Princes Islands

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Princes Islands

When the heat and chaos of the city gets too much, head to the Princes' Islands for a glimpse into life as it was in Istanbul.

The Princes' Islands are a chain of nine islands in the Sea of Marmara, four of which can easily be reached from the city centre. The name of the Islands has an interesting history. During the Byzantine and Ottoman eras, princes and other royalty who were seen as challengers to the throne were exiled there.

These days, the Princes' Islands are a popular summer house destination for the rich and famous of Istanbul. Locals and tourists come in droves, especially during the summer months, to enjoy the pine forests, religious and historical sites, beaches and eateries of the Islands.

Büyükada (‘large island’) is aptly named for the fact that it is the largest of the nine islands. It's also the furthest from the mainland. Other than service and emergency vehicles, motorized forms of transport are prohibited on Büyükada. Visitors and residents instead take to foot, horse and cart (YTL 30 – 50 per hour) or bicycle (YTL 2.50 – 3.50) to make their way around the island.

Notable sites on Büyükada include the 6th century Ayia Yorgi Church and Monastery; Ayios Dimitrios Church; Hamidiye Mosque; and an old Greek Orphanage, as well as the church and monastery of Ayios Nikolaos. The Island has a number of good restaurants and cafés, along with colouful fruit shops and ice cream stands. There are also several small free public beaches, as well as private beaches (YTL 20 per person, including hire of beach lounger, use of changing rooms and free transfer to the main ferry dock). Büyükada has had some famous residents, including the communist revolutionary Leon Trotsky and several Byzantine empresses.

Heybeliada, a former copper mining island and home to the Naval Cadet Academy, has a Greek orthodox monastery from the 11th century. Visitors can also see Kamariotissa, the last remaining Byzantine church on the island.

Burgazada is the third largest island and has a mosque as well as the Haghia Giorgios Monastery.