Princes' Islands Round-Trip Ferry Tickets from Eminonu

Eminönü pier and the crossing of the Sea of Marmara

The ferry leaves from the private pier at Eminönü on the inner Golden Horn side of the Galata Bridge, directly across the road from the Spice Bazaar and two minutes from the Eminönü stop of the T1 tram. Arrive 15 minutes early, show the ticket at the separate entrance and pick a seat on the open rear deck if the weather is kind. Departures are at 10:40, 11:40 and 12:40 on weekdays, with an extra 13:40 ferry on Saturdays and Sundays.

The crossing takes about an hour and a half and is a sightseeing trip in itself: the boat passes under the Galata Bridge, rounds Sarayburnu with Topkapı Palace and Hagia Sophia on the hill, crosses the mouth of the Bosphorus past the Maiden's Tower and Kadıköy, then heads out into the Sea of Marmara. The smaller islands of Kınalıada, Burgazada and Heybeliada slide by on the way, each with its own pier, before Büyükada appears with its clock tower and wooden houses climbing the hill.

Büyükada, the Big Island

Büyükada is the largest of the nine Princes' Islands, four of which are inhabited; in Byzantine and Ottoman times the islands were places of exile and monasteries, and in the 19th century they became the summer retreat of wealthy Istanbul families, who built the painted wooden mansions along the streets. There are no private cars: people walk, cycle or ride the small electric minibuses that replaced the horse carriages, which is why the island feels so quiet after Eminönü.

What to do on Büyükada in a day: wander from the harbour square up the main street past a pharmacy open since 1870, rent a bicycle for the loop road, climb to the hilltop church, swim at a public beach in summer, and eat lunch at a harbour restaurant. Our Istanbul team's advice is to take the 10:40 ferry for six hours ashore; the best time to visit the Princes' Islands is spring and early autumn, when the ferries are less crowded than on summer weekends.

Aya Yorgi church and the hilltop views

The island's highest hill, Yücetepe, is crowned by the small Greek Orthodox church of Aya Yorgi (St George), reached by a steep paved path from the Luna Park square at the centre of the island. The last stretch is a 20-minute climb, so wear comfortable shoes; the reward is a panorama over the Sea of Marmara, the other islands and, on a clear day, the skyline of Istanbul from the Asian side to the historic peninsula. There is a simple café at the top where you can rest before walking down.

On the way you pass the Greek Orphanage, a vast six-storey building from 1898 that is the largest wooden structure in Europe, now closed and slowly being restored, and quiet lanes of villas with bay windows and gardens of bougainvillea. The audio guide app of the default option explains these landmarks as you reach them; download it before you leave Eminönü, because the ferry's connection is weak once you are out at sea.

Beaches, bikes and the harbour, then the return ferry

In summer the public beaches on the south side of the island and the beach clubs along the shore are popular with Istanbul families; bring swimwear and a towel, and note that beach entries are not included. Cyclists can ride the 10-kilometre loop road around the island in about an hour and a half, with sea views most of the way; bike-rental shops cluster near the harbour. Lunch options range from fish by the water to kebab houses in the main street, all halal as everywhere in Istanbul.

Return ferries to Eminönü leave Büyükada at 15:15, 16:15, 17:15 and 18:15. Our team recommends confirming the exact times with the pier staff when you arrive, as schedules can shift with the weather and the season, and being at the pier 15 minutes early, especially on summer Sundays. How to get to the Princes' Islands and back is therefore simple: one ticket, one pier, and an evening arrival at Eminönü just in time for a fish sandwich by the Galata Bridge.