baba Apart Hotel in Yeni Bademli.. Frankly, when we were about to cancel our island trip, Mr. Ali offered us an alternative house.. We only had to stay for 1 night and ask for a place in the hotel.. Since we found a place at the last minute, I will not be able to measure the price/performance.. If you prefer, stay in the villages to relax on the island and enjoy the tavern in the evenings, in Uğurlu, Laz Bay and Kefalos for the sun, sea and swimming pleasure..
You can search for prices on hotel search engine Agoda, which we also use frequently. Check Prices on Agoda
If you do not like the prices, I have shared the most preferred hotels with their phones below.. Click and ask for the price 🙂
In the Center Hotel Castle : +902868880021 , Meydani : +902868880010 , Petrino : +905324465373 Azra: +905355410141 Şahika : +905326330934 North Park :+902868880080 Kayabalı: +902868874754
Badelimli Dimitri : +905324850938 Egelia İmroz : +905306666288
Kaleköy Anemos : +902868873729 Yakamoz : +902868872057 The Castle Boutique : +905546765155 Purchase : +902868873350
Zeytinliköy Zeydali : +902868873707, Last Ferry: +905384155700, Green House: +902868880090
Auspicious Blue Water: +902868976090 Limmos: +902868873634
Laz Koyu Guest house: +905347859426
Kefalos Surf Training Hotel :+902868981016, Kefelos +902868880044, Surf Inn +905061978272
Places to Visit in Gökçeada
Before listing the places to visit in Gökçeada, we have to state that the places to see on the island are not very close to each other, and a vehicle is absolutely necessary for transportation within the island.. We can say that you will not have a lot of parking problems, but it will be a little difficult to get around by car in the center and in the village..
We marked the points mentioned on this page below. You can easily get navigation suggestions wherever you want with the Google maps application by clicking on it..
Gökçeada Beaches
Gökçeada is an island in the Aegean Sea and visiting times are spring and summer months. Whoever comes to the island will definitely visit a sea.. From here, let’s explain the most visited beaches.
Kuzu Port: Kuzu Port Beach The port where Gökçeada ferries dock and the name of the beach where it is located. Frankly, we cannot say that it is a great beach.. When you see the rest of the places, you will not see the need to swim here..
Yıldız Bay Beach : The beach, which is connected to Yeni Bademli Village on the west of Kaleköy by a road, faces the north of the island.. Another famous aspect of the beach, which is called Gökçeada Marine Park, is that it has technotic rocks extending to the shore.. Right next to the bay, there is an enterprise called Köy Kamping.. The beach is stony and pebbly.
Secret Harbor: The Hidden Harbor, which stands out as the westernmost lands of Turkey and the westernmost part of the island, has plenty of sand and swimming, which we have seen recently. stands out as a pleasant beach. We think that you will spend more time in the Hidden Harbor, which is relatively easy to reach and has no parking problems.. Wave to the free-running goats staring at you on the road
Uğurlu Beach: The first beach you come across when you head towards the sea from Uğurlu Village is Uğurlu Beach’ is. If you continue north, your path will lead to the Hidden Harbor above..
Laz Bay: Laz Bay, which is one of the untouched bays where there is no business, became a location that we could not enjoy due to the difficulty of transportation.. The beach, where the roads are bad and there is a shortage of parking, is one of the most preferred island beaches.. Unfortunately, there was a lot of packaging waste scattered around, which must have been the effect of the crowd.. Why should we talk about Laz Bay?.
In the places we did not see, Yuvalı Beach, where the Ministry of Justice has recreational facilities and beautiful sand, is located at Kapikaya, facing the south of the island. /strong>, the choice of surf lovers and Aydincik and Kefalos beaches where there are training camps, İncekum to the west of Tuz Gölü, kite beach preferred by kite surfing lovers > the other beautiful beaches of the island. Why you don’t need to search to enter the sea.
There are 2 more beaches where transportation is difficult. One is the Blue Bay, where you can take boat tours from Kaleköy, and the other is the beach called Marmoros, where the Marmaros Waterfall falls..
