Принцеві острови (Адалар)

Officially Adalar (Princes' Islands) belong to Istanbul, but you won't see a single private car on them. Getting there means a ferry: the public boat from Kabataş reaches Büyükada in about 90 minutes and calls at three smaller islands first. The group has nine islands in all. Four of them, Kınalıada, Burgazada, Heybeliada and Büyükada, 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 were built on the hilltops. In the 19th century steamers connected the islands to the city, and wealthy Greek, Armenian, Jewish and Turkish families built summer homes. After his expulsion from the Soviet Union, Leon Trotsky lived on Büyükada 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

• Büyükada is the largest, with grand wooden mansions, the widest choice of restaurants and the Monastery of St George (Aya Yorgi) on the summit, about a 30-minute 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.
• Kınalıada 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 Büyükada pier. Bike rental shops are just off the main square. A full loop of Büyükada is about 12 kilometres, with a few steep sections; electric bikes can be hired.

When to go

Choose a weekday between May and October. Summer weekends mean full ferries and a crowded Büyükada. 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 Kınalıada, Heybeliada and Büyükada, 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 Büyükada.

Tips

• Take a morning boat and return late in the afternoon; the final sailings on a summer Sunday fill up.
• Leaving Kabataş, sit on the right for Topkapı Palace and the Old City skyline, followed by the Asian shore.
• Private sea buses from Kabataş and Eminönü are quicker than the public ferry, though less frequent.
• There are no cars, but bikes and electric vehicles pick up speed on downhill streets. Stay to the side.
• Fish restaurants on the Büyükada seafront charge by weight, so check the price before ordering.
• In summer the Büyükada 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 Büyükada, and the return ferry is less packed.
• In summer, weekend boats from Kabataş fill up from 20 minutes before departure. Come early if you want an open-deck seat.

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

Frequently Asked Questions