Last updated on .
The Princes’ Islands in Istanbul are a popular day trip to escape from the city. Each island has something different to offer.
Introduction to the Princes’ Islands
The Princes’ Islands (Adalar / Πριγκηπονήσια) is a chain of nine islands in the Marmara Sea. Five of them are inhabited and there’s public ferry service to the four biggest.
Going to the Princes’ Islands can feel like a special occasion. The car-free islands are technically still within the city limits, but when you step off the ferry you’re immediately transported to a different world. Each has a distinct character, serene atmosphere, historic charm, and natural beauty.
Why are they called the Princes’ Islands? During the Byzantine Empire, many Byzantine princes and deposed emperors and empresses were exiled to the islands. Some Ottoman sultans continued the tradition.
The islands were historically home to Greek fishermen and other minority communities, but everything changed when ferry service from the mainland began in 1846. They were transformed into a popular summer destination. Many wealthy residents of Constantinople built their summer mansions on the islands. The Greek, Armenian, and Jewish, and foreign communities have since dwindled, but the islands remain a summer getaway.
Today, you’ll find many beautiful wooden Ottoman homes, some restored and some run down, as well as quiet forests to walk through. There are a handful of beaches as well.
Ferries to the Princes’ Islands
Istanbul City Ferry lines (İstanbul Şehir Hatları) provides ferry service to the four biggest islands – Büyükada, Heybeliada, Burgazada, and Kınalıada – from Kabataş and Kadıköy with less frequent service from Beşiktaş. Be prepared for a long journey. It takes about an hour from Kabataş to Kınalıada, the first island, and 1 hour 45 minutes to Büyükada, the last island. If you’re on the Asian side, you can shorten the ride a bit by leaving from Kadıköy, or take a ferry from Bostancı.
Another choice are the direct fast ferries operating to Heybeliada and Büyükada. They leave from Beşiktaş, Kabataş, and Eminönü with Dentur Avrasya and Mavi Marmara. There’s no public service to most of the other smaller islands.
All ferry terminals for departure are current as of August 2025. You can use your Istanbulkart to board.
If you’re lucky, you might get some entertainment during the long ferry ride. There have been some comical salesmen along for some of the journeys. They sell simple kitchen gadgets and make a fun show out of them for the tourists.
When to Visit the Princes’ Islands
It’s best to go to the islands as early in the day as possible. Try to avoid weekends or holidays when the islands are most crowded. No matter when you go, the ferries can get jam packed with tourists and it can be difficult to find a seat on the way there. On the way back, it’s usually not so crowded.
Getting Around on the Islands
Once on the islands, you’ll notice there are no cars. How do you get around? On the smaller islands, Burgazada and Kınalıada, I always walk. On the bigger islands, however, it can be more difficult to get to certain points without some method of transportation.
Bike Rentals
Bikes are a popular and inexpensive way to get around the islands. You can rent them hourly or for the day by leaving an ID with a rental agency. It’s more economical to rent by the day. I always rent a bike on Büyükada and Heybeliada.
Electric Vehicles
On Büyükada and Heybeliada, electric vehicles are a convenient way to get around. They follow fixed routes to the more popular spots on the island. You can use your Istanbulkart to board.
Phaetons (No Longer Available)
Phaetons (faytons) were horse-drawn carriages that took you from point-to-point on each island or on an “island tour”, all for set prices. They used to be a very popular way for tourists to get around. Thankfully, they were replaced by electric vehicles in early 2020 due to numerous cases of mistreatment of the horses. The horses were often look underfed and not very well cared for.
Another problem with phaetons was that some drivers would try to rip you off by telling you parts of the island were “closed” and that the “grand tour” was the only service available. Sometimes the fees got very expensive and queues could be very long during peak seasons. Also, the horses often pooped all over the streets which made the islands smell less than appealing. In any case, the electric vehicles are a welcome replacement for the phaetons.
Eating on the Princes’ Islands
Eating on each island is usually a little more expensive than eating on the mainland, but there are some great fish restaurants to be found.
A Brief Look at Each of the Princes’ Islands
Here’s a short introduction to each island:
Kınalıada
Kınalıada is the smallest island and usually the first stop on the ferry. There’s a small beach next to the pier. It covers an area of 1.3 square kilometers (0.5 square miles).
Burgazada
Burgazada, the third largest island, has the unfortunate position as the second stop on the ferry, which also makes it the least visited. On a positive note, it’s the most peaceful. Because of this, it happens to be my favorite. The island has an area of 1.5 square kilometers (0.58 square miles).
Heybeliada
Heybeliada is the second biggest island and third stop, home to the Halki Seminary. It’s 2.4 square kilometers (0.93 square miles).
Büyükada
Büyükada is the last stop and biggest island. It’s the most visited of all the islands with the most attractions. It can get very crowded in summer, especially on weekends. It’s also the home of the popular Greek Orthodox Church of St. George (Aya Yorgi). The island covers an area of 5.46 square kilometers (2.11 square miles)
Sedef Adası
Sedef Adası lies to the east of Büyükada and is made up mostly of forests and exclusive private homes. There’s also a beach club. There’s a ferry service from Büyükada. It was known as Terevinthos (Τερέβυνθος) to the Greeks. Sedef translates to “mother-of-pearl” in Turkish. The island has an area of 0.157 square kilometers (0.061 square miles).
Kaşık Adası
Kaşık Adası literally translates to “Spoon Island” because of its shape. It sits in front of Burgazada town and covers an area of 0.006 square kilometers (0.0023 square miles). It was once private property but is now maintained as a nature preserve by the island of Burgazada. There are only a couple structures on the island. The Greeks called it Pita (Πίτα).
Yassıada
Yassıada is a tiny island with a very interesting history. The Byzantines, who called it Plati (Πλάτη), used it as a place of exile for prominent figures. They also built a monastery and church there. In 1857, British Ambassador Henry Bulwer (1801-1872) bought Yassıada and built a castle to live in seclusion. From 1947 to 1978, the Turkish Navy used the island as a training ground. In 1961, after the Turkish military coup in 1960, several members of the ruling government Democrat Party were imprisoned and put on trial there, one of them being Prime Minister Adnan Menderes (1899-1961), who was sentenced to death.
Yassıada is uninhabited but a convention center, hotel, and mosque opened there on May 27, 2020. The island is also popular for scuba diving. The island covers an area of 0.05 square kilometers (0.019 square miles).
Sivriada
Sivriada was known to the Byzantines as Oksia (Ὀξεία). It was used as a place of imprisonment and a monastery was built there in the 9th century. The ruins of the monastery can still be seen today along with the graves of Byzantines who died there. The island has an area of 0.04 square kilometers (0.015 square miles).
Sivriada also plays a part in Istanbul lore. In 1911, all the stray dogs in the city were gathered and shipped to the island. A terrible earthquake occurred shortly after, and citizens believed it was punishment by God for removing the dogs. The dogs were quickly gathered and returned to the city.
Tavşan Adası
Tavşan Adası, literally “Rabbit Island”, is basically a rock south of Büyükada. It was known as Neandros (Νέανδρος) to the Greeks. The island is uninhabited and a declared a protected marine area on April 10, 2021. It covers only 0.0004 square kilometers (0.00015 square miles).
