Where to stay
Princes' Islands Hotels: Where to Stay Overnight
Most people visit on a day trip, but staying overnight lets you see the islands empty and magical. Here's where to stay and what to expect.
Most visitors see the Princes’ Islands on a day trip — but staying overnight is a quiet secret. Once the last afternoon ferries carry the crowds back to the city, the islands exhale: lamplit lanes, restaurants that belong to locals again, and a sunrise swim before anyone else arrives. Here’s where to stay and how to decide.
Which island to stay on
Büyükada has the most hotels and the liveliest evenings, making it the easiest base. Heybeliada is greener and calmer, better if you want pine forest and swimming on your doorstep. The smaller islands have very limited accommodation and suit only the most dedicated seekers of quiet.
Types of stay
Options span grand historic hotels in restored belle-époque buildings, intimate boutique guesthouses among the mansions, and simple family-run pensions. Whatever you choose, remember there are no cars — pack light, as you may be walking or cycling from the pier.
Styles
Kinds of place to stay
Historic mansion hotels
Restored 19th-century buildings with period character, often near the Büyükada waterfront.
Boutique guesthouses
Small, design-led stays tucked among the pines and mansions — personal and quiet.
Family pensions
Simple, affordable rooms run by islanders, the most budget-friendly way to stay over.
Frequently asked questions
Can you stay overnight on the Princes' Islands?+
Yes. Büyükada and Heybeliada in particular have hotels ranging from historic mansions to small boutique guesthouses. Staying over lets you experience the islands after the day-trippers leave, when the streets are quiet and atmospheric.
Are there hotels on Büyükada?+
Büyükada has the widest choice of accommodation on the islands, including grand historic hotels near the waterfront and smaller boutique stays tucked among the mansions. Book well ahead for summer weekends.
Is it better to stay on the islands or day-trip from Istanbul?+
Most visitors day-trip, and that works well thanks to frequent ferries. Stay overnight if you want a slower, quieter experience, plan to visit several islands, or simply love the idea of a car-free evening by the sea.
How much do Princes' Islands hotels cost?+
Prices vary widely by season and property, from affordable guesthouses to premium historic hotels. Rates peak in July and August and on weekends; spring and autumn offer better value and a calmer island.
Staying just for the day?
No problem — most people do. Here's how to plan a smooth day trip and time your ferry home.
Plan a day trip insteadKeep exploring
Büyükada
Everything to know about Büyükada, the largest Princes' Island near Istanbul — the ferry, the Aya Yorgi climb, mansions, bikes, beaches and things to do.
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Heybeliada
A visitor's guide to Heybeliada, the green second Princes' Island near Istanbul — the ferry, pine-forest walks, the Halki seminary and swimming coves.
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