The Prince Islands are a chain of nine small islands in the Sea of Marmara, near the coast of Istanbul, which constitute the district Adalar (Islands) of the province.
While consists of nine islands, four of them, the largest and most populated are also the most known and visited: Buyukada (Big Island of 5, 46 kilometers) Heybeliada, Burgazada and Kinaliada, that you can access by regular ferries from Kabatas station, on the European side and from those of Kadikoy, Bostanci, Kartal and Maltepe, on the Asian side. Transportation in the islands is mustly by bicycles and horse carriages.
The Prince Islands are the main weekend getaway for Istanbulites, who come to bathe in their coasts, take a bike ride and relax in the sun. In these islands the atmosphere is more Mediterranean, a pleasant stay, even when on weekends are usually full of visitors.
Many Turkish and foreigners live in Prince Islands, so the maritime traffic to and from Istanbul is fairly common, with ferries that run until midnight.