Princes' Islands (Adalar)

Officially the Princes' Islands belong to Istanbul, yet you will not see a private car on them. Getting there means a ferry: the public boat from Kabatas reaches Buyukada in about 90 minutes and calls at three smaller islands first. The group has nine islands in all. Four of them, Kinaliada, Burgazada, Heybeliada and Buyukada, have a regular ferry service, and those are the ones visitors go to.

Key information

History in brief

The Byzantines sent deposed emperors and princes into exile here, which is where the name comes from, and monasteries went up on the hilltops. In the 19th century steamers connected the islands to the city, and rich Greek, Armenian, Jewish and Turkish families built summer homes. After his expulsion from the Soviet Union, Leon Trotsky lived on Buyukada from 1929 to 1933. Horse-drawn phaetons served as the islands' taxis for more than a hundred years, until they were taken off the roads in 2020 and replaced by small electric vehicles.

Choosing an island

• Buyukada is the biggest, with the grand wooden mansions, the widest choice of restaurants and the Monastery of St George (Aya Yorgi) on the summit, around 30 minutes' steep climb from the upper square. It is also the most crowded.
• Heybeliada is greener and calmer. The former Halki Theological School stands on its hill, and you can walk into the pine woods.
• Burgazada is a small, residential island with a handful of fish restaurants and places to swim.
• Kinaliada lies closest to the city and is mostly bare hillside with beach clubs.

Getting around

Walk, cycle, or use the electric minibuses and hire vehicles by the Buyukada pier. Bike rental shops are just off the main square. A full loop of Buyukada is around 12 kilometres, with a few steep parts; electric bikes can be hired.

When to go

Choose a weekday between May and October. Summer weekends mean full ferries and a crowded Buyukada. The nicest months are spring, when mimosa and Judas trees bloom, and September, while the sea is still warm. Winter is very quiet and some cafés shut, which is fine if walking is your plan.

The full-day Princes' Islands tour with lunch takes eight hours, includes hotel transfers, and stops at Kinaliada, Heybeliada and Buyukada with lunch and time on your own. For something private, the private day trip to the Princes' Islands lasts seven hours, with a guide of your own on Buyukada.

Tips

• Go out on a morning boat and return late in the afternoon; the final sailings on a summer Sunday get full.
• Leaving Kabatas, take a seat on the right for Topkapi Palace and the Old City skyline, followed by the Asian shore.
• Private sea buses from Kabatas and Eminonu are quicker than the public ferry, though less frequent.
• Cars are absent, but bikes and electric vehicles pick up speed on downhill streets. Stay to the side.
• Fish restaurants on the Buyukada seafront charge by weight, so check the price before ordering.
• In summer the Buyukada beaches charge for entry; the free places to swim are rocky.
• With only half a day, pick Heybeliada or Burgazada. They are nearer and calmer than Buyukada, and the return ferry is less packed.
• In summer, weekend boats from Kabatas fill up from 20 minutes before they leave. Come early if you want an open-deck seat.

More trips from central Istanbul are listed on our Istanbul destination page.

Frequently Asked Questions