Princes' Islands from Istanbul: A Practical Guide

The Princes' Islands are a group of car-free islands in the Sea of Marmara, about an hour to an hour and a half by ferry from central Istanbul. Büyükada, the largest, is the one most visitors choose: wooden mansions, pine-covered hills, a hilltop monastery and seafront fish restaurants. Go on a weekday if you can, take an early ferry, and plan to walk or cycle rather than wait for the island's small electric vehicles.

This guide covers which island to pick, how the ferries work, how to get around once you land and how to avoid the summer-weekend crush.

The islands in brief

There are nine islands, but only four have regular public ferries and real villages. For centuries they were a place of exile for Byzantine royalty, which is where the name comes from; in the 19th century they became the summer retreat of Istanbul's Greek, Armenian, Jewish and Turkish families, who built the wooden villas you still see today. Private cars are not allowed, which is the main reason the islands feel so different from the city.

Island	Character	Good for
Kınalıada	Closest to the city, small, rockier and less green	A short escape, swimming spots
Burgazada	Quiet, residential, a small harbour village	A slow lunch and a walk
Heybeliada	Pine woods, the historic Halki seminary, calm	Walking and cycling without crowds
Büyükada	Largest, grand mansions, the busiest	First visits, the monastery view, seafood

For a single day, Büyükada alone, or Büyükada with a stop at Heybeliada, is the usual choice.

Getting there by ferry

Ferries leave from three main piers:

• Kabataş on the European side, convenient from Beyoğlu and the Bosphorus hotels.
• Eminönü, close to the Old City.
• Bostancı on the Asian side, with a shorter crossing.

The city ferries (Şehir Hatları) stop at the islands in turn, Kınalıada first and Büyükada last, and take about an hour and a half to Büyükada from the European side. Private operators run faster boats on some routes. Pay with an Istanbulkart on the city ferries. Timetables change between summer and winter, so check the day before, and pay attention to the last boat back; missing it means an expensive water taxi.

The crossing itself is part of the pleasure. Sit on the open deck on the way out, with the Old City skyline, the Asian shore and the islands appearing ahead.

Getting around Büyükada

The famous horse-drawn carriages were withdrawn in 2020 and replaced with small electric vehicles run by the municipality. Queues for them at the main square can be long on busy days. The alternatives:

• Walking. The streets near the pier, lined with mansions, are best on foot, and the climb to the monastery takes about 45 minutes from the harbour.
• Bicycles and e-bikes. Rental shops are near the pier. The island is hilly, so an e-bike is worth the extra if you plan to do the full loop.
• Combining both. Ride part of the loop, then walk up the final stretch to the monastery, which is steep and partly on foot only.

What to see on Büyükada

• The mansions. Along Çankaya Caddesi and the streets around it stand some of the finest Ottoman-era wooden villas in the region, some restored, some beautifully decaying.
• Aya Yorgi Monastery. A Greek Orthodox monastery on Yücetepe, the island's highest hill. The view over the Sea of Marmara and the other islands is the best on the island, and there is a simple café near the top. It is a working religious site; dress respectfully.
• The seafront. Fish restaurants and cafés line the harbour. Prices are higher than in the city, as on any island.
• Beaches. There are a few paid beach clubs on the island's quieter sides. The sea is clean enough for many locals to swim in summer, but conditions vary.
• History. Leon Trotsky lived on Büyükada during part of his exile in the 1930s; the house he lived in still stands, though it is in ruins.

When to go

May, June, September and early October are the sweet spot: warm, green and not overwhelming. July and August weekends are very crowded, with full ferries and long queues on the island; if you must go in high summer, go on a weekday and on an early boat. Winter is quiet and atmospheric, with misty sea views and almost no visitors, but many cafés and rental shops close and ferries run less often.

Turkish public holidays also bring big crowds. Check the calendar if your dates are close to one.

A simple day plan

1. Take a morning ferry from Kabataş or Eminönü and sit on the open deck.
2. Land at Büyükada, rent a bicycle or walk through the mansion streets.
3. Climb to Aya Yorgi Monastery for the view before the midday heat.
4. Come down for a long lunch by the water.
5. If time allows, take a short ferry hop to Heybeliada for a quieter walk.
6. Catch an afternoon ferry back, ideally reaching the city in time for sunset over the Old City.

Going with a tour

The islands are easy to visit independently if you are comfortable with ferry timetables and do not mind the queues. A guided trip makes sense if you want the history explained, are short on time or travelling with family and would rather not manage connections. Our Princes' Islands day trip from Istanbul with lunch takes care of the crossings, the island route and a sit-down lunch, so the day stays relaxed.

Practical tips

• Carry cash for small shops, bicycle rental and the monastery café.
• Wear comfortable shoes; the monastery path is steep and uneven.
• Bring sun protection and water in summer; shade is patchy on the hill.
• Check the return ferry time when you arrive, not when you want to leave.
• The islands are part of Istanbul, so the same general safety and etiquette apply as in the city.

FAQ

Which Princes' Island is best to visit?

Büyükada for a first visit, for its mansions, the monastery view and its restaurants. Heybeliada if you prefer something quieter.

How long is the ferry to the Princes' Islands?

About an hour to an hour and a half to Büyükada from Kabataş or Eminönü on the city ferry, less from Bostancı on the Asian side.

Are there cars on the Princes' Islands?

No private cars. You get around on foot, by bicycle or in the municipal electric vehicles; service vehicles are the only exception.

Can you still take a horse carriage on Büyükada?

No. The carriages were withdrawn in 2020 and replaced with electric vehicles.

Is one day enough for the Princes' Islands?

Yes. A full day covers Büyükada comfortably and leaves time for a short stop on a second island.