Istanbul Princess Island Tour Include Lunch and Island Car Trip

A calm island day starts with a Marmara Sea ferry. This tour is built for an easy, scenic escape, with two-way ferry rides plus an island electrical car option in Büyükada.

I also like that you get a licensed guide to help you pace the day and understand what you’re looking at, not just where to stand for photos. The lunch is included and gives you a solid break from island wandering.

One thing to consider: the day ends with a planned stop at a leather shop, and drinks at lunch are not included. If you hate sales pitches, go in with your expectations set.

Key Highlights to Know Before You Go

• Two-way Marmara ferry time built into the itinerary, with multiple small-island views along the route
• Büyükada by electrical car (about 25 minutes), a handy way to cover ground without making your legs do all the work
• Real island time in Büyükada, with a 2-hour window to explore streets and shops at your own pace
• Lunch included at Fortunato Cafe & Restaurant, with set-menu Turkish dishes (soft drinks cost extra)
• Levinson Fur & Leather stop included, often paired with an entertaining fashion-style presentation
• Small group size (max 20), which usually makes the day feel smoother and more personal

How This Day Trip Works (And Why It Feels Worth It)

This is a classic Princes’ Islands setup: you trade one long Istanbul day for a slower rhythm on Büyükada. The core of the experience is getting there and back by ferry, then spending your main time on an island where vehicles are limited and walking matters.

At a listed price of $33.88 per person and around 9 hours total, you’re mainly paying for transportation, a guide, and a structured timeline. In other words, you’re buying convenience and context, not just “free time on an island.”

The tour also caps at 20 travelers, which is a big deal in Istanbul day trips. Smaller groups move at a more human pace at ferry boarding, photo stops, and the walk-ups on the island.

Getting In: Pickup, Ferry Departure, and Marmara Sea Views

Your day begins at 8:00 am with pickup. The guide meets you with a red flag signboard, which is practical because port and meeting points can feel chaotic if you’re trying to find your group by guesswork.

The first major move is the ferry ride from Dentur Avrasya Kabataş İskelesi. Plan on about 1 hour 45 minutes for the ride, and along the way the ferry passes and stops around smaller islands in the Marmara Sea area. Even if you don’t know the names, the ship windows and frequent sightlines make this portion feel scenic rather than just travel time.

This is also where your guide usually sets the tone. Many of the guides associated with this tour, including names like Hamza and Ege, are praised for giving quick context so the island doesn’t feel like a random stop.

Practical tip: bring a light layer. Ferry wind can get chilly, even in months that feel warm on shore.

Arrival on Büyükada: The Car-Free Feeling Plus a Short Electrical Car Option

Once you reach Büyükada, you get an island-friendly way to get your bearings. There’s a stop at Büyükada Tabiat Parkı, with around 25 minutes via an electrical car option (this is included if selected).

Why this matters: Büyükada hills and distances can add up fast if you’re starting the day with heavy walking. That short electric car segment helps you see more without spending your best energy too early. It’s especially helpful if you have mobility limits or you just don’t want your day to turn into a stair workout.

Also, Büyükada is famous for its slower, quieter pace. The island’s limited vehicle setup means you’ll feel the contrast the moment you step off the ferry: more pedestrians, more casual strolling, and fewer traffic headaches than central Istanbul.

The Island Core: Exploring Büyükada Streets With About 2 Hours of Freedom

Your main island visit includes about 2 hours in Büyükada, plus time on foot to explore. This is the part you’ll remember, because it’s where the island stops being a schedule and becomes a place you can drift through.

Expect a mix of:

• quieter lanes and charming streets
• small shops where you can browse at your own pace
• photo opportunities with Ottoman-era style architecture blended with later influences

Many visitors like that you’re not forced into a constant walking circuit. The tour structure tends to balance guided info with open time, which is ideal if you want to buy something small, try an extra snack, or simply enjoy the calm.

If you want a good view moment, there’s typically a walk up toward a summit area for the St. George Orthodox Monastery viewpoint. In the experiences tied to this tour, people mention a climb that can feel like about 1 km uphill, so bring water and pace yourself.

Lunch at Fortunato Cafe and Restaurant: Good Food, But Watch the Cat Factor

Lunch is included at Fortunato Cafe & Restaurant, and the meal break is about 45 minutes. This isn’t a quick, sad sandwich stop. The lunch is described as a set menu with many Turkish dishes, and people consistently call out that the food is fresh and plentiful.

Soft drinks are not included, so you’ll likely pay extra if you want soda, juice, or similar drinks. If you’re budget-minded, plan to drink water.

One practical note: there’s a common real-world issue with this lunch stop. Some people report cats around the restaurant area and even on chairs near diners. If you’re allergic or just strongly prefer zero animals near your table, consider bringing allergy medication if needed and be ready to ask staff where you can sit.

Also, if cats are a deal-breaker for you, you might adjust your expectations for this stop. The tour is built around lunch convenience, not around finding a cat-free dining room.

