Guests must be ready at the Meeting Point (in front of the Cibali Tram Station) at 09:00 AM sharp. Please arrive at least 10 minutes earlier to ensure a smooth departure for your Princes island tour.
Bosphorus Sunset Cruise in Istanbul | Private Yacht Tours
🎁 Spring Special: 10% Discount on All Purchases! Code: SPRING10
Istanbul Prince's Island Tour
12 photos
Duration
8 Hours
Max People
50 People
Availability
All Year
Pick-up & Drop-Off
Exclude
Audio guide
On-demand, anytime
Written guide
Historical context
12 languages
See all
▾
Audio Guide
by BOSPHORUS SUNSET
While your guide narrates in English on board, follow every landmark in your own language. Pause, rewind, or revisit the Bosphorus anytime — even after the tour.
🇹🇷 Türkçe
🇬🇧 English
🇩🇪 Deutsch
🇷🇺 Русский
🇫🇷 Français
🇮🇹 Italiano
🇯🇵 日本語
🇨🇳 中文
🇪🇸 Español
🇸🇦 العربية
🇵🇹 Português
🇰🇷 한국어
A day on the Princes Islands, by ferry
This is the budget version of the Princes Islands: the public ferry from Kabataş, plus a guide for the day on Büyükada — the largest and most-visited island. Total cost is €60 per person because it uses the normal ferry system rather than a private yacht. The ferry itself is part of the experience — 90 minutes each way through the Sea of Marmara with coastal views you’d never see from the Bosphorus.
The itinerary: 9 AM meet at Kabataş ferry terminal, take the public fast ferry to Büyükada. On the island you’ll have a walking and horse-and-carriage tour covering the main landmarks — the late-19th century wooden mansions on the uphill streets, the neoclassical Splendid Hotel, the Greek Orthodox monastery at the top of the highest hill (optional additional climb), and the small harbour with its fish restaurants. Lunch is on you — most people eat at a harbour restaurant (budget about €15–25 per person).
The return ferry leaves mid-afternoon; you’re back in central Istanbul by 5 or 6 PM.
Note: Büyükada banned horse-and-carriages in 2020 for animal welfare reasons. Replacement electric vehicles now serve the island — your tour uses those. Bicycles are also available to rent at the harbour if you prefer.
Who this is for: solo travellers and couples on a budget, anyone who wants the Princes Islands experience without committing to €800 for a private yacht. For the private swimming version, see the yacht swimming tour. For private yacht to the islands without swimming, see the Princes Island yacht tour.
Practical: comfortable walking shoes (cobblestone streets, some hills). The ferry runs year-round but the island is busiest July–August. For a quieter visit, book May, June, or September.
Included/Excluded
- Lunch
- Guiding service
- Bosphorus Boat Tickets
- Drinks
- Tips
- Personal Expenses
Tour Plan
.
Prince's Island Tour – Itinerary
Meeting Point
Guests gather at the designated meeting point in central Istanbul.
Ferry Ride to the Princes’ Islands
Scenic cruise across the Sea of Marmara with city views.
Arrival in Büyükada
Introduction to the island and its peaceful atmosphere.
Island Exploration
See Ottoman mansions, traditional wooden houses, and pine forests.
Lunch at a Local Restaurant
Enjoy Turkish cuisine with beautiful sea views.
Free Time on the Island
Relax, take photos, or explore the coastline.
Return Ferry to Istanbul
Afternoon boat ride back to the city.
.
Meeting Point (In front of the Cibali Tram Station)
Day tour of the Princes Islands from Istanbul by public ferry. 9 AM meeting at Kabataş, 90-minute ferry to Büyükada, walking and electric-vehicle tour of the main sites, free time for lunch at the harbour. Return by 5–6 PM. From €60 per person — licensed guide, ferry tickets, island tour included.
Sort reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
We take the public ferry from Kabatas pier together as a group. The ferry ride takes about 1 hour and is a scenic experience itself.
We visit Buyukada, the largest and most popular Princes Island. It has the best infrastructure for visitors with restaurants, historic mansions, and beautiful walking paths.
No. Motor vehicles are banned on the islands. Transportation is by eco-friendly electric vehicles and bicycles, which keeps the atmosphere peaceful and quiet.
Yes, lunch at a seaside restaurant on Buyukada is included. Fresh fish and traditional Turkish dishes with sea views.
Yes, the ferry operates year-round. Winter visits are quieter and have a unique charm, though some island restaurants may be closed.
€60,00
Vladimir Novak (verified owner) –
A fantastic day trip from Istanbul. The ferry journey was pleasant and the island is a haven of peace. The old mansions and pine forests are beautiful. A great way to spend a day. Highly recommended.
Bosphorus Sunset Team –
Thank you, Vladimir! A pleasant ferry journey to a haven of peace with beautiful old mansions and pine forests — the Princes’ Islands at their finest. Glad you enjoyed the day!
— Bosphorus Sunset Team
Thomas King (verified owner) –
Fantastic experience. From the meeting point to the return, everything was smooth. The island is a gem. The guide was excellent.
Bosphorus Sunset Team –
Thank you, Thomas! Smooth from meeting point to return is what we aim for every time. The island is a gem indeed, and we’re proud our guide was excellent!
— Bosphorus Sunset Team
Victor Santos (verified owner) –
Muy buen tour. La isla es preciosa y muy tranquila. Disfrutamos mucho del paseo en bicicleta. Le doy 4 estrellas porque el tiempo libre se nos hizo un poco corto para explorar todo lo que queríamos, pero en general fue una experiencia genial.
Bosphorus Sunset Team –
Gracias, Victor! La isla es realmente preciosa y tranquila. Tomamos nota sobre el tiempo libre — queremos que cada momento se disfrute al maximo. ¡Esperamos verte de nuevo!
— Bosphorus Sunset Team
Mia Garcia (verified owner) –
Un giorno perfetto! Il giro in barca, il profumo dei pini, e le limonate fresche sulla spiaggia. Torneremo sicuramente. Un grazie alla nostra guida!
Bosphorus Sunset Team –
Grazie, Mia! Il profumo dei pini e le limonate fresche sulla spiaggia — un giorno perfetto! Trasmetteremo i vostri ringraziamenti alla guida. A presto!
— Bosphorus Sunset Team
Susan Cook (verified owner) –
Bellissimo! L’atmosfera sull’isola è magica. Abbiamo affittato una bicicletta e girato per ore, fermandoci per un bagno in una caletta. Un’esperienza indimenticabile.
Bosphorus Sunset Team –
Grazie, Susan! L’atmosfera magica dell’isola, le biciclette e le calette nascoste rendono questa esperienza davvero unica. Siamo felici che abbiate goduto ogni momento!
Grace Walker (verified owner) –
Una fuga perfetta dalla città. L’aria fresca e il silenzio (rotto solo dal canto degli uccelli) sono stati rigeneranti. Il pranzo con vista mare era da sogno.
Bosphorus Sunset Team –
Grazie, Grace! L’aria fresca e il canto degli uccelli — rigenerante è la parola perfetta! Il pranzo con vista mare completa un’esperienza davvero speciale.
— Bosphorus Sunset Team
Anthony Butler (verified owner) –
Great day trip. The ferry ride across the Marmara Sea is lovely. The island is very peaceful and the old architecture is fascinating. Highly recommend.
Bosphorus Sunset Team –
Thank you, Anthony! The lovely ferry ride, peaceful island atmosphere, and fascinating old architecture are the three pillars of this tour. We appreciate your recommendation!
Amelia Johnson (verified owner) –
A wonderful day trip. We loved seeing the old Ottoman houses. The lunch spot they chose had an amazing view of the Asian side. Very well organized.
Bosphorus Sunset Team –
Thank you, Amelia! The old Ottoman houses are full of charm, and lunch with a view of the Asian side is a special touch. So glad the organization was spot-on!
— Bosphorus Sunset Team
George Campbell (verified owner) –
Great trip. Very well organized from start to finish. The island is a haven of peace. We loved the fresh seafood for lunch.
Bosphorus Sunset Team –
Thank you, George! We are happy the tour was well organized from start to finish. The island truly is a haven of peace, and fresh seafood by the sea is the perfect lunch!
Ethan Williams (verified owner) –
Really nice day out. The island is very peaceful without cars. We enjoyed the cycling. The only reason for 4 stars is that the meeting point was a bit crowded, but the tour itself was great.
Bosphorus Sunset Team –
Thank you for the feedback, Ethan! We’re glad you enjoyed the cycling on the peaceful, car-free island. We’ll work on making the meeting point clearer for future guests!
— Bosphorus Sunset Team