Turkey from a Different Perspective: What Makes the Prince Islands Special

The Prince Islands are located about 12 miles from Istanbul in the Sea of Marmara and offer a welcome break from the bustling city by the Bosphorus.

Four of the nine islands are permanently inhabited by about 16,000 people, featuring parks, beaches, and nature. Cars are nowhere to be found here. Instead, you'll move around on bicycles and electric vehicles.

Until the 2010s, the Prince Islands were a hidden gem of Turkey. Then, this remote paradise began attracting more and more city dwellers from the rapidly growing Istanbul. The number of summer residences increased, and foreign tourists started to visit in greater numbers.

Numbers illustrate just how popular the islands have become: In the summer months, the population of the second largest Prince Island, Heybeliada, almost doubles from 5,600 to 10,000 people.

Carnival-like activity can be found here during weekends in high season. If you'd prefer a quieter experience of the islands, where time seems to have almost stood still, consider making day trips during weekdays in the summer, or visit in spring or fall.

From the Istanbul-Kabatas port, ferries take between 25 and 90 minutes across the Sea of Marmara to reach the islands, which, by the way, make up a district on the Asian side of the metropolis. We'll take you on a closer look at the four permanently inhabited islands.

At nearly six square kilometers, Büyükada is the largest of the nine Prince Islands. Immediately upon departing the ferry, you'll discover restaurants and charming wooden mansions.

In these restaurants, fresh fish and köfte sandwiches are served, while locals enjoy Raki alongside tourists. Amongst other spots, Yörükali Beach is popular for swimming.

To truly explore the island, set off on your own with a rental bicycle or electric scooter. Your tour will offer views of Ottoman mansions, ornate facades, and expansive gardens, while you ride through pine forest landscapes and catch glimpses of the Sea of Marmara.

Another highlight of Büyükada is located on Mount Yücetepe at 666 feet elevation. Here stands the whitewashed Aya-Yorgi Church, around which several legends revolve. It is said that climbing to the church barefoot and in silence on April 23 or September 24 while noting down wishes and lighting a candle will ensure they are heard. This ritual attracts numerous Orthodox believers on these specific days.

Imposing and one of the island's main attractions is the hillside-built Seminary of Halki (also: Heybeliada), a Christian theological college that operated until it was closed by the Turkish state in 1971.

The building rises out of surrounding dense forests and also plays an important political role. For decades, there has been advocacy for reopening it in the context of freedom of religious practice - a demand influencing Turkey's EU accession talks.

Heybeliada is the second-largest of the Prince Islands and the greenest. Degirmenburnu Nature Park (Tabiat Parkı) is perfect for long walks or bike tours.

Different types of pines, laurel, and Mediterranean cypress thrive here, alongside bright broom and magnolias. You can cool off at beaches like Degirmenburnu Beach.

The dome of the beautiful Aya-Yani Church (also: Hagios Ioannis Prodromos Church) is visible from afar and is one of the island's most important cultural stops.

Beside it, the Sait Faik Abasıyanık Museum is also worth a visit, dedicated to the eponymous Turkish writer. Faik, who died in 1954, is considered a pioneer of modern Turkish short stories, and the museum, housed in a historic building, displays personal items like photos.

Burgazada is quieter than its two larger sister islands. The only elevation of the island is the 558-foot Bayrak Hill, offering great views of the surroundings. For swimming, you can head to various beaches on Burgazada: the pebbly Kalpazankaya bay with a beach restaurant or Camakya Beach, which is only a 15-minute walk from the harbor and offers rentable sun umbrellas and loungers.

Though the smallest, it is also the most densely populated of the Prince Islands. Kinaliada is closest to the metropolis of Istanbul and can be reached by ferry in just 25 to 40 minutes. Once there, you'll find beaches, beach clubs, various structures, and red rock. The earth is red in many areas because iron and copper were mined here in earlier times.

Unlike the larger islands, Kinaliada is less green, and you'll move around on foot or by bicycle. The three hills Cinar, Tesvikiye, and Hristo invite you to hike on this small island, with swimming at locations like Kumluk Beach or Teos Teach Club.

If you're culturally inclined, explore the Hristo Hill, home to a monastery of the same name. It served as a place of exile during Byzantine times. For instance, after his fall, Byzantine Emperor Romanos IV was blinded and exiled to Kinaliada in 1072, where he later succumbed to his wounds.

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