The Return Ferry: Reset on the Water After an Island Afternoon

After your island time, you return via ferry from Büyükada Vapur İskelesi. The ride is about 1 hour 15 minutes, and like the morning route, you get scenic views of the Marmara Sea and smaller islands.

This is a nice buffer period. You’ve done walking, browsing, and hill effort, and then the ferry lets you cool down and take photos without managing crowds. If you’re the type who likes to review your day while looking out the window, this part is satisfying.

Leather Shop Stop at Levinson Fur & Leather: Entertainment or Sales Pressure

The day includes a visit to Levinson Fur & Leather, about 30 minutes. This stop is sometimes described as a sales-focused ending, and it may include a short fashion-style presentation of garments.

Here’s the key way to handle it: treat it like planned time, not a surprise. You can enjoy it as show-and-tell if that’s your vibe, or you can quietly browse without buying. One review-style experience you should take seriously is that this stop can feel like a pitch for people who were hoping for a pure nature and architecture day.

If you’re not interested in shopping, you’ll still likely have a chance to watch the presentation and then move on. But mentally, go in understanding this is part of the package.

If you want to skip the pressure, look for an exit strategy early, and don’t let the staff rush you into decisions.

Guides Matter: Names You’ll Hear and the Pace They Create

The biggest quality signal in this tour is the guide. Names that show up across these experiences include Hamza, Ege, Tarik, Yusuf, and Sabit. What people consistently like is the balance: friendly guidance plus enough explanation that the island makes sense.

That matters because Princes’ Islands can feel “pretty but vague” if nobody gives you context. A good guide helps you understand why certain buildings exist, what you’re looking at, and how to pace your walking.

It also helps with logistics. Small moments like getting everyone lined up for ferry timing, handling narrow lanes during the day, and keeping group members together can make the difference between a relaxing trip and a stressful scramble.

And yes, a good driver is part of that too. People note skillful handling during transport through tight areas, which is another underrated part of how smooth your day feels.

Price and Value: Is $33.88 a Fair Deal for This 9-Hour Day?

At $33.88 per person, the value comes from what’s bundled:

• Pickup and drop-off
• Licensed guide
• Two-way ferry tickets
• Lunch
• an island electrical car option segment (if selected)

If you tried to DIY this, you would still have the main cost of ferry travel. Add guide help, the lunch, and transportation time planning, and the price starts to look reasonable for a day trip that avoids guesswork.

Where people can feel mixed is not the overall structure, but the “extras.” The leather shop stop can shift your perception of value depending on your interest level. Also, drinks at lunch cost extra, and that can affect your total spending if you expect beverages included.

So my practical advice: treat this as an island tour plus scheduled commercial stops, not a museum-only cultural day.

Who This Tour Fits Best (And Who Might Prefer Something Else)

This works well if you:

• want a structured day without planning ferry timing on your own
• like scenic sea views more than fast attractions hopping
• enjoy calm island exploring with some guided context
• appreciate a smaller group (max 20)

You might want to think twice if you:

• strongly dislike shopping stops or sales-style presentations
• have cat allergies or you prefer animal-free dining
• want a completely free itinerary with no “fixed segments” at all

If you’re the kind of traveler who wants freedom, this still gives you about 2 hours of island time. But it’s not a fully independent rental car style day. It’s a guided, timed package.

Should You Book the Istanbul Princess Island Tour With Lunch and Island Car?

If your goal is a relaxing Princes’ Islands day with ferry views, Büyükada time, a real lunch, and help pacing the day, I’d say yes. At this price and with these inclusions, it’s a solid way to see Büyükada without turning your trip into a logistics project.

Book it if you’re excited about the island atmosphere, and you’re okay with a planned end stop at a leather shop. Pack water for the uphill viewpoint walk, and bring patience for the lunch setting if cats are present.

Skip it if you want zero shopping influence or you know cats near food will ruin your meal. In that case, you might prefer a different approach that keeps the day purely island focused.

Either way, this is the kind of trip that turns Istanbul’s energy into something quieter, one ferry ride at a time.

FAQ

How much does the Istanbul Princess Island tour cost?

The price is $33.88 per person.

How long is the tour?

The duration is about 9 hours.

What does the tour include?

It includes pickup and drop-off, lunch, a licensed guide, and two-way ferry tickets. It also includes a short island electrical car trip in Büyükada if you select that option.

What is included with the ferry rides?

You get two-way ferry tickets, including the ferry ride from Dentur Avrasya Kabataş İskelesi to Büyükada and the return ferry from Büyükada Vapur İskelesi, with views of the Marmara Sea along the way.

Do I need to pay for drinks during lunch?

Soft drinks are not included, so you’ll need to pay for them personally if you want them.

Is pickup available?

Yes. The guide meets you at 8:00 am with a red flag signboard, and pickup and drop-off are included.

What about the leather shop stop?

The tour includes a visit to Levinson Fur & Leather, which lasts about 30 minutes. Admission ticket is listed as free.

What if weather is bad?

This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.