What are the Princes’ islands?
The Princes’ Islands is a group of nine islands located to the southeast of Istanbul, in the sea of Marmara. The group consists of nine islands: Buyukada, Heybeliada, Burgazada, Kinaliada, Sedefadasi, Silivriada, Yassiada, Kasikadası, and Tavsanadasi. They can be seen from many parts of Istanbul.
Why are they called the Princes’ Islands?
You may wonder: Why are they called Princes’ Islands? During the Byzantine period, princes, patriarchs and even emperors and empresses were exiled on these islands after the Roman emperor Constantine the Great built a new imperial residence in Istanbul and made it the capital of the empire in 330. The islands gained importance after the Roman emperor Justinian II built himself a palace on the largest island in 569, which is known as Megale. After this period, many monasteries and churches were built on the islands.
The closest island to the land is Kinaliada, and the furthest island is Tavşanada. The climate of the islands is very similar to the climate in Istanbul, with Mediterranean characteristics. The islands are mainly car-free. Until 2020, horse carriages were used for touristic purposes, however they were banned later because the horses were kept in poor conditions. Currently, small electric vehicles that are environmentally friendly are being used instead of horse carriages for transportation. Bicycles are another fun way to get around the islands. The residents of the islands usually have a small electric vehicle by their house, which they use to get around the island or do shopping, since cars are not allowed.
Why should you visit the Princes’ islands?
There are many great reasons to visit the Princes’ Islands. To begin with, when you visit the islands, you will realize that they are a real ethnic, cultural and religious mix with the gorgeous churches, synagogues and mosques. During the Byzantine period, a lot of monasteries and churches were built on the islands, which still exist today. During the Ottoman Empire period, it became the weekend destination of many Ottoman aristocrats.
If you want to see the beautiful Victorian style villas and cottages that are still used today, it is worth coming here. Another good reason to visit the islands is enjoying a calm and peaceful day away from Istanbul. Istanbul’s population of 15 million and growing makes the city constantly noisy and crowded. By contrast the islands have a much calmer and more peaceful atmosphere, and make a great weekend getaway option from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Since motorized vehicles are prohibited, there is no traffic on the islands, which makes them a wonderfully serene place to spend a day or two. You can ride your bike around the island and enjoy the greenery and the sunshine as you see the beautiful churches and historic mansions.
Not a fan of cycling? Well, how about swimming? There are lots of beautiful beaches to swim on Büyükada, Heybeliada, Kınalıada, Burgazada ve Sedefadasi. After a refreshing swim you can have lunch or dinner at the seafood restaurants or the cafes at the beaches. DJ performances and live music are also available for nightlife lovers. Finally, camping is another fun option for those who are interested in nature. Make a reservation, bring your tent and spend a night sleeping on the beach! When you wake up in the morning, the sound of the waves and the spectacular scenery from your tent will be the first things you notice. Perhaps some meditation? Why not!
What are the top things to see in the Princes’ Islands?
Although the archipelago consists of nine islands in total, the main islands that attract tourists are Büyükada, Heybeliada, Burgazada, and Kinaliada. We recommend you to spend a day on at least one of these islands. Büyükada is the biggest and the most popular of the islands. Many tourists prefer visiting Büyükada, so it is probably the most crowded island of all. You will still feel like you are in the city centre, not on an island. Below you will find some cool places to visit on Büyükada and the other islands.
Aya Yorgi Church
When we talk about a trip to Büyükada, the first place that comes to mind is Aya Yorgi Church, which is located on the Aya Yorgi Hill. It is one of the most important historical buildings in Büyükada. You can visit the Aya Yogi Church every day between 8.30 am and 4 pm, except for Sundays between 9 AM and 12.15 PM, as it is the time of worship. In order to get to the church, you will need to go up the hill, which is usually a bit tiring. Author recommendation: After getting around Büyükada with your bike, which will be lots of fun, leave your bike down the hill (as bikes are not allowed, and it would be hard work cycling up anyway) and start walking up the hill to Aya Yorgi Church. After walking for about 10-15 minutes, you will get to your destination. The entrance to the church is free for everyone, so you don’t need to buy a ticket. You can go inside the church, light some candles and pray if you want. Like all other churches, you need to be quiet inside and follow the rules. After spending some time inside the church, you can enjoy the picturesque view of the island from the hill. You will be mesmerized by the beauty of the Marmara Sea and the greenery. If you love taking photos, you will definitely love this spot. We recommend you to go there on a sunny day as your photos will look more beautiful with natural sunshine. Below you can see some photos of the hill and the view.
Büyükada mansions
Büyükada has many beautiful and historical mansions that you will love to see. As mentioned earlier, a lot of historical figures and politicians were exiled on the island. Also, some important Turkish authors lived on the island. Therefore, the island owns lots of beautiful mansions where these people spent their lifetime. As you get around the island with your bike or on foot, you will come across many historical mansions on the island on every street you ride. Perhaps you will wish you owned one of those stunning mansions with perfect views. Well, at least I did. Nizam Danasi Efendi Köşkü, Fabiota Köşkü, Haralanboz Çavuşoğlu Köşkü, Hazzopoulo Köşkü, İsmail Canbulat Köşkü ve Mazlum Bey Köşkü are some of the mansions you will see on the island.
Adalar Museum
Adalar Museum is also located on Büyükada. In summer, you can visit the museum between 10:30 – 19:30, whereas in winter it is open between 10:00- 17:00. The admission fee is 20 TL. If you want to walk, it takes about thirty minutes to get to the museum from the ferry terminal. If you are riding a bike, it will probably take about 10-15 minutes. It is known as Istanbul’s first modern city museum. You will find history, literature and art in one museum. There is also a section about all the local and foreign writers who lived on the islands, such as Reşat Nuri Gültekin, Nurullah Ataç, Yahya Kemal and Yakup Kadri. The life stories of the authors, sections from their books and their poems are exhibited. You will also see their personal belongings protected in bell jars. While visiting this section, poems by the authors will accompany you. For detailed information about the museum and the exhibitions, visit their website: https://www.adalarmuzesi.org/cms/english
Adakule
Adakule is an old five-storey fire tower located on a hill in Büyükada, which is about 50-minutes walking distance from the ferry terminal. It is very close to Aya Yorgi Church. If you made it to the church, it won’t be difficult to get to the hill, which is only 5 minutes away on foot. The gorgeous view of Heybeliada and Greek Orthodox Orphanage makes Adakule one of the most popular places visited by both local and foreign tourists every year.
Author tip: As it is located on a secluded place, it may be a good idea to visit it before it gets dark.
The Prinkipo Greek Orphanage
The Prinkipo Greek Orphanage, also known as Büyükada Greek Orphanage, is a wooden building located in Büyükada, which served as an orphanage from 1903 to 1964. It is considered to be the largest wooden building in Europe and second largest in the world. It consists of 206 rooms, a kitchen, a library, a primary school and vocational workshops It is located on top of a hill named Isa Tepesi. It was originally designed by a French-Ottoman architect to be a luxury hotel and casino called Prinkipo Palace, but later became an orphanage since Sultan Abdul Hamid II, the 34th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, did not allow the casino to open. Later, it was turned into an orphanage by a Greek family. The building is not in a good condition at the moment since it was badly damaged by a fire which broke out in 1980. However, it’s still worth seeing.
Reşat Nuri Güntekin ‘s House
Reşat Nuri Güntekin is a famous Turkish novelist who lived in a three-storey house in Büyükada with his family. In addition to being a popular writer of his period, he was also considered to be one of the prominent names of Turkish literature. His most popular book is Çalikusu (Gold Crest, 1922). His house is not a museum, and his daughter still lives there, so it is forbidden to enter the house.
The Beaches
Apart from cycling, another activity that you can do on the island is swimming. Büyükada and the other islands have lots of beaches where you can spend time with your family and friends. Most of the beaches are private beaches, so you will need to pay a fee to be able to use them and benefit from all the services provided on the beach, such as food and drink, camping, entertainment, etc. The beaches are usually crowded at the weekend, so we recommend you make a reservation before you go. Also, it may be a good idea to go swimming on the island on weekdays rather than a weekend to avoid the crowd. Another recommendation to avoid the crowd is preferring the smaller islands rather than Büyükada since it is the most crowded island of all. Heybeliada, Kınalıada and Burgazada also have beautiful beaches where you can enjoy the sea, the sun and a little bit of quiet. Some of the popular beaches on Burgazada include Madam Martha Koyu Beach, Kalpazankaya Beach and Düşler Sahili. Madam Martha and Düşler Sahili beaches have camping sites where you can put up your tent and spend the night. However, camping is actually banned on the island and you may need to take down the tent early in the morning to avoid a penalty. You need to pay around 40-50 lira to hire a beach lounger chair. Also, Madam Martha and Düşler Sahili do not have restaurants or cafes, so you need to bring your own food and drinks.
If you prefer a beach that offers facilities such as food and drink, entertainment, cafes etc., Büyükada will be a good option. However, if you want a quiet beach where you can camp and enjoy the sea, Burgazada is a better option. It’s a smaller island and the facilities are limited, so it is not visited by many tourists.
Camping on the beach
The author favours Düşler Sahili beach for a weekend getaway and camping. It costs 50 lira to hire a place for camping. You need to bring your tent and all the equipment with you as they do not offer camping equipment. It takes about 20-25 minutes to get to the beach from the ferry terminal. You may need to ask a few people where the beach is because it is located in a very secluded place where you need to use steep stairs to reach the beach.
There are no facilities on the beach except for a toilet and a shower, which is kindly not recommended. Pay the fee and start pitching your tent before it gets dark. It is a secluded beach on a small island, so do not expect to see many people around. In fact, you may be the only person who is there, so we recommend you to go there with a friend. There is no restaurant or a café on the beach, so bring your food and drink with you. Once your tent is ready, enjoy the sea, the sun and the quiet. It’s also a great place for meditation. You will be woken up by the sound of the waves in the morning and a perfect view of the sea. Below you can see some photos from the camping experience:
How long should I allow to visit the Princes’ Islands?
We recommend you to spend a full day on one of the islands to fully experience the beauty of it. However, you can also hire a place or stay at one of the hotels to spend a whole weekend. For the smaller islands, one day will be more than enough, whereas Büyükada will probably take a longer time to visit.
What should I eat on the Princes’ Islands?
One thing you should definitely have when you’re on the island on a hot sunny day is ice cream! Büyükada is famous for its delicious ice creams. After you get off the ferry, you just need to walk for a few minutes to get to the Clock square. On your way, you will see there are lots of ice cream shops lined up on the street which offer a wide variety of flavours, including Nutella, Italian caramel, berries, pistachio, and even cappucino. Tarihi Prinkipo Dondurma & Waffle and Roma Dondurma are some of the most popular ice cream shops in Büyükada.
A scoop of ice cream costs around 10 lira, so the price you will pay for the ice cream will change depending on how many scoops you want. Do not leave the island before you taste the delicious ice creams. If you’re hungry, you should dine at one of the fish restaurants by the shore and have fish and raki in the evening.
How do you get to the Prince’s islands?
The most popular and enjoyable way to get to the Princes Islands is taking the ferry. You can use one of the ferry terminals located in Beşiktaş, Kabataş, Eminönü on the European side and Kadıköy or Bostancı on the Asian side. The fastest way to get to the islands is taking the Kadıköy or Bostancı ferry on the Asian side. The ferries usually stop off on each main island, so you just have to get on board.
Author tip: Take one of the earliest ferries to get to the islands to spend a full day on the island since it takes a long time to get there. Before you return, check the ferry schedule, aim for a ferry and be at the ferry terminal at least 5-10 minutes earlier. If you miss the last ferry, you may have to spend the night on the island. You can look up the ferry schedules here.
How long does it take to get to the Princes’ Islands?
It depends on which ferry terminal you use and which island you aim to go. If you take the ferry from the Asian side (Kadıköy or Bostancı), you will get there in a shorter period of time. It usually takes around an hour to get to Büyükada from Kadıköy. However, if you want to go to Kınalıada, Burgazada or Heybeliada, it will take less time as they are closer than Büyükada.
Where can I buy tickets to get to the Princes’ Islands?
You can buy a ticket at one of the ferry terminals located in Beşiktaş, Kabataş, Eminönü, Kadıköy or Bostancı. There are two main companies that you can prefer: Şehir Hatları and Turyol, and their terminals are usually close to each other. You can use your Istanbul Kart to take the ferry from either of these companies.
