Visit Istanbul Guide
The Princes' Islands
The Princes Islands Istanbul day trip is the one that needs no planning: a public ferry from Kabataş or Kadıköy, about an hour, ₺46.20 on an İstanbulkart, and you land somewhere with no private cars, wooden mansions under pine woods and a sea you can swim in. The other day trips are on day trips from Istanbul and the city plan on the Istanbul city guide homepage.
Quick answer Which island, and how the day runs
Four islands take passengers. Büyükada is the biggest and busiest, Heybeliada the one with pine woods and a naval school, Burgazada the quiet literary one, Kınalıada the closest and plainest. One island is a full day; two is a rush.
Key takeaways
- No package is needed: a card, a ferry and a swimsuit is the whole plan
- Horse carriages were retired and replaced by electric buggies — the island transport is now electric
- A guided island day buys the timetable, a lunch and a hotel pickup, nothing more
- Go midweek if you can; summer weekends are a different, much fuller place
Key facts
Opening hours
| Ferries, daily | Timetabled from early morning–Last returns in the evening |
|---|
Closed None; rough weather cancels sailings
Admission
- Adult
- ₺46.20 per crossing on an İstanbulkart (about $0.96)
- Reduced
- Student card ₺22.55
- Free
- Not published
Planning it
- Time needed
- Not stated; our routing: a full day for one island, two if you island-hop
- Address
- Ferries from Kabataş and Kadıköy to Kınalıada, Burgazada, Heybeliada and Büyükada
Which island to get off at
The ferry calls at four in order, nearest first. Pick one rather than trying to see them all.
Büyükada
The largest, the last stop and the one everyone means. A main street of restaurants and bike-hire shops, then a ring road of wooden mansions under pines, and a long climb to the Aya Yorgi monastery on the southern hill with the view that pays for it. Busiest by a distance.
Heybeliada
The second largest, with the old Halki seminary above it and beaches on the far side. Quieter than Büyükada and better for a walk-and-swim day rather than a look-at-the-mansions one.
Burgazada
Small, literary — the writer Sait Faik's house is a museum here — and mostly residential. The right choice if the point is lunch by the water and a swim with nobody around.
Kınalıada
The closest to the city, the barest of the four, with red cliffs and fewer trees. Best as a short trip if the weather is uncertain.
How the day actually runs
Ferries leave from Kabataş on the European side and Kadıköy on the Asian, and the crossing takes roughly an hour to Büyükada with stops. The operator's timetable site was unreachable from our network when we checked, so this page gives no departure times — the pier board and the ferry apps have them, and sailings are frequent enough in summer that turning up works.
On the island: hire a bicycle, walk, or take an electric buggy. Cars are not allowed, and the horse carriages that used to run the island were retired on welfare grounds and replaced by electric vehicles. Swimming is from small beach clubs that charge for a lounger and from public spots along the shore.
Go back mid-afternoon rather than at the end of the day if it is a summer weekend, or expect the last boats to be a scrum.
Packaged island days
Prices and ratings are the platform's own figures on 2 September 2026. Against them stands ₺46.20 each way for the public boat — what a package buys is the timetable, a lunch and usually a hotel pickup.
from $5.79
Istanbul: Princes Islands Tour with Hotel Transfer & Lunch
Full day to Heybeliada and Büyükada with hotel transfer and lunch — the packaged version of a trip you can also do on a public ferry.
Check Availability
from $17.38
From Istanbul: Princes Island Tour with 2 Islands
Two islands, eight hours, pickup included, no lunch — the cheaper of the two island packages.
Check AvailabilityPrices, ratings and details are the platform's own, checked 2026-09-02; dollar figures are the listed prices — the platform bills in your account's currency.
Island questions
How do you get to the Princes' Islands?
Public ferry from Kabataş or Kadıköy, roughly an hour to Büyükada, ₺46.20 each way on an İstanbulkart. No booking is needed.
Which of the Princes' Islands is best?
Büyükada for the mansions, the monastery hill and the most to do; Heybeliada for pine woods and swimming with fewer people; Burgazada if you want lunch and quiet.
Are there still horse carriages?
No. The carriages were retired on animal-welfare grounds and replaced by electric buggies; the islands remain closed to private cars.
Can you swim at the Princes' Islands?
Yes, from beach clubs that charge for a lounger and from public shore spots. September is the best month — the sea is still warm and the crowds have gone.
Do you need a tour?
No. A ferry ticket and a bicycle covers it. A package buys the timetable, a lunch and a pickup, which is worth it only if your day is tight.
Page last reviewed 2026-09-03. Prices, hours and terms are set by the venue or operator and confirmed at checkout.
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