Princes Islands
From CruisersWiki
The Princes' Islands (Πριγκηπονήσια - Pringiponisia) just a few miles south of Istanbul have been a resort for the rich and famous since the Byzantine times. They consist of four main islands: Büyükada or Pringipos (Πρίγκηπος), Heybeliada or Halki (Χάλκη), Burgazada or Antigoni (Αντιγόνη), