Princes' Islands & Büyükada Archipelago

Floating in the Sea of Marmara just 15 kilometers southeast of Istanbul's historic center, the Princes' Islands (Prens Adaları) are a serene, traffic-free refuge from the vibrant metropolis. Named from Byzantine times when royal princes and empresses were exiled to its secluded monasteries, the archipelago comprises nine islands, with Büyükada (Big Island) being the largest and most culturally storied. Completely free of private gasoline automobiles, Büyükada is navigated exclusively by quiet electric public shuttles, rental bicycles, and scenic walking trails. The island’s streets are shaded by blooming purple bougainvillea, fragrant mimosa, and umbrella pines, flanked by splendid 19th-century Victorian, Art Nouveau, and Ottoman timber summer mansions (konaks). Hikers can climb to the summit of Yücetepe to visit the 10th-century Greek Orthodox Monastery of Saint George Kudunas and dine on fresh Aegean mezes with panoramic views of Istanbul’s skyline across the blue water.