The tiny Turkish island that only locals know about – and is called ‘heaven on earth’
BRITS heading to Turkey often go straight to Bodrum or Antalya for cheap hotels and beautiful beaches.
But like Greece and Spain, Turkey also has some amazing islands to visit.
Half an hour from the mainland is Bozcaada, the island remains untouched by tourism, but still has an interesting history.
The island was mentioned in The Iliad, with Bozcaada’s beaches being where the ships with the famous Trojan Horse was launched from during the Trojan War.
And the island was Greek until it joined the Turkish Republic in 1923.
Now, the island is mainly a day trip destination for locals.
With around 500 people living on the island, around a million Turkish people from the mainland visit the island during the summer.
Avoid going in August – this is the busiest time – but the rest of the months are relatively quiet and much calmer.
There are just a few small hotels on the island which start from just £35 a night, and it is known for its amazing wines.
And many of the houses feel Greek, with more Greek than Turkish cuisine too.
The island’s beach, Sulubahçe Beach, has even been compared to the Maldives.
Seda Domaniç, who owns a house on the island, told CNN: “We particularly love Sulubahçe Beach in the morning hours, where it feels like you’ve just landed on an isolated beach in the Maldives.”
Don’t expect to swim though – the island’s oceans are notoriously cold.
Other popular attractions include the Bozcaada Castle, as well as the island’s museum on its history.
Other previous tourists have sung the island’s praises too.
One person wrote on TripAdvisor: “Heaven on earth, unlike any place in Turkey.”
Another said: “Bozcada is truly a fairy-tale island.”
A third commented: “The place suits all tastes: there are places for camping, small beaches for seclusion, a central beach with restaurants, a beach for surfers, a romantic view of the sunset.”
If you fancy another Turkish island, the largest that tourists often visit is Gökçeada.
Sandwiched between the Greek islands of Lemnos and Samothrace, it is often compared to Mykonos or Santorini, but is much cheaper as it uses Turkish lira.
To get there, you can fly to Istanbul Airport, then drive four hours to the port town of Kabatepe, followed by a ferry.
And another secret European island is known as the ‘Maldives of Turkey’.