An hour or so off the coast of a city of 16 million, there is an archipelago where cars are banned, the loudest sound is birdsong, and grand wooden mansions sit half-asleep under the pines. The Princes’ Islands have been Istanbul’s escape valve for over a century. It is the place where Ottoman princes were exiled, where Trotsky wrote, and where modern Istanbullus go to remember what quiet feels like. If you are planning a princes islands day trip, it is the easiest reset the city offers.
This guide covers the practical end of it: which ferry to take and what it costs in May 2026, which island to choose, how to get around without a car, and what is actually worth your time once you land, alongside the small local knowledge that keeps you off the tourist treadmill. I have been making this trip since I was a child; here is how to do it like someone who lives here.
Last updated: May 2026. Fares and hours are tagged by month. The islands are busiest on summer weekends, so a weekday trip is a different, calmer experience.
Princes’ Islands day trip at a glance (May 2026)
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Getting there: Ferry from Eminönü, Kabataş, or Kadıköy/Bostancı on the Asian side.
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Ferry time: About 60 to 90 minutes from the European side; ~50 minutes from Bostancı.
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Fare: Around 50 to 70 TL each way with an Istanbulkart; pay-as-you-go by zone.
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Main island: Büyükada is the largest, with the most to see and do.
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Getting around: On foot, by bicycle, or by electric shuttle (eco-buggy). No private cars.
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Best time: Late spring (May to June) and early autumn; midweek over weekends.
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Time needed: A full day. First ferry out, late-afternoon ferry back.
Why the islands are worth a day
The appeal is simple and rare: no traffic. In 2020 the islands phased out the old horse-drawn carriages on welfare grounds and banned fossil-fuel cars outright, so the only vehicles are bicycles, electric shuttles, and the occasional service vehicle. The effect on a city dweller is almost physical. Your shoulders drop somewhere around the second pine-shaded lane.
There are nine islands; four take regular passenger ferries, and only the largest two or three see most visitors. They share a particular look with late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-century timber houses, fretwork balconies, overgrown gardens, and a faded summer-resort grandeur from the days when Istanbul’s Greek, Armenian, Jewish, and Levantine families summered here. It is the closest thing the city has to a step back in time, and it sits a short boat ride away.
A princes islands day trip is one of the most rewarding excursions from Istanbul precisely because it asks so little: no car hire, no early alarm if you don’t want one, and no logistics beyond a ferry ticket. For more ways to use a spare day, our wider Istanbul day trip ideas round-up sets the islands against Bursa, the Black Sea villages, and the Belgrad Forest.
Which island should you choose?
Most first-time visitors should go to Büyükada, and most should go only there. Island-hopping in a single day leaves you rushing. But it helps to know the differences, because the smaller islands are where you escape the crowds.
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Büyükada (Big Island): Largest and liveliest, featuring grand mansions, pine hills, and the monastery. Best for first-timers, a full day, and the classic experience.
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Heybeliada: Quieter, with naval-college history and good swimming coves. Best for a calmer pace, a half-day add-on, and swimmers.
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Burgazada: Small, residential, and literary (home to Sait Faik’s house). Best for avoiding crowds, a slow lunch, and writers’ pilgrims.
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Kınalıada: Closest, rockier, with fewer trees and quick to reach. Best for a short half-day and a swim near the city.
If you have done Büyükada before and want the locals’ choice, take the ferry one stop further to Heybeliada. It is smaller and greener, with the hilltop former naval academy and quiet pebble coves for a swim. For a first visit, though, Büyükada has the density of things to see, and the rest of this guide focuses there.
How to get there: the ferries
Getting to the islands is half the fun and genuinely easy. Scheduled ferries run all day from three main points to Büyükada’s harbour, and you pay with an Istanbulkart, tapping in as you board without a separate ticket needed. Our Istanbulkart how-to guide covers buying and topping up the card if you don’t have one yet.
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From Eminönü or Kabataş (European side): This is the classic route, taking in the old-city skyline as you leave. It takes about 60 to 90 minutes to Büyükada, stopping at the other islands first.
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From Kadıköy or Bostancı (Asian side): Faster and less crowded. Bostancı to Büyükada is roughly 50 minutes, making it the locals’ choice if you are staying or already on the Asian shore.
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Fares: Expect around 50 to 70 TL each way with an Istanbulkart (May 2026), charged by distance zone. Keep the card topped up for the return.
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Boats: The public Şehir Hatları (City Lines) ferries are the cheapest and most atmospheric. Faster private deniz otobüsü (sea-bus) catamarans also run.
Always check the day’s timetable before you go, as schedules thin out in the evening and change between summer and winter. The official Şehir Hatları ferry timetable has the current departures; the fast sea-buses are listed separately on the İDO sea-bus site. Aim for a morning boat out and note your last realistic ferry back, because missing it is the one real way to ruin the day.
If you are sailing from the Asian side, build the morning around it. A long Turkish breakfast in Kadıköy before you board sets the day up perfectly, and our best Turkish breakfast spots guide lists where to go near the Bostancı boats. The neighbourhood itself is worth time too. See the Kadıköy waterfront and market guide if you have an hour to spare before or after.
Ferry tip: sit on the right going out Heading out from the European side, sit on the right-hand (starboard) side for the run past the old city and the Asian shore. Buy a glass of tea from the on-board çaycı (tea seller), grab a spot on the open back deck, and the 75-minute crossing becomes the relaxing overture to the day rather than dead time.
One bonus of the European-side route is that the first stretch doubles as a mini Bosphorus and old-city sightseeing run, so you get views you would otherwise pay a tour for. If a dedicated boat trip is also on your list, our Bosphorus cruise comparison weighs the public ferries against the private and dinner options.
Getting around Büyükada (car-free)
This is the part people love and occasionally get wrong. There are no taxis and no private cars. Since the horse carriages were retired, you get around in three ways, and the right mix depends on your energy and the heat.
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On foot: The town, the waterfront, and the lower mansion lanes are flat and very walkable. You can have a lovely day barely leaving the shade of the main streets.
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By bicycle: The island’s signature. Rent one near the harbour for about 150 to 250 TL for a few hours (May 2026). The loop road around the island is mostly gentle, with one or two climbs. E-bikes cost a little more and flatten the hills.
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By electric shuttle (the eco-buggy): Quiet electric minibuses run set routes for those who would rather not pedal or walk far. Pay a small per-ride fare on board.
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By foot to the monastery base: For the big climb to the hilltop monastery, you walk. The last stretch up is pedestrian-only anyway.
My advice is to rent a bike for the morning to do the island loop while it is cool, return it, then explore the town and harbour on foot in the afternoon with an ice cream. Bring or buy water, as the climbs are sunny and the inland fountains are sparse.
What to do on Büyükada
Climb to Aya Yorgi (the Monastery of St George) The island’s defining walk is up Yüce Tepe, the southern hill, to the small Greek Orthodox Monastery of St George (Aya Yorgi). The final ascent is a steep cobbled path, traditionally walked rather than ridden, and on holy days pilgrims climb it unwinding a spool of thread and making a wish. At the top you will find a simple chapel, a humble café, and a view across the Sea of Marmara that pays back every step.
Allow about 45 minutes up at a steady pace from where the wheeled traffic stops. Wear proper shoes, take water, and go in the morning before the midday heat. The café at the summit does a plain, well-earned plate of köfte (meatballs) and a cold drink.
Cycle or walk the mansion lanes Büyükada’s residential streets are an open-air museum of late-Ottoman timber architecture: three-storey köşk (summer villas) with carved eaves and shuttered verandas, many beautifully restored, a few romantically crumbling. The Çankaya and Nizam neighbourhoods have the grandest structures. Pedal slowly, look up, and notice the old fire-insurance plaques and the gardens spilling over with jasmine and mimosa.
Look out for the vast wooden Prinkipo Greek Orthodox Orphanage on the northern hill. Reputedly the largest timber building in Europe and the second-largest in the world, it is now empty and weather-beaten, an extraordinary sight even from the road.
Swim, or sit by the water In late spring and summer, several beach clubs and public coves around the island let you swim in clean, cool Marmara water. Entry to a managed beach club runs roughly 300 to 600 TL (May 2026) including a sunbed. If you would rather not pay, the rocky public stretches are free. Either way, the water does not truly warm up until June, so May swims are bracing.
Eat by the harbour The waterfront is lined with meyhane (taverns) and fish restaurants. They are pricier than the mainland and aimed at day-trippers, so choose by where the locals sit and check prices first. A plate of mezes and grilled fish with a drink runs 600 to 1,000 TL per person (≈ $18–31 USD, May 2026). For a cheaper lunch, do as the islanders do and buy a gözleme (stuffed flatbread) or a fish sandwich and eat it on a bench by the water.
A sample island day
A relaxed, weather-flexible plan for your princes islands day trip, built around the ferry times.
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09:00: Morning ferry from Kabataş or Bostancı; enjoy tea on the open deck.
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10:30: Land at Büyükada; rent a bicycle near the harbour.
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10:45: Ride the island loop through the mansion lanes while it is cool.
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12:00: Return the bike; walk to the base of Yüce Tepe and climb to Aya Yorgi.
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13:30: Lunch at the summit café or back down by the harbour.
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15:00: Stroll the waterfront, get an ice cream, and take a swim if it is warm.
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17:00: Catch the late-afternoon ferry back, watching the city skyline return.
Practical tips for the islands
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Go midweek if you can: Summer weekends bring big domestic crowds and long ferry queues at peak hours. A Tuesday or Wednesday is a different, calmer island.
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Check the last ferry: Evening departures thin out fast. Note your return time the moment you arrive, and do not cut it fine.
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Carry cash as well as a card: Bike rentals, small cafés, and the summit chapel donations are easier with cash; bigger restaurants take cards.
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Bring layers and water: It is breezier and cooler on the water and the hilltop than in town, and shade can be patchy on the climbs.
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Pack light: You may walk and cycle a fair bit, so leave the big bag at your hotel.
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Respect the quiet: The islands are residential and the car-free calm is the whole point. Keep the noise down, especially in the mansion lanes.
If you would like the islands folded into a guided outing with the ferry sorted for you, the Istanbul Tourist Pass bundles a Bosphorus cruise and various day excursions on one card. For the islands specifically, though, the public ferry is so cheap and simple that doing it yourself is usually the better call. As ever, weigh the city pass against what you will actually use.
Timing-wise, May and June are the sweet spot. The island is green, the wildflowers are out, and the worst of the summer day-tripper crush has not arrived. Our Istanbul in May guide sets the weather and crowds in context. If you are slotting the islands into a wider city stay, the seasonal things to do in Istanbul round-up helps you balance a day on the water against time in the old city. By July the islands are lovely but busy, so an early start matters more.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get to the Princes’ Islands from Istanbul? Take a scheduled ferry from Eminönü or Kabataş on the European side, or from Kadıköy or Bostancı on the Asian side. The crossing takes about 60 to 90 minutes from Europe and around 50 minutes from Bostancı, and you pay with an Istanbulkart as you board.
How much does the ferry to Büyükada cost? Around 50 to 70 TL each way with an Istanbulkart as of May 2026, charged by distance zone. The public Şehir Hatları ferries are the cheapest option, while faster private sea-buses cost a little more. Keep your card topped up for the return trip.
Which Princes’ Island is the best to visit? Büyükada, the largest, is the best for a first visit. It has the grand mansions, the hilltop Monastery of St George, and the most to do. For a quieter day, Heybeliada one stop earlier is greener and calmer, making it a local favourite.
Are there cars on the Princes’ Islands? No. Private fossil-fuel cars are banned and the old horse carriages were retired in 2020. You get around on foot, by bicycle, or by electric shuttle, which is exactly what makes the islands such a calm escape from the city.
How long do you need for a Princes’ Islands day trip? Plan a full day. With the ferry each way taking over an hour, you will want the first morning boat out and a late-afternoon boat back to fit in a bike loop, the climb to the monastery, lunch, and the waterfront without rushing.
Can you swim at the Princes’ Islands? Yes, from late spring through summer. Managed beach clubs charge roughly 300 to 600 TL including a sunbed (May 2026), while rocky public coves are free. The Marmara water stays cool until June, so May swims are bracing rather than warm.
Is a Princes’ Islands day trip worth it? For most visitors, yes. The car-free quiet, the period architecture, and the ferry ride itself make it one of the easiest and most rewarding escapes from central Istanbul. Go midweek to avoid the summer-weekend crowds.
Useful Turkish for the islands
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ada (ah-DAH) : island. Büyükada means big island; Adalar is the islands’ district name.
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vapur (vah-POOR) : ferry, the traditional public boat.
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iskele (iss-keh-LEH) : ferry pier or jetty, where you board and land.
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bisiklet (bee-seek-LET) : bicycle, your main transport on the island.
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deniz (deh-NEEZ) : sea, as in deniz otobüsü, the fast sea-bus.