Kaleköy (Kastro)
Kaleköy, which is the place where the oldest settlement of the island is located and takes its name from the castle where the castle ruins are located; It is one of the places to visit with its stone streets, churches and houses.. You can come here for the breakfast, tavern and sunset watching that we mentioned in the eating and drinking notes where many accommodation centers are located..
Kaleköy Castle (iskiter): It is estimated that it was built before the Hellenistic period. It also draws attention as the region where the Imbros Ancient City is located.. Unfortunately, you can frame the view of Yıldız Bay and Kaleköy Bay from the castle, which is in an extremely neglected condition.. You should be careful as it has extremely steep slopes.
There is also a soap workshop in Kaleköy.. Ecological living workshop named İmroza stands out as a place where Aziz and Şule Bengi realize their dreams.. http://imroza.com/
Old Bademli (Gliki)
Old Bademli Village is located at a high altitude between the center and Kaleköy. However, you can prepare for a fantastic exploration in the village that can be reached by car.. Park your vehicle at the entrance of the village, do not enter the village with your vehicle.. Because the village streets are too narrow to move with your car.. There is a church named Kimisis in the village and the ruins of 3 different historical monasteries around the village.. Also, the old Bademli Laundry stands out as a historical element on the island..
The restaurants named Sunset and Dimitri at the village entrance stand out as suitable places to eat something with a view of Samothrace island.. The Greek name of the village, Gliki, means “sweet”.. Don’t forget to photograph colorful houses and stone streets.. Order your dessert and coffee at Filos . Browse souvenirs at Eskibademli Shop. While you are in the village, you can stop by Gökhan’s Honey Farm and learn about the world of bees and taste the island’s organic honey.
Tepeköy (Agritya)
This is the village on the hill on your right when you go west from the center of Gökçeada.. Angelikis and Meraklis, located in the village square where the crowded Greek population lives, and Baba Yorgo taverns at the entrance of the village are colorful places where the entertainment level of the village rises.. Its narrow streets can be described as a pleasant walking and photography venue with flowers hanging from its white and blue painted houses..
One of the old structures worth seeing in the village, Agridia Church, dating back to the 1830s, is located just behind the village square.. There are monasteries and churches scattered at the points on the sea side outside the village..
There is another region called Çınaraltı on the way back from Tepeköy. It’s a great place to have a cup of tea against the fresh breeze in the heat of summer, make sure to take your time..
Zeytinliköy (Ayatodori)
Although its name is Zeytinli, this village may be the sweetest village on the island. We learn that Barba Hristo made her return to the colorful days of the village.. This distinguished person also has a sweet shop with the same name in the village.. Even though it was not opened this year due to the pandami, it does not mean that you should return without seeing the tastes of this village..
There are 3 churches and 3 historical monasteries outside the village in Zeytinlikoy. When you visit the village, Aya Yorgi Church at the entrance of the village and the village primary school next to it will attract your attention.. Zeytinliköy is also the spiritual leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians.. It is the village where Bartholomew was born in 1940.. It is mentioned that there are 360 chapels on the island together with churches of various sizes..
Dereköy (iskinik)- Şahinkaya
This village of the island was once the most populated island not only of Gökçeada but also of Turkey. One of the conditions on the island left to Turkey in Lausanne was not to interfere with the autonomy of the Greeks living in the region.. With the law enacted in 1927, Greek schools were connected to the state, bans were imposed on the Greeks to buy goods, and the unrest increased with the Turkish settlers who were wanted to be sent to the island..
However, the real problem was the Cyprus problem, which started in 1958.. As the tension in Cyprus increased, tensions against the Greeks increased throughout the country, pressures were also created against the people living in Imbros, and they were forced to migrate.. The most interesting part is that the state has established a semi-open prison near the village here.. Prisoners and their families were brought to the island, and crimes of rape, theft and extortion began to increase.. On top of that, the state confiscated the arable lands.. After the events, the Greeks started to leave the island.. In 1970, the name of the island was changed to Gökçeada.. It should be known that the tension here is not only one-sided, it is known that similar compelling attitudes were made against the Turks of Western Thrace on the Greek side..
