Turkey's Princes Islands

Take the ferry from the port for only a few Lirra

This magical island takes you away from the big city for a very reasonable price. You can either make this a day trip spend a week there to relax. It is a not to be missed destination when traveling to Turkey. For the latest in Hotel info buy the most recent Lonely Planet Turkey

Princes islands are a great getaway from the monster that is Istanbul. From the moment you step off te ferry, you can feel an instant calm, as the roads have no cars and the people are in no hurry. This is also a more relaxed atmosphere to meet locals, and many come from the mainland to spend a day or a weekend relaxing, shopping and of course, eating. We met Iranians, Turks and Syrians as we milled around te streets, looking for an interesting road to wander down.

Istanbul, Turkey - Continuing west to another primary port in the Mediterranean, lies Istanbul. Many ships either start or end their cruises here, often with an overnight before or after the trip. This photo is of two mosques during sunset. It was taken from a ferry while on the way back from the Princes Islands.

The ferry is only a few Lira and will be a great escape from the city. On the ferry meet locals and vacationers from the Middle East on their way to relax. The Princes Islands have no vehicles, leaving your transport to be either by foot, bike, or horse carriage. Wonderful!

People come from all over to vacation in the Princes Islands.The houses on the Island ranged from looking run down to being perfectly maintained. As an outsider we can only guess what it actually looked like on the inside.

If you are going to Istanbul for any period of time, consider the Princes Islands as a great day trip,
and bring your good walking shoes.