How to get to the Princes' Islands from Istanbul?

Direct ferries from Büyükada back to Karaköy/Eminönü/Kabataş after 8 PM may not be available — apps may only show a route to Kartal-Pendik pier with onward ground transport. With a child this can be tiring, so plan your return trip in advance.

On weekends, ferries to the Princes' Islands can be completely full — there have been reports of no seats available. If travelling on a Saturday or Sunday, plan to leave early.

Check ferry schedules from Eminönü to the Princes' Islands in advance — timetables can be hard to find and ferry apps sometimes fail to load.

You can go directly from the airport to Kadıköy and take a ferry to the islands from there. Note that evening departures are limited — arriving around 8 PM means fewer options.

From Kabataş pier, take the metro from Galata to Taksim, then the funicular down to Kabataş. Alternatively, take the metro to Bostancı (transfer at Yenikapı) — ferries to the islands are more frequent from there.

The standard route is from your hotel to Karaköy or Kabataş pier, then a ferry to Büyükada (the main island), and then on foot. Total travel time is around 2.5 hours. Price varies by ferry operator.