Prens Adaları (Princes' Islands)

The Princes' Islands have been used at various times as points of voluntary and involuntary retreat, particularly during the Byzantine and Ottoman periods when royals and their family members would be sent there in exile. In 1453 the islands were taken during the Ottoman siege of Constantinople. 

The crowded ferry ride over (it was a Saturday and a beautiful day, peak tourist flow).

More crowds on the 2nd level, where you can also buy tea, coffee and snacks. Note the backgammon players on the floor...

Heybeliada is the second largest island in the chain of 9, only 4 of which are accessible by the main ferries. Here are some of the beautiful homes on Heybeliada (and some not quite as beautiful as they used to be.) Heybeliada houses wooden homes in various states of repair and disrepair, shops and cafes, small beaches and a second port on the backside of the island. 

There are no motor vehicles allowed on the Princes' Islands except service vehicles, so you'll find pedestrians, bike-riders and horse and carriages used for transportation. There is no airport, so you can only get to and from the islands by boat.  

We avoided the beaches where you pay 5TL to swim, and found this beautiful area where the rocks jutted out into the water. KiteGirl (Dutch) and L swam in the icy Marmara Sea while V (French, oh so French) and I sat on the shaded hill watching the water.