What to do
The Best Things to Do on the Princes' Islands
From the Aya Yorgi hilltop climb to cycling car-free lanes and long seafood lunches, here are the best things to do across the Princes' Islands.
The joy of the Princes’ Islands is that there’s just enough to do — and nothing you’re forced to. No cars, no rush; you set the pace between a hilltop climb, a swim and a long lunch. These are the experiences worth building a day around.
The essentials
Best things to do on the islands
Climb to Aya Yorgi
Walk the cobbled path up Büyükada’s highest hill to the Church of St. George, tying a wish to the trees on the way, for the archipelago’s best panorama.
Cycle the car-free lanes
Rent a bike near the pier and loop the coast. With no traffic, it’s the most liberating way to see the islands.
Spot the mansions
Wander streets lined with pastel Victorian and Ottoman wooden köşk — the summer homes of 19th-century Istanbul society.
Swim in clear water
Cool off at a beach club or a rocky cove. The water around the islands is some of the clearest near Istanbul.
Ride the e-shuttle loop
Take the electric cart tour through the pine forest — the modern, animal-friendly heir to the old phaetons.
Feast on seafood
Settle in at a waterfront meyhane for meze and the day’s catch, watching the ferries come and go.
Chase the Burgazada sunset
Head to the Kalpazankaya cliffs on Burgazada for a swim off the rocks and a golden-hour dinner over the sea.
Walk Heybeliada's pines
Follow forest trails to quiet bays and the hilltop Halki seminary, the greenest walk in the archipelago.
Visit the Sait Faik museum
On Burgazada, step into the preserved home of one of Turkey’s greatest short-story writers.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do on the Princes' Islands?+
The top things to do are cycling or walking the car-free lanes, climbing to the Aya Yorgi church on Büyükada for panoramic views, admiring the Victorian and Ottoman wooden mansions, swimming at beach clubs and coves, and lingering over a seafood lunch by the water. Each island also has its own museums and viewpoints.
What is there to do on Büyükada specifically?+
On Büyükada, the highlights are the Aya Yorgi hilltop monastery climb, cycling the coastal and interior loops, exploring the mansion-lined streets around the clock-tower square, and swimming at the island's beach clubs. It's the island with the most to fill a full day.
Can you ride bikes on the Princes' Islands?+
Yes — cycling is one of the best things to do. With cars banned, the islands are ideal for bikes, and rental shops cluster near the ferry piers on Büyükada and Heybeliada. A flat coastal loop suits beginners; the hillier interior rewards stronger riders with views.
Are there horse carriages on the Princes' Islands?+
The islands were long famous for horse-drawn phaetons, but these have been retired for animal-welfare reasons. Today, quiet electric shuttle carts provide the same scenic loops without the horses.
Turn this list into a plan
Our hour-by-hour day-trip itinerary weaves the best of these into one smooth day from Istanbul.
See the day-trip planKeep exploring
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