The Ultimate Travel Guide to Gokceada, Turkey

Gökçeada, Turkey’s largest island, is one of my favorite holiday destinations in Turkey with its pristine beaches, hills covered with olive trees and preserved villages. So I have visited the island many times. Now I will try to guide you about Gökçeada as much as I can, based on my experience. I will share Gökçeada transportation, accommodation, food and drink, places to visit and the most beautiful beaches.

Gökçeada Travel Guide

Where is Gökçeada? Gökçeada is an island in the North Aegean Sea, located in Çanakkale.

How to get to Gökçeada? Gökçeada Transportation

It takes 5 hours to get to Gökçeada from Istanbul. We board the Gökçeada ferry from Kabatepe. We buy tickets online from Gestaş’s website, the system automatically recognizes the license plate number and you get in line immediately. You can also buy them when you go, but then you can wait in line longer because those with online tickets are given first priority. Especially if you are going during crowded periods, it is better to buy online in advance.

How to get to Gökçeada? Gökçeada Transportation
It takes 5 hours to get to Gökçeada from Istanbul and 4 hours from Kırklareli (I gave this detail because we also went from Kırklareli). We board the Gökçeada ferry from Kabatepe. We buy tickets online from Gestaş’s website, the system automatically recognizes the license plate number and you get in line immediately. You can also buy them when you go, but then you can wait in line longer because those with online tickets are given first priority. Especially if you are going during crowded periods, it is better to buy online in advance.

If you don’t have a car, I will also give you the information about public transportation in Gökçeada. Çanakkale Truva bus company from Istanbul provides direct transportation to Gökçeada. Apart from that, those coming from different places can take a bus to Eceabat, take a minibus to Kabatepe and from there take a ferry to the island. It would be nice to have a car for transportation within the island, there are minibuses but you can’t go everywhere.

Where to stay in Gökçeada? Gokceada Accommodation

We mostly stay in Aydıncık because we also spend time for surfing during our vacation. The sea here is very beautiful, and it is an advantage to have sandy beaches and facilities for families with children. First of all, let me share two places where I stayed from my own experience. The first is Kotinos Beach Hotel, this is a hotel we preferred when we came with our son. It has a garden and a pool, the rooms with stone walls are nice. There are plenty of choices of delicious food in the open buffet breakfast, and it also has its own restaurant for meals during the day. The second is the bungalows at Sardunya Beach. This is a place we prefer when we are without children. You can choose it because the price is affordable and it is close to the beach.

If you do not plan to surf, you can consider Eski Bademli, Zeytinliköy, Kaleköy or the center for accommodation.Because when you leave the hotel, you can take care of all your needs such as grocery store, eating and drinking etc. more easily here. Now let me give hotel recommendations for these regions of Gökçeada.

Anemos Otel in Kaleköy is a hotel I like with its stone building, garden and pool. İlios Gökçeada is located in a lovely stone building in Eski Bademli, a very peaceful and quiet place. If you want to stay in the center, I recommend Meydani Butik Hotel. Especially if you are going to be car-free, it makes the most sense to stay in the center. Finally, if you want to stay in Zeytinliköy, you can consider Son Vapur Butik Otel. Just keep in mind that the restaurant here is also famous and it can be noisy in the evenings.

You can check here for all available hotels in Gökçeada.

When to go to Gökçeada?

I went to Gökçeada in June and July. In previous years it was always very windy. The last time we went, we focused entirely on surfing and luckily there was no wind this time. When there is wind, you reduce your beach alternatives and run to the side where there is no wind. If wind on the beach is not important for you, there is no problem. This is an island that gets wind 300 days a year, so if you are going to make last minute plans, make sure you check the wind conditions. For the sea, you should prefer the period between June and September. The sea may be cold at other times.

How Many Days to Stay in Gökçeada?

We usually plan to stay for 2 or 3 nights. You can also make a program like this by adding one day on the weekend. Do not go for a day trip, it will be very little, you can go only for the weekend, but you may need to make a tight schedule to see more places. I think the ideal time for first time visitors is 3 nights. If you stay longer, I think you will not get bored as there are many beaches and places where you can evaluate different food alternatives.

Where to Eat in Gökçeada? Gökçeada Food Guide

If you ask me where the best restaurant on the island is, my direct and clear answer would be Poseidon in Kaleköy. We always have delicious appetizers accompanied by a magnificent sunset view. It is a very nice place in terms of service, attention, food variety/flavor and view. The prices are higher than other places in Gökçada but they definitely deserve it. To eat here, make a reservation before you go.

If you want to eat on the harbor side of Kaleköy, you can go to Eleni Greek Taverna, made famous by Ata Demirer’s movie. The atmosphere is very sweet and the food is not bad.

We have two favorite places in Tepeköy, the first one is Angelikis Taverna. I think they have the most beautiful place in Tepeköy, because their tables are on the street in the square, it’s a very nice atmosphere. The prices here are more affordable than Poseidon. They don’t have a wide variety of appetizers but the tastes are good. You can also try goat tandoori, one of the famous foods of the island.

The second alternative in Tepeköy is Barba Yorgo. I think the goat tandoori here is the most famous one on the island. The appetizers are average but the kid is really good. Also, don’t forget to try their wines made with grapes from their own vineyards. Live music starts around 8pm.

If you are staying in Aydıncık, I can recommend Fengari restaurant. Obviously, if you are staying elsewhere, there is no special meal to go here. But it is suitable for those who want a place to walk from the hotel around Aydıncık. In the evening, they immediately set the tables on the sand and you eat your dinner by the sea. It is a lovely and shabby environment. The appetizer options are few and the flavors are average, but the fish is good.

Nostos Cafe in Zeytinliköy is the place to go for desserts and dibek coffee. I love the ambiance and especially try the crème caramel and panna cotta. There are many people who like the cherry gum pudding, but I didn’t like it much.

Barba Hristo’s mastic pudding in Zeytinliköy is really delicious, very light and tasty. However, it was closed after the owner Barba Hristo passed away and his sons open it sometimes. So it might be closed when you go, but you can still check it out because I think it was the best on the island. I recommend you to have lokma dessert at Madam Paraskevi.

Also in Zeytinliköy, Sıcak Kahve is a sweet place where you can drink Frappe. One of the sweetest places on the most photogenic street of Zeytinliköy is Mina Cafe.

In the center of Gökçeada, I recommend you to try the mastic pudding and efibadem cookies of Meydani Pastry Shop.

Cafe Sten Ada in Eski Bademli is one of the most popular cafes of the island. You can stop by for their liqueurs, frappes, lemonade, black mulberry juice and desserts.

Let me also write down my recommendations for breakfast places in Gökçeada. Mustafa’s Kayfesi is a place that should be preferred first in my opinion. By the way, this place is also beautiful for sunset. Other breakfast addresses are Cugura Organik and Salih’in Kahvaltı Salonu.

For a drink at night, you can check Karadut in Kaleköy, there is also live music.

Where to swim in Gökçeada? Gökçeada Beaches

Aydincik Beach

One of the most popular and longest beaches on the island. It is one of my favorite beaches with its fine sandy shore and crystal clear sea. You can use the facilities of the facilities along the beach or you can sit on your own towel at the end. With its windy structure, it has become the address of water sports such as windsurfing and kiteboarding.

Laz Bay

This is one of the most popular beaches in Gökçeada. Since it is not a very big bay, it seems a bit crowded to me, but I like it when there is no wind. Car parking is also a bit of a problem. Part of the bay is with facilities, part is without facilities, so you can bring your own chair and umbrella. There is also a restaurant, you can go and eat even if you don’t use their sunbeds.

Uğurlu Beach

Ugurlu Beach is located in the west of the island. It stands out with its calmness and clean sea. It is one of the widest beaches of the island. There are sunbeds and umbrellas in front and restaurants behind, but you can also enjoy the beach with your own towel. When the north winds are blowing and Aydıncık side is windy, it is calmer here.

Secret Harbor (Gizli Liman)

Like its name, this is a hidden and virgin bay. Located between high cliffs, this beach is a nice option with its calm atmosphere and crystal clear sea. You can reach it after Uğurlu beach at the westernmost tip of the island. I recommend you to take sea shoes.

Yildiz Bay

It is located in the north of Gökçeada. There is a large and free area where you can park your car at the entrance. Don’t forget to take your sea shoes with you as the beach is stony. There are no facilities, so make sure you have umbrellas, chairs, food and drinks. I also recommend you to take snorkel and sea goggles for the underwater richness.

Things to do in Gökçeada

For me, the most beautiful places to visit in Gökçeada are Zeytinliköy and Eski Bademli. If you have limited time, I recommend you to go here first, there are beautiful stone houses and lovely streets full of oleanders.

But don’t go to Zeytinli and Bademli in the middle of the day, it gets abnormally hot. You should definitely go in the morning or in the evening to enjoy your visit. I have never seen these places very crowded, so don’t think that it will be crowded if we go in the evening. Don’t forget to visit the famous centuries-old plane tree in Old Bademli.

Tepeköy and Kaleköy are also must-see villages. When we have our dinners in these villages, half an hour early is enough to tour the village. If you like trekking in nature, you can visit Marmaros Big Waterfall in Tepeköy, but be aware that the roads are challenging.

Kaleköy is divided into Upper Kaleköy and Kaleköy Liman. Before going up, I recommend you to visit the colorful huts selling souvenirs etc. on the harbor side. Even if you don’t eat at Poseidon in Upper Kaleköy, be sure to watch the sunset from the sunset viewing point right next to it.

Dereköy, which looks like a ghost village nowadays, used to be the biggest and most populous village in Turkey, then the Greek population had to leave their homes and it became a place with abandoned houses with 15-20 inhabitants. It is a village where you will take some photos and feel sad thinking about the people who lived here in the past.

Şirinköy is a village established for the Turks coming from Bulgaria, where there are single-type houses. We only stopped by to shop on our way to the Secret Harbor, there is not much to see. In the center of Gökçeada, on the street of İş Bank, many places have opened and there are a few cute souvenir shops. If you have time, I suggest you stop by here too.

Gökçeada is a paradise for both kitesurfing and windsurfing. Eşelek Beach and Kefaloz, which are next to each other, are among the places where you can surf. There are schools here where you can take windsurfing lessons, I do not share price information because the prices change a lot every year. Finally, there is a salt lake between Aydıncık and Kefaloz beach, the black mud coming out of this lake is said to be good for some skin diseases, you can consider taking a mud bath here.

What to buy from Gökçeada? Shopping in Gökçeada

You can buy products from Gökçeada such as ephibadem cookies, island honey, goat cheese, wine and olive oil. I recommend you to buy and try Balomeni, a natural cream unique to the island. It is very good for skin problems, at least for us.

You can buy ceramic products from Summer of Flowers in Tepeköy. You can buy natural products grown on the island from Ada Rüzgarı in the center. You can buy handmade jewelry, buckles and other accessories from the Old Bademli Shop. You can buy cologne and soap from İmroza Soap Workshop.

As I said in the introduction, I really love Gökçeada, I can say that it is one of the places I want to visit every summer. I hope the Gökçeada Travel Guide I have prepared will be a guide for you while making plans. There may be some things that I missed to write, if you have any other questions, please leave them as comments. If you have any extra suggestions, I would also welcome them in the comments.

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