Definitely a must go to anybody who’s in istanbul. Plan to go on the fairy early like 9 am or earlier. There are a lot of places to see in the island, its simply beautiful and peaceful. Great for cycling. Its advisable to go back at around 4 pm, as the ferries tend to become overcrowded. To go there, either take the boat from kabataj or kadikoy ferry port depending in which one is closer to you.

What a lovely day out of the hustle and bustle of Istanbul. A really nice long boat ride. A stroll around the island. Plenty of shops, cafes etc. We had a lovely seafood lunch, then caught the last ferry back at 5pm. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Lovely trip to Princes Islands. We took the ferry from Kabatas to the biggest island (the last one). You need to get an Istanbul card from the machines outside the station (there is no actual ticket office at Kabatas station). The Istanbul card is 70 TL and you top it up with money. One way ticket per person is about 60 TL so you need about 120 TL for return ferry. Multiple people can travel on the same Istanbul card. You can use this card for electric bus on the island. We didn't use it because we chose to walk around the island instead. You can rent a bike if you want to explore or there are electric taxis available. The island is beautiful with lots of wooden houses and nature. Great views of the sea, other islands and parts of Istanbul. Restaurants by the harbour are a bit pricey but it is expected. The ice cream is delicious. Ferries run every hour. I recommend getting there in the morning. Ferry takes about 2h from Kabatas to the biggest island. We returned with the 6.30pm ferry and caught a lovely sunset on the way back.

The islands can be done as a tour or you can catch a ferry yourself to explore, which is much cheaper (80tl) each way & can be bought at the ticket office at Kabatas, where there is a tram stop. The ferry stops at two of the islands & we went to the largest, Buyukada, over an hour travelling time. We walked, but would hire a bike or electric car next time as the hills are steep! Fantastic architecture to look at plus at the highest point there is an abandoned orphanage, monastery and cafe next door with outstanding views. We caught the 3.30 ferry back which was quite crowded, so don't leave too late. An optional extra was entertainment on board with showman selling kitchen gadgets, who were hilarious & made the time pass quickly. A relaxing day out and a bit different from chaotic Istanbul.

Oh wow, the islands are a total must to visit. Very different from Istanbul. They are a small haven of peace in Istanbul and a perfect place to relax and enjoy nature. We arrived by boat which took 1.5 hours. First island was the big one; Buyukada, an amazing place. No cars around, just electric buses, bicycles, scooters, walkable, very enjoyable, huge beautiful houses. Coffee shops and restaurants all around. 2nd island was Kiniliada, much smaller, pretty much the same but with very steep hills.