Ferries to Adalar (Princes Islands)

In summer, six to 10 IDO ferries a day make the 90-minute voyage from Istanbul's Kabatas ferry dock to Kinaliada, Burgazada, Heybeliada and Büyükada (Google Map).

TurYol ferries also make the voyage between Istanbul and Büyükada. The TurYol boats are smaller, but not always as crowded as the IDO ferries.

On many summer days, and on all warm-weather weekends, the IDO ferries fill quickly, even though they can hold upwards of 1500 passengers.

It's best to take one of the earliest ferries, and to be at the ferry dock at least 15 minutes before departure (30 minutes is even better) in order to get in line to board. When boarding begins, passengers near the front of the line can choose the best seats: interior, exterior, upper deck or lower deck, on the sunny side or the shady side, in the bow or the stern.

To travel from one island to another (for example, from Büyükada to Heybeliada), you must note all the ferry schedules. There are no shuttle boats between islands, only the scheduled IDO ferries and the private ferries.

On busy days, it's best not to plan on taking the last or even second-last ferry of the day to return to Istanbul, as these boats fill to capacity (or over-capacity) early in their voyages. You may not be able to board, and if you are able, you may have to stand during the entire voyage in crowded conditions.

For example, if you plan to leave Heybeliada for Kabatas on a late afternoon or early evening ferry on Saturday or Sunday, you may find that the ferry is filled to capacity when it arrives at Heybeli, and you won't be allowed to board.

An alternative route to and from Büyükada is to take the seabus from Bostanci, a suburb on the Asian coast of the Sea of Marmara. You can reach Bostanci by seabus from Yenikapi, or by suburban train from Haydarpasa Station.

Büyükada

Heybeliada

Burgazada

Kinaliada

Istanbul's Princes' Islands

The Bosphorus

What to See & Do in Istanbul

Istanbul Homepage

Buyukada Dock, Istanbul, Turkey

Above, passengers debark from the ferry to Büyükada's Ottoman-era ferry terminal.
Below, the ferry terminal in 1943—even more crowded!

Buyukada 1943, Istanbul, Turkey