Princes' Islands Istanbul: Büyükada Day Trip, Horse Carriages & Bosphorus Views

Just an hour by ferry from Istanbul's Kabataş pier, the Princes' Islands (Adalar) are a cluster of nine small islands in the Sea of Marmara that have served as a summer retreat for Istanbul's wealthy families since the Byzantine era — and today offer one of the most delightful escapes from the megacity's overwhelming scale and pace. The islands are car-free (with the exception of emergency vehicles), so transport is by horse-drawn carriage, bicycle, or on foot, creating a tranquility that is genuinely startling just 20km from Istanbul's centre.

Büyükada (Great Island) is the largest and most visited of the islands — a leafy, hilly retreat of Ottoman-era wooden villas, pine forests, small beaches, and a waterfront promenade lined with fish restaurants and tea gardens. The island's most distinctive experience is the horse-drawn carriage ride along the clifftop circuit road, from which the views over the deep blue Sea of Marmara and back toward Istanbul's skyline are exceptional. The hilltop Aya Yorgi monastery at the island's highest point is a 30-minute uphill walk from the ferry pier that rewards the effort with panoramic views and a hilltop cafe. Leon Trotsky spent his years of exile on Büyükada from 1929 to 1933 — the house where he lived is now a private building but can be seen from the street.

The smaller island of Heybeliada is less visited and more relaxed, with excellent waterfront fish restaurants and the beautiful Turkish Naval High School complex. The ferry service from Kabataş (or Beşiktaş) runs regularly throughout the day; the journey to Büyükada takes approximately 55 minutes. Visiting in May–June or September avoids the August peak when the islands become genuinely crowded with Istanbul residents seeking weekend escape. Pre-book a fish restaurant for lunch — the best tables fill quickly on sunny weekends.