Princess Islands tour | Istanbul city tours | Istanbul day tours

Back onto the shores of the inhabited islands; Buyukada, Heybeliada, Burgaz, Kinali and Sedef, you will meet architectural wonders as you wander down from the towns to up the hills. On the northern hill of Heybeliada, you will notice the former Theological School of Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. There do your best to get permission from the officials for a tour of the building, where you will find a library with around 40,000 rare books. On the neighboring island, Buyukada, first at its town you will walk through illustrious mansions, including that of Arab Izzet Pasha (where the Russian statesman Trotsky resided for four years and wrote his “Prinkipo Letter”) and as you climb up the first hill, Isa Tepesi, you will be greeted by Christos Monastery and Prinkipo Palace. Prinkipo Palace, once built as a deluxe casino hotel but later used as an orphanage due to the Sultan’s veto of gambling, is claimed to be the largest mono-block wooden structure in Europe. Again if you can get tour permission from the officials, make sure that you please your memory with the panoramic views of the top floor windows assembled by a golden ratio.

After a short forest walk from Prinkipo Palace, you will end at the Luna Park Square. There you can taste Turkish barbeque specialties or take a donkey ride. Then, if you walk up the steep road right by the square, you will reach the highest hill of the Princes’ Islands, Yucetepe, which hosts the Greek Orthodox Monastery of Aya Yorgi (Saint George) visited by crowds of every religion twice a year. The venue also offers cozy facilities for wining against the sunset and the moonlight. Moreover, the fire watch tower, Adakule, is also nearby and good news is that a telescope, open to public access, will be installed soon.

Though many prefer the Islands in warm weathers, winter should not be considered an unattractive season. In a contrary manner; the solitude, brought by a seasonal population decline of some 400,000 to 10,000s, could very well take you to an inner journey and healing of the soul.

The Russian revolutionary leader, Leon Trotsky, had lived on the islands after his expulsion from the Soviet Union.

Transportation:

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality runs scheduled ferries and seabuses from Kartal, Bostanci, Kadikoy, Sirkeci and Kabatas ports. For more information, click www.ido.com.tr

The physical closeness but spiritual remoteness to the city is one aspect, whereas meeting a new wonder at every corner is another. The cleanness of waters, with respect to those of a metropolitan city, and the dominance of pine forests are only two of what the Islands can offer you for recreation. Since there are no motor vehicles on the islands, you will need your feet, a phaeton, a bike or a donkey ride (merkep) to explore the mystery and the nature while your lungs will enjoy the fresh air. Moreover, try to rent a boat. That way you will have access to the uninhabited islands – Kasik, Yassiada, Sivriada, and Tavsanadasi – as well as the surrounding underwater heritage. The archipelago is resourceful under the sea as it is above. Once you are aboard, go fishing around Tavsanadasi – a fuse spot for the fishermen – dive for the shipwrecks around Sivriada which is a land break on Yassiada and rediscover the 19th century pleasure castle of Sir Henry Bulwer-Lytton (former British Consul) and visit the 1,000 years old underwater monastery of Vordonisi, at only 5m deep.