Greeks, who moved away from Gökçeada for the above reasons, have recently started to return to other villages, but Dereköy remained outside of them.. Known as Turkey’s largest village, Dereköy is now an abandoned village where very few people live.. The village named Şahinkaya was formed in the 1960s by the settlement of 61 families from the village of Şahinkaya, Trabzon.. If you want to read the subject from the interview of Barba Yorgo from Imroz: This is Imroz
There are 2 churches in Dereköy and 3 monasteries around the village. The most striking part of the village is undoubtedly the laundry room..
Let me end the last sentence for Derekoy with the word of the day written on the board in front of the village house named Kalyopi after the sad events mentioned above: “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning to dance with the rain.”
There are 3 more villages in Gökçeada that were later settled. Şirinköy, where Bulgarian immigrants were settled, Uğurlu, where villagers in Muğla and Burdur Bucak regions were settled, and Eşelek Village of Çanakkale’s Biga district were flooded due to dam construction. >Eşelek The Village.
Marmaros Waterfalls
When you head north from Dereköy in Gökçeada, you will come across 2 waterfalls. The waterfalls named Marmaros are worth seeing even if the water decreases in summer, according to your time on the island.. Where it spills into the sea, there is a stony beach of the same name..
Salt Lake
The salt lake, which was formed by the filling of the sandbank, which was piled up as a result of strong winds, with sea and rain water, is located in the southeast of the island, near Aydıncık beach in Aydıncık location.. Chemical components such as quartz, sulfur, sodium, carbonate sulphate accumulate at the bottom of the lake, whose water is withdrawn in summer.. Here, the visitors think that the mud they put on them is good for the body.. The lake is also home to birds such as flamingos, geese and mallards..
Cascaval Cape – Cheese Cliffs
Technotic rock formations are located in Kuzu Harbor, northwest of Gökçeada.. It is not possible to see the interesting rock masses from the land, which can be reached by boats rented from Kaleköy or Lamb Harbor.. There is a legend about why it is named cheese cliffs, but we can skip it because it is not real to tell..
Gökçeada City Museum
The museum, located in the center of the island, is a must-stop for those who want to learn about the island’s history and culture.. The collection of old photographs and items collected from the inhabitants of the island is worth seeing.. In addition, you will find stories from the island cuisine, livelihoods and historical stories in Gökçeada City Museum..
Excavations are carried out at 2 points belonging to prehistoric settlements in Gökçeada. One of them is Bademli Höyük.. Finds dating back to the Old Bronze Age have been uncovered.. Another is Zeytinlik Höyük, 900 meters from Uğurlu village. The finds here show that the history of the region dates back to the Neolithic Age..
Nusret Bey Foundation Museum
There is another name that works on conveying the island culture to future generations. Nusret Avci. He transformed the collection he created on olive cultivation and olive oil production into a museum in the center of the island.. The name of Nusretbey Foundation Museum and Cafe Kabya Wine House, Organic Products sales store are in the same place.. There is another shop in the central square among the things to be bought on the way back from the island.. You can visit.
Central Mosque, which is the only structure in the center of Gökçeada that points to the Ottoman period, was built in 1835.. The other known structure is the Hamidiye Mosque, which was renovated in the early 19th century.. In addition, the churches named Pania Church, Aya Varvara and Taksiyarhis in the center stand out with their historical features..
While returning from the island, you will see many souvenir shops on Kadri Üçok street in the center. Don’t forget to buy objects that will decorate your home.. We loved the stone paintings. Also, don’t forget to buy almond cookies from the Meydani patisserie, where you can find island delicacies, from jam to olive oil and soap..
On the evening of the last day of our visit, the concert of Hüsnü Arkan and Bulutsız Özlem at the municipality square sent us off.. I wish you a pleasant island trip..
Below is a short video consisting of photos and videos I took in Gökçeada. Have fun watching.
Our Other Related Articles
Canakkale Travel Guide
Places to Visit in Çanakkale
Assos Travel Notes
Troy Travel Notes
Bozcaada Notes
strong>Follow CengizSelcuk.com :
:
