Princes Islands Day Trip from Istanbul by Boat

Where the Princes Islands sit compared with the Bosphorus

The Bosphorus runs north from the city toward the Black Sea. The Princes Islands lie the other way, in the Sea of Marmara off the Asian shore, southeast of the Old City. A boat to the islands therefore heads south and never sails up the strait.

What you do get on the way out is the Old City skyline from the water and a view across the southern mouth of the Bosphorus. What you do not get is Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy or the fortresses. Treat the islands and a Bosphorus cruise as two separate outings, not as one covering the other.

Princes Islands tours: group boat, Büyükada only or swim yacht

Three formats show up in this catalog. Princes Islands Blue Journey from Old City Istanbul is the classic group boat from the Old City, about 7 hours according to the operator. Princess Island (Büyükada)Tour with Lunch and Island Shuttle Car runs about 9 hours per its listing and stays on Büyükada only, with lunch and an island shuttle car. Its operator argues that stops on the smaller islands add boat time without much to do there, which is their view, not a measured fact.

The third format comes from a Bosphorus operator. The listing of Istanbul Bosphorus Sunset Cruise Experience on Luxury Yacht offers a swimming option: a 6-hour group yacht cruise to the Princes' Islands from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, without a guide, with sandwiches and soft drinks on board.

Getting around the Princes Islands without cars

Private cars are not allowed on the islands, so visitors walk, rent a bicycle or use the small electric vehicles that serve them. That matters on Büyükada, the largest island, where the lanes climb through pine woods between the old wooden mansions.

This is the practical reason the island shuttle car in the Princess Island (Büyükada)Tour with Lunch and Island Shuttle Car listing has value: it replaces the uphill walk and leaves time for the waterfront. On the group boat format you manage the island on your own during the stop, so wear shoes you can climb in.

Combining the Princes Islands with a Bosphorus cruise

A 7 to 9-hour island day leaves little room. The cleaner plan puts the Bosphorus cruise on another day. If you only have one free day, pair the islands with a short evening boat instead of a sunset slot, for example Istanbul Bosphorus Night Cruise Experience on Luxury Yacht, a 2-hour night yacht according to its operator, and only after checking the return time printed on your island voucher.

If you travel independently, public ferries also reach the islands from Kabataş and from Bostancı on the Asian side. Timetables and fares change by season and are published on sehirhatlari.istanbul, so check there rather than trusting an old schedule.

Before you book a Princes Islands day trip

Lunch is named only in the Princess Island (Büyükada)Tour with Lunch and Island Shuttle Car listing, so on the other formats budget for a meal on the island. For the swimming yacht, the operator asks you to bring your own swimwear, towel and sunscreen. The group boat from the Old City names its departure area but check the exact meeting point on the voucher.