The Princes' Islands, Adalar in Turkish, are a small group of islands in the Sea of Marmara, south-east of the city. They make up their own district of Istanbul, and the ferries call at the four largest: Kınalıada, Burgazada, Heybeliada and Büyükada, the biggest. Private cars are not allowed, so the islands are quieter than the mainland, with wooden mansions, pine woods and seaside walks.
Timetables and fares below are as of October 2026, from the official Şehir Hatları website. Island timetables change between summer and winter, so check again close to your trip.
A short history
In the Byzantine period the islands were a place of exile for out-of-favour members of the imperial family and officials, which is where the name Princes' Islands comes from. Monasteries were built on several of them. From the 19th century, once regular steamers started running, wealthy Istanbul families, many of them Greek, Armenian and Jewish, built summer houses here, and the islands became a holiday retreat for the city.
Leon Trotsky lived on Büyükada for several years after being exiled from the Soviet Union in 1929. On Heybeliada, the Halki Theological School of the Ecumenical Patriarchate still stands on the hill above the village.
How to get to Büyükada: ferry options
The public ferry company Şehir Hatları runs the main services. The two piers most visitors use are Kabataş on the European side and Bostancı on the Asian side.
| From | Operator | Time to Büyükada | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kabataş | Şehir Hatları | About 1 h 45 min | Calls at Kadıköy, Kınalıada, Burgazada and Heybeliada on the way |
| Bostancı | Şehir Hatları | About 35 min | Shortest crossing; fewer direct sailings |
| Various piers | Turyol, Dentur Avrasya (private) | Varies | Own timetables and fares; check the operator |
On weekdays and Saturdays, the first Şehir Hatları ferry leaves Kabataş at 06:45 and there are sailings through the day, for example at 09:00 (arriving Büyükada 10:45) and 10:05. The last ferry back from Büyükada to Kabataş leaves at 21:45 and arrives at 23:35 (as of October 2026). Sunday timetables are slightly different.
Private operators also run island services. Turyol lists island sailings on its website, and Dentur Avrasya runs a Heybeliada–Büyükada line. Their departure piers, timetables and fares are set separately and change by season, so we cannot confirm them here; check turyol.com and denturavrasya.com before you travel.
Ferry fares (as of October 2026)
Şehir Hatları ferries are paid with an İstanbulkart, the city's transport card, which you can buy and top up at machines at the piers. The full fare on the Princes' Islands lines, from Kabataş, Bostancı, Kadıköy or Beşiktaş, is ₺151.23 per trip. The lower ₺90.70 fare on the official tariff applies to island residents with an Adakart, not to visitors.
Each boarding is charged separately, so a return trip costs two fares. Fares are doubled on night sailings between 00:30 and 05:30.
Getting around: no cars on the islands
Motor vehicles are prohibited on the islands except for essential services. The horse-drawn phaetons that used to carry visitors were withdrawn in 2020 and replaced by electric vehicles. Today the options are:
- Walking. The villages around the piers are compact, and the coastal roads are pleasant on foot. Büyükada's hills are steep in places.
- Bicycles. Bike hire is a common way to loop around Büyükada or Heybeliada.
- Electric minibuses and vehicles. İETT electric minibuses have run on the islands since June 2024, alongside smaller electric vehicles on fixed routes.
A simple day plan for Büyükada
- Take a morning ferry from Kabataş (for example the 09:00, arriving at 10:45), or from Bostancı if you are staying on the Asian side.
- Walk up from the pier through the streets of wooden mansions to get a feel for the island.
- Head for the hill of Yücetepe and the Monastery of St George (Aya Yorgi) at the top. The last part of the climb is steep; allow time and wear proper shoes.
- Have lunch near the pier, where fish restaurants line the waterfront.
- Catch an afternoon ferry back, for example the 17:35 from Büyükada, which reaches Kabataş at 19:25.
With more time, stop at Heybeliada on the way back: it is smaller and quieter, with pine woods and the Halki Theological School on its hill. Ferries on the Kabataş line call at each island, so you can break the journey and take a later boat, paying a new fare when you board again.
Best time to go and practical tips
- Season: late spring and early autumn are comfortable for walking and cycling. Summer weekends are crowded, and Sunday evening ferries back to the mainland fill up.
- Weekdays are noticeably calmer than weekends at any time of year.
- Bring cash in Turkish lira for small cafés and bike hire, and charge your İstanbulkart before you leave the mainland.
- Swimming: there are small beaches and beach clubs on the islands in summer; check what is open before you go outside the season.
Getting to the ferry pier with us
There are no cars on the islands, so our service ends at the pier. We can drive you to the ferry at Kabataş or Bostancı in the morning and pick you up when you come back in the evening, which saves dragging a family across the city by tram or metro. Message us on WhatsApp at +90 507 055 44 36 with your pier and times.
If you want to see more of the city on another day, we can arrange a private driver by the hour with a Private Mercedes Vito from $40 per hour, minimum 3 hours, or a private Istanbul day tour along the Bosphorus, taking in Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy, Bebek and Rumeli Fortress. Book an hourly driver online.
From Istanbul Airport
Most visitors base themselves in the old city or near the Bosphorus and go to the islands for the day. Our fixed-price Istanbul Airport to Sultanahmet transfer costs $70 with a Private Mercedes Vito or $80 with a VIP Mercedes Vito, per vehicle for up to 6 passengers, tolls included. Kabataş pier is a short drive from Beşiktaş; see the Istanbul Airport to Beşiktaş route, $65 or $75.
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