The Princes’ Islands: the back story

About The Princes’ Islands: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Istanbul Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Nine islands lie in the Sea of Marmara off the Asian shore; four are served by public ferries: Kınalıada, Burgazada, Heybeliada and Büyükada. In Byzantine times princes and empresses were exiled to their monasteries, which gave the islands their name; in the 19th century they became summer resorts for the city’s Greek, Armenian, Jewish and Turkish families.

Islands of exile

In the Byzantine era the islands held monasteries where deposed emperors, princes and empresses were sent into exile, which is why they are called the Princes’ Islands (Adalar in Turkish). Monasteries still crown several of the hills.

Summer resorts

With the steamers of the 19th century, the islands became a summer escape for the city’s families. Büyükada and Heybeliada are still full of elegant wooden mansions with gardens of bougainvillea, and on summer weekends the ferries are packed.

Private cars are not allowed on the Princes’ Islands.

Getting around

Private cars are banned. You walk, rent a bicycle, or use the small electric vehicles run by the municipality, which replaced the horse-drawn carriages in 2020. Büyükada is the largest island and the easiest to explore by bike.

Which island?

Büyükada has the grandest mansions and the hilltop Monastery of St George; Heybeliada is greener and quieter, with pine woods and coves; Burgazada is small and literary, with the house museum of writer Sait Faik; Kınalıada, the closest, has bare reddish hills and a quiet seafront.

When to go

May, June, September and October are ideal. Summer weekends are very crowded; go on a weekday. In winter the islands are peaceful, with fewer ferries.

Our advice: take an early ferry, choose one or two islands rather than all four, rent a bike on Büyükada and climb to St George for the view, then have fish by the harbour before the evening ferry back.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with The Princes’ Islands: the back story before you go.