Hotels near Buyukada and the Princes' Islands

The Princes' Islands sit in the Sea of Marmara an hour or so southeast of the city, and Buyukada is the largest. Byzantine emperors exiled inconvenient royals here, which is where the name comes from, and Trotsky spent four years on the island from 1929. The draw now is the 19th-century wooden mansions, the pine woods and the almost total absence of cars: private motor vehicles are banned and transport is electric shuttles, bicycles and walking.

October is the best month to go. The summer day-tripper crowds that make the island unpleasant in August have gone, the pine woods are cool enough to walk in, and the ferry deck is comfortable. The climb to the Greek Orthodox monastery of Aya Yorgi at the southern summit takes about 40 minutes and gives a long view back over the Marmara. Ferries run from Kabatas and Eminonu.

Pro Tip: Check the return ferry timetable before you leave the terminal, not after. Autumn sailings are less frequent than summer ones, the last boat back is earlier than people assume, and missing it on a car-free island is an expensive mistake.