There is no better way to escape the bustle of Istanbul for a
day than with a visit to the idyllic Princes’ Islands. Enjoy cool breezes and
charming sights along the way to Büyükada, the largest Island in the chain.
Famous for their mild climates, lush vegetation, and ornate Ottoman Houses,
all the islands are unspoiled by
traffic. Instead of cars there are carriages, called phaetons, which we will
use to tour the island and its beautiful scenery studded with elegant
mansions draped with purple bougainvillea, reminiscent of a more leisured and
graceful era. We will enjoy our lunch at the best of one of the many
excellent fresh fish restaurants that line the waterfront, gazing across the
Asian shore of Istanbul, so close –
though it feels worlds away.
