Buyukada Romantic Getaway: Private Overnight Trip for Couples

Buyukada overnight trip for couples: the key facts

This package takes you out of the city for one night on Buyukada, the largest of Istanbul's Princes' Islands. A transfer collects you from your hotel, you take the ferry over with a guide, and Day 1 covers Dilburnu Nature Park, the hilltop church of Aya Yorgi, a look at the old Greek Orphanage from outside and the Adalar Museum. The evening is a candlelit dinner and a night in an island hotel. On Day 2, after breakfast, you visit Heybeliada and the Halki Theological School before the ferry back and a drop-off at your hotel.

It suits couples on a honeymoon or anniversary who want a quiet break from central Istanbul without flying anywhere. The pace is gentle, but there is walking on hills. The price is from $440 per person.

Is this a private trip or a shared group?

The page says two things. The title and overview describe a private tour made for couples, but the Tour Info box lists it as a group tour. The inclusions mention private transportation, which fits the private version. Before you pay, ask us to confirm in writing whether the guide, the transfer and the dinner are for the two of you only, or whether other guests join any part of the trip. If you want a fully private island day without the overnight, compare the Princes' Islands full-day tour with ferry and lunch.

How do we get there and back?

A private transfer picks you up from anywhere in Istanbul and takes you to the ferry, and your guide travels with you to Buyukada. Ferry tickets for both directions are included. On Day 2 you go on to Heybeliada, then take the ferry back to Istanbul, where a private vehicle drops you at your hotel. The page does not name the pier or give ferry times, so ask for the pickup time and departure pier in your written plan. Travel light: one small bag each is easier on the ferry and on foot.

How do we get around on the island?

Buyukada has no private car traffic. The old horse carriages were taken off the islands in 2020 and replaced by electric minibuses run by the municipality, and most visitors walk or cycle. On this trip you walk with your guide: the Nature Park walk to the coves takes about an hour, and Aya Yorgi sits on a hilltop, with about two hours planned there. The climb up is steep in places, so wear comfortable shoes with grip. Ask your guide if you would prefer to cover part of the way by the island's electric transport.

What is included in the dinner and the hotel?

The page includes one candlelit dinner on Day 1 and breakfast in a garden the next morning, plus a night in what it calls a charming island hotel. It does not name the hotel, the room type or whether drinks with dinner are covered. Ask us to list the hotel name, the room type and what the dinner includes in your written plan. If you have a special date to mark, such as a proposal or anniversary, tell us when you book so we can pass the request to the hotel.

Which entrance fees are included?

The page gives different answers. The overview says only personal expenses are extra, but in the Day 1 list the Adalar Museum is marked "admission not included". The same line calls it both the Adalar Museum and a Naval Museum. The Nature Park and the Halki Theological School are listed with admission included, Aya Yorgi is free, and the Greek Orphanage is seen from outside only. Ask us to confirm in writing which museum you visit on Day 1 and whether its ticket is in the price.

What should we wear at Aya Yorgi and Halki?

Both stops are Greek Orthodox religious sites, so dress modestly on both days. Cover shoulders and knees, and women may want a light scarf. Bring a layer for the ferry, since it is cooler on deck than in the city. The walk to Aya Yorgi is the most demanding part of the trip, so pick shoes for the hill rather than for dinner, and pack a change for the evening. Our page on what to wear in Istanbul has more general advice.

Is it a good fit for a honeymoon?

It works well as one quiet part of a longer honeymoon. The trip has one night, a set dinner and short guided walks, so you are not on the move all day. Many couples combine it with time in the city: see our Istanbul honeymoon package and the wider Turkey honeymoon packages. If you plan to propose, a Bosphorus yacht proposal is another option on a different evening. For more city ideas, see all Istanbul tours and our Istanbul packages.

How do I book this trip?

Choose a date and the number of guests in the booking form on this page, or message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 307 67 88. We send you a written plan with the pickup time and pier, the hotel name, what the dinner includes and whether the trip is private. Check it before any payment, and read the cancellation policy before you confirm. The trip is operated by Viracocha Travel Turizm, TÜRSAB licence A-15751.