Princes Islands Tours & Things to Do in Istanbul Turkey

✓ Last reviewed: May 2026 — Verified and updated by our licensed Turkey travel experts. Istanbul 360 — a 360° look at Istanbul filmed on our private city tour. Quick Answer: The Princes' Islands Istanbul are a serene, car-free archipelago in the Sea of Marmara , offering a tranquil escape from the city with Ottoman mansions and pine forests. A day trip typically costs between $116-$231 USD per person, including ferry, food, and activities. The ideal duration is a full day, and the best seasons to visit are spring ( April-June ) or autumn ( September-October ) for pleasant weather and fewer crowds. What Are the Princes' Islands of Istanbul? The Princes' Islands, known locally as Adalar ("The Islands"), are a chain of nine islands located southeast of Istanbul, Turkey , in the Sea of Marmara . Of these nine, four are regularly inhabited and accessible to the public: Büyükada (the largest), Heybeliada , Burgazada , and Kınalıada . They serve as a remarkable counterpoint to the exhilarating chaos of mainland Istanbul. Imagine stepping off a ferry from a city of 16 million people into a world where the primary sounds are birdsong, the clip-clop of electric vehicles, and the gentle lapping of waves. This car-free oasis has been a place of retreat and exile for centuries, creating a unique historical tapestry unlike anywhere else in Turkey . Their name originates from the Byzantine era when emperors and empresses would exile out-of-favor princes and relatives to the islands to neutralize political threats. This practice gave the archipelago its regal and slightly melancholic name. Later, during the Ottoman Empire, the islands transformed into a fashionable summer resort for the wealthy pashas and elite families of Istanbul, including prominent Greek, Armenian, and Jewish communities. They built magnificent wooden Victorian and Art Nouveau-style mansions, or köşkler , which still define the islands' architectural character today. This layered history makes exploring the Pri