DESTINATIONS turkey istanbul princes islands getting-here-and-around-13

TRAVEL TIPS

Getting Here and Around

From Katabaş, near Taksim at the end of the tram line, both atmospheric old ferryboats and more modern catamarans known as sea buses depart regularly for the islands, with more frequent service in summer. Ferries cost 5 TL for a token (3.85 TL with an İstanbulkart) and take around 90 minutes (www.sehirhatlari.com.tr/en) . The faster sea buses cost 10 TL for a token (7.80 TL with an İstanbulkart) and take about half as long, but don’t run quite as late in the day (www.ido.com.tr/en). On weekends in summer both the ferries and the islands themselves can be very crowded, so it’s preferable to visit during the week. If you’re planning on staying the night, most hotels also have cheaper rates on weekdays.

No cars are allowed on the islands other than official/service vehicles, so you'll do most of your exploring on foot. The cost of horse-drawn carriage rides varies by distance. On Büyükada, a "short tour" (40–45 minutes) costs 75 TL and a "long tour" (70–75 minutes) is 90 TL, while a one-way ride to the Monastery of St. George is 35 TL. Fares on Heybeliada are 50 TL and 70 TL, respectively, for short and long tours. As there have been reports in the Turkish press lately about neglect of workhorses on the islands, look for a carriage whose animals seem well treated and well fed. Renting bicycles (7.50–10 TL per hour; about 20–30 TL for the day, with prices generally at the higher end of the price range on Büyükada) from one of the numerous bike shops on Büyükada and Heybeliada is also a fun (and more strenuous) way to get around.

To get from one of the Princes' Islands to the other, hop aboard any of the several daily ferries or sea buses—though note that you'll pay the same fare for this short hop as you did to get out to the islands in the first place, unless you fall into the two-hour transfer window.

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