Istanbul
has two major tourist attractions that will take almost a full day out
of your holiday: a visit to one or more of the Princess Island and a
boat tour on Bosphorus. People rightfully ask me if it’s worth
sacrificing one or two days of their often already short stay in
Istanbul?
That is a tough question to answer, and completely based on personal
preferences. So let me explain what you can expect from a day trip to the
Princes’ Island, and how to best go about.
What Are the Princes’ Islands of Istanbul
The Princess Island (Kızıl Adalar or just Adalar)
are a chain of nine rather small islands in the Sea of Marmara. They
evolved from a place of exile during the Byzantine era, to a popular
destination for tourists and Istanbulites alike to escape the hectic
city life for a day. Of those nine islands, only four of them are open
to the public: Büyükada, the biggest and most popular, Burgazada, Heybeliada and Kınalıada.
Princes’ Islands Features
Horse-drawn carriage on the Princes’ Islands.
The main feature of any of the Princes’ Islands is the sound of
silence. All motorized vehicles are banned, making the islands an oasis
of peace and quiet. The only sounds you’ll hear are bicycle bells and
the typical sounds of horse hoofs. Yep, that’s right. Horse-drawn
carriages and bicycles are the main transportation means on the islands.
But that’s not the only feature that makes the Princes’ Islands
unique. You’ll find yourself walking or riding through narrow streets
flanked by either untouched pine-forests or fine, wooden Victorian
cottages. How is that for a unique fin-de-siècle flash back?
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| Sceneries from and to the Princess Island |
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| Turkey Tour Itinerary |
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