Princes’ Islands

Overview

Less than an hour by ferry from the center of Istanbul, a chain of pine-covered islands floats in the Sea of Marmara. Yet there are no private cars here, only bicycles, electric carts and footpaths, and the streets are lined with old wooden mansions. The Princes’ Islands, known in Turkish simply as Adalar, “the Islands,” are where Istanbul goes to slow down.

So take the ferry, pick one or two islands, and give yourself a full day. Still deciding? Read are the Princes’ Islands worth it.

Nine Islands, No Cars

The archipelago has nine islands off the Asian shore of Istanbul, and together they form Adalar. Four islands are large and inhabited: Büyükada, Heybeliada, Burgazada and Kınalıada. The other five, by contrast, are much smaller. All of them have hills, and Aya Yorgi Hill on Büyükada is the best known.

Exiles, Summer Houses and Writers

Islands of exile

In Byzantine times, emperors sent unwanted rivals into exile here. Princes, empresses and other royals all ended up on the islands. After 1453, similarly, the Ottomans sent members of the sultans’ families here, and that is where the name “Princes’ Islands” comes from.

A summer resort for many communities

Then, during the 19th century, the islands became a popular resort for wealthy Istanbul families. Many of their mansions still stand. At that time, however, most islanders were Greek, and each island also had its own character. Kınalıada, for instance, was largely Armenian from the 19th century until the mid-20th century, while Burgazada was mostly Jewish. Today, in contrast, most residents and visitors are Turkish, but that mixed past still shapes the churches, synagogues and houses you see.

Trotsky and other famous islanders

Leon Trotsky also spent years in exile on Büyükada. It was his first stop in exile. Later still, the writer Sait Faik Abasıyanık lived on Burgazada and set many of his stories there.

Exploring the Princes’ Islands

Büyükada

The largest island, Büyükada, covers about 5.4 square kilometers (2.1 square miles). People know it best for its grand mansions, the hilltop Monastery of Aya Yorgi and the huge wooden building of the former Greek Orphanage. For more, see our full guide to Büyükada.

Heybeliada

Heybeliada, in Greek Halki, is the second largest island. On its Hill of Hope stands the Halki seminary, which opened in 1844 as a school for Orthodox clergy. Today it is closed. Near the pier, the grounds of the Naval Cadet School hold Kamariotissa, a late Byzantine church.

Burgazada

Burgazada is a single hill about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) across. In ancient times, a fort stood here, and that is why the Turks call it “Burgaz,” meaning fort. Today, Sait Faik’s house is a museum, and at Kalpazankaya, a bronze statue of the writer looks out over the sea.

Kınalıada

Kınalıada, “Henna Island,” is the first stop of the island ferries from the city. The island takes its name from the reddish color of its earth, which comes from the iron and copper once mined here. For this reason, it also has fewer trees than the other islands.

Local Life on the Princes’ Islands

The islands ban motor vehicles, except for service vehicles. Instead, visitors walk, rent bicycles from the many shops, or ride battery-powered electric carts that work like taxis. Horse-drawn carriages once carried visitors, but they have been replaced by electric vehicles.

In winter, Heybeliada has a few thousand residents, but in summer, as owners return to their houses, the number grows many times over. Then the local council hosts small open-air concerts, and swimmers fill the sea club by the shore.

How to Visit the Princes’ Islands

Getting to the Princes’ Islands

• By ferry: the Kabataş–Adalar ferry calls at Eminönü and Kadıköy, then at Kınalıada, Burgazada, Heybeliada and Büyükada, and ends at Bostancı. From Kabataş, the regular ferry takes about an hour to the first island, while from Bostancı on the Asian side, motorboats take about 25 minutes.
• Island hopping: since ferries usually call at several islands, you can easily combine two in one day.
• Combine it: pair a day on the islands with an evening in Kadıköy on the Asian shore.

Local tips for the Princes’ Islands

• Rent a bicycle so that you see more of Büyükada or Heybeliada at your own pace.
• With us: our Princes’ Islands tour takes the ferry to Büyükada and Heybeliada with your own guide.
• Bring good shoes, because the hills are steep, especially on the climb to Aya Yorgi.
• Compare other escapes in our guide to the best day trips from the city.
• Ferry timetables change with the season, so we plan your crossing on the current Şehir Hatları times.