Bozcaada

For Turkish city-siders looking for stylish and upscale beach vacations, Bozcaada Island, just south of the Dardanelles in the Aegean Sea, is a relaxing haven.

Bozcaada is rimmed by sandy shores and has an interior of vine-covered fields. With a year-round population of only about 3,000, the island is only active during the tourist season from June to September. On weekends during the summer, Turks flock here to lounge on Ayazma beach on the island's south coast or head to windswept Cayır Beach, on the north coast, for water sports like windsurfing.

Strolling the streets of the historic Greek quarter or making a quick exploration of Bozcaada's Byzantine castle in Bozcaada Town (the only hub on the island) in the late afternoon is equally strenuous. Accommodation is mostly boutique and upscale, and nearly all options close outside of summer. However, In the summer, it's a good idea to book as far in advance as possible, as choices are limited and Bozcaada is popular.

To get here, either take a car ferry from Geyikli (54 km southwest of Çanakkale), which operates year-round or a passenger-only hydrofoil ferry from Çanakkale, which departs during the summer months.

Location: Çanakkale Province, Turkey