From Istanbul: Full-Day Princes Island Tour with Lunch

Highlights

• Spend time at your leisure on the largest of the Princes islands
• Admire the island’s Ottoman-era mansions
• Unwind and enjoy lunch on board a private boat (summer season)
• Rent an electric vehicle to ride around the imposing mansions of Büyükada

Description

Explore Büyükada, the largest of Turkey’s Princes islands, on this 7-hour excursion from Istanbul. Cruise across the Sea of Marmara, watching the sights of Istanbul slip from view. See the pedestrianized island in the best possible way – by bike (not included) or spend time at leisure, perhaps relaxing on one of its beaches, before returning to Istanbul. Travel from your hotel by air-conditioned coach to the port with your guide, and board the boat that will take you to the Princes islands. The largest and most interesting of the islands is Büyükada, which is your destination for the day. From the boat, look back on the sights of Istanbul, seeing iconic landmarks such as Topkapi Palace and the pretty Kiz Kulesi (also known as the Maiden’s Tower), which was featured in the James Bond film, The World is Not Enough. Dock in Büyükada and Kınali then take a stroll through the streets on your own, soaking up the laid-back atmosphere of island life. Return to the boat and listen as your guide talks about the island’s history during the ride. Learn about its time as a place of exile for banished statesmen and royalty, and of its life as a monastic settlement during Turkey’s Byzantine-Christian period. Pass lovely wooden mansions that are stunning examples of the island’s late Ottoman-era architecture, and look out over the sparkling sea. Seagulls are everywhere in Büyükada, and if you’d like to feed them your guide will give you simits (bread with sesame seeds) so you can toss them a treat. Have lunch on the boat in summer or in a restauarant in the winter (if the weather gets too bad) , then spend the rest of your day at leisure on the islands. Later, meet your guide at a pre-arranged time for your boat ride back to Istanbul. Gift and leather shop visit (Optional)The last leg of your journey will be by coach, and you’ll be dropped off at your Istanbul hotel.

Includes

Hotel pickup and drop-off (if option selected) Transportation by air-conditioned bus Boat trip Tour guide onboard Entrance fees to islands Lunch (if option selected) Gift and leather shop visit

Important Information

• If you don't receive an email with the pickup time After booking 1 or 2 hours, please check your spam folder or contact the tour operator From November 15 to March 15, the tour will only visit the Big Island (Buyukada) Transfer service is offered to the European Side below Area; Taksim-Şişli-S.Ahmet-Aksaray-Beyazıt- Sirkeci-Beyoğlu The exact pickup time slot will be sent to you after the booking This tour is more of a nature tour than a cultural one and more dependent on free exploration than guiding explanations/On this island tour, most of the time is spent on the boat This is a sea and island sightseeing tour

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund