Day Trip to Princes' Islands: Complete Guide
Ahmet Yılmaz
Travel Expert
The Car-Free Oasis of Istanbul
Located just a 90-minute ferry ride from the chaotic, honking streets of Istanbul lies an entirely different world. The Princes' Islands (Adalar) are an archipelago of nine islands in the Sea of Marmara. Their most famous feature? Motorized vehicles (cars, taxis, and buses) are strictly banned by law — transport is by bicycle, on foot, or aboard the small electric shuttles that replaced the islands' famous horse-drawn carriages.
During the Byzantine and early Ottoman periods, these islands were used as places of exile for disgraced royalty (hence the name). In the 19th century, they became a popular summer resort for Istanbul's wealthy Greek, Armenian, and Jewish communities, leaving behind a legacy of stunning, ornate wooden Victorian-style mansions.
Büyükada: The Crown Jewel
While there are four main islands accessible to tourists, Büyükada (The Big Island) is the most popular. The best way to explore the island is to rent a bicycle near the ferry terminal. Ride up through the pine forests to reach the peak of the island, where the historical Aya Yorgi Greek Orthodox Church sits, offering incredible panoramic views back towards the Asian side of Istanbul.
Stop for a seafood lunch at one of the many restaurants lining the harbor, and don't forget to try the island's famous ice cream served in massive waffle cones. Prefer somewhere quieter? Heybeliada, one ferry stop earlier, offers the same pine forests and mansions with half the crowds.
How to Get to the Princes' Islands
Ferries depart from Kabataş on the European side and from Kadıköy and Bostancı on the Asian side — tap on with an Istanbulkart. The crossing takes roughly 90 minutes from the European side, and noticeably less from Bostancı, the closest mainland pier to Büyükada. Coming straight from a flight? A fixed-price transfer from Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) to the Bostancı ferry (from €40, 30 to 45 minutes) is the quickest sea link, while from Istanbul Airport (from €55, 50 to 70 minutes) your driver delivers you to the Kabataş pier.
The Ferry Chaos and How to Beat It
On sunny summer weekends, the ferry terminals turn into absolute zoos. Tens of thousands of locals flock to the islands, and the lines for the boats stretch for hundreds of meters. If you don't arrive early, you will be forced to stand for the entire journey. Go on a weekday if you possibly can, catch a morning boat, and check the return timetable the moment you land — the last comfortable ferries back fill up fast in high season.
The VIP Transfer Strategy
Do not rely on unpredictable public buses or standard taxis to get you to the ferry terminal early in the morning. Book our VIP Transfer service from your hotel directly to the Kabataş, Kadıköy or Bostancı ferry terminal.
Our drivers will ensure you arrive comfortably, relaxed, and most importantly, with plenty of time to secure a good seat on the upper deck of the ferry. After a long day of cycling on the islands, your VIP van will be waiting for you the moment you step off the boat in the evening, saving you from fighting with commuters for a ride home.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get to the Princes' Islands from Istanbul?
By ferry from Kabataş on the European side or from Kadıköy and Bostancı on the Asian side, paying with an Istanbulkart. The crossing takes about 90 minutes from the European piers and less from Bostancı, which is the closest mainland point to Büyükada.
Which Princes' Island is the best to visit?
Büyükada, the largest, has the grandest mansions, the Aya Yorgi hilltop church and the widest choice of restaurants and bike rentals. Heybeliada, one stop earlier, offers the same pine-forest scenery with noticeably fewer visitors — a better pick on crowded summer weekends.
Are there cars on the Princes' Islands?
No — private motor vehicles are banned by law. You get around by bicycle, on foot, or on the small electric shuttle buses that replaced the islands' traditional horse-drawn carriages. That silence is precisely why Istanbullus love the islands.
Is one day enough for the Princes' Islands?
Yes. A morning ferry, a bike ride through Büyükada's pine forests, a seafood lunch by the harbor and the climb to Aya Yorgi fit comfortably into a single day, returning on an early-evening boat. Overnighting is lovely but optional.
Can you swim at the Princes' Islands?
Yes — in summer the islands run beach clubs and swimming platforms, several reachable by shuttle boat from the Büyükada pier. Water quality is far better than in the city itself, but bring cash for sunbed hire and go early on hot weekends.
How do I reach the ferry if I am coming from the airport?
From Sabiha Gökçen, a fixed transfer to the Bostancı ferry pier takes 30 to 45 minutes from €40 — the fastest airport-to-island connection. From Istanbul Airport, allow 50 to 70 minutes to the Kabataş pier from €55. Both prices include tolls.
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