Meet your guide at your central Istanbul hotel and travel by air-conditioned coach to the port for your full-day Princes' Island tour. Hop aboard your boat and cruise to the biggest and most popular Princes Island, Büyükada. During your boat cruise, admire views of Topkapi Palace as the city shrinks behind you. Plus, capture views Kiz Kulesi (also known as Leander’s Tower or Maiden’s Tower) which was shot in the James Bond movie The World is Not Enough.
Disembark in Büyükada and stroll along with your guide enjoying the ambiance of this quiet island. Notice the lack of vehicles here and gain insight from your guide as to why. Then, take the best form of transportation on the island, a horse-drawn carriage. As you relax to the sounds of clip-clopping hooves, learn about the island’s history such as how former royalty and statesmen were once banished here. Plus, hear about the Christian monasteries that resided here during Byzantine-era rule.
Next, see prime examples of Ottoman-era architecture as you pass by elegant wooden mansions. Then, soak up gorgeous sea views and the surrounding landscape that’s highlighted by dazzling blue waters. During free time with your guide, grab a simit (bread with sesame seeds) and have some fun feeding the abundance of seabirds that happily live here.
Take a break at a restaurant for lunch and enjoy tasty seafood before your spend the remainder of your day on your own. After lunch, grab your swimsuit and head to the beach to swim or catch some rays. Or perhaps, duck into a coastal café or craft shop to check out the local scene. Finally, rendezvous with your guide at predetermined time and board your return boat to Istanbul. Once back on land, head back to your hotel where your tour concludes.
