- Preserved 1930s Presidential Haven: The İsmet İnönü House (Pembe Köşk) served as the summer retreat for Turkey's second President, preserving original Republican-era furnishings and gifts from Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
- Literary Eccentric’s Hilltop Domain: The Hüseyin Rahmi Gürpınar Museum captures the reclusive lifestyle, personal library, and handcrafts of one of Turkey's most celebrated early 20th-century novelists.
- Connected Cultural Walking Route: A scenic 2.5-kilometer route winds between both villas through quiet residential streets lined with flowering wisteria and wooden Ottoman gingerbread architecture.
- Seasonal Opening Hours: Both museums open primarily during summer and autumn months (typically 10:00 to 17:00, closed Mondays); admission is free or a nominal fee.
Heybeliada as an Intellectual & Political Sanctuary
Throughout the late Ottoman era and the formative decades of the Turkish Republic, Heybeliada functioned as a cherished retreat for Turkey’s political leadership and literary intelligentsia. The island’s clean pine air, quiet streets, and total detachment from the frantic intrigue of Istanbul provided the ideal incubator for statecraft, philosophical debate, and novel writing.
Two historic villas standing on the wooded slopes of Heybeliada offer extraordinary windows into this cultural golden age: the summer estate of İsmet İnönü, hero of the War of Independence and Turkey’s second President, and the secluded mansion of Hüseyin Rahmi Gürpınar, master satirist of Istanbul social life.
1. The İsmet İnönü Museum (Mavikent / Pembe Köşk)
Located on Refah Şehitleri Caddesi overlooking the southern coastline, the İsmet İnönü House (frequently referred to as the Pembe Köşk or Pink Villa) was acquired by the İnönü family in 1934. Following a severe bout of pneumonia, doctors advised Prime Minister İsmet Pasha to spend summers in the therapeutic pine microclimate of Heybeliada.
The villa quickly became the informal summer chancellery of the young Republic. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was a frequent guest, arriving aboard the presidential yacht Ertuğrul or Savarona to spend long summer evenings on the veranda discussing educational reforms, foreign policy treaties, and the modernization of the Turkish language.
Interior Atmosphere & Preserved Artifacts
Unlike static institutional museums, the İnönü House feels warmly frozen in time. Maintained under the care of the İnönü Foundation, the villa retains its original 1930s art deco and late-Ottoman furniture, hand-knotted Persian carpets, and family heirlooms. Notable exhibits include:
- Atatürk’s Gifted Bedroom Suite: The complete bedroom set personally selected and gifted by Atatürk from the historic Dolmabahçe Palace furniture reserves to ensure his friend’s comfort during his convalescence.
- The Presidential Study: İnönü’s original desk, mechanical typewriter, reading glasses, and signed diplomatic correspondence from Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Charles de Gaulle.
- The Seaside Garden: Shaded by umbrella pines and fragrant magnolia trees, the terraced lawn features the original stone sea jetty where İnönü famously practiced his daily morning swims into his eighties.
2. The Hüseyin Rahmi Gürpınar Museum: The Recluse of the Ridge
High atop the western slope of Değirmen Tepesi, secluded among a thicket of pine trees with breathtaking panoramic views over the Sea of Marmara, stands the three-story wooden residence of Hüseyin Rahmi Gürpınar (1864–1944). One of the most prolific, beloved, and eccentric figures in Turkish literature, Gürpınar authored over 40 novels, dozens of short stories, and satirical plays depicting Istanbul’s multi-ethnic neighborhoods, superstitions, and modernization clashes.
Seeking complete escape from urban noise and distraction, Gürpınar built this hilltop retreat in 1912 and lived here continuously for thirty-two years until his death in 1944. A legendary eccentric and confirmed bachelor, he spent his days writing in his tower study, tending his terraced vegetable gardens, and pursuing unexpected artistic passions.
The Eccentricities of a Master Satirist
A visit to Gürpınar’s house reveals fascinating facets of the author’s daily life:
- Handmade Lace & Needlework: Gürpınar was an accomplished master of needlepoint and crocheting. The museum proudly exhibits delicate lace doilies, embroidered cushions, and woolen shawls stitched entirely by the author’s own hands to relieve mental fatigue after long writing sessions.
- The Tower Library: Over 3,000 volumes in French, Ottoman Turkish, and modern Turkish, alongside the author's original fountain pens, notebooks, and first editions of classics such as Şıpsevdi and Kuyruklu Yıldız Altında Bir İzdivaç.
- The Sunset Observation Balcony: Offering an unobstructed 270-degree view spanning Burgazada, Kınalıada, and the distant silhouettes of Istanbul's historic minarets.
Plan Your 2026 Cultural Excursion to Heybeliada
Pair your visit to the İnönü and Gürpınar museums with pre-booked fast ferry tickets and a smartphone audio guide exploring the island’s rich history.
The Literary & Presidential Walking Itinerary
To experience both museums seamlessly, we recommend following our curated 2.5-kilometer walking route:
- Start at Ferry Pier: Walk south along the waterfront past the Naval Academy for approximately 8 minutes to reach the İsmet İnönü Museum on Refah Şehitleri Caddesi. Allow 45 minutes for the interior tour.
- Ascent via Lozan Zaferi: From the İnönü House, head inland along Lozan Zaferi Caddesi, ascending gently past late-Ottoman gingerbread wooden cottages and gardens blooming with jasmine and hydrangea.
- Değirmen Tepesi Trail: Turn onto Hüseyin Rahmi Sokağı and follow the winding pine trail climbing toward Değirmen Tepesi to reach the Hüseyin Rahmi Gürpınar Museum. Allow 45 minutes to inspect the author's manuscripts, lace crafts, and tower views.
- Descent to Değirmenburnu: Continue descending northward along the shaded pine trail to finish your walk at Değirmenburnu Nature Park for a seaside tea overlooking the Marmara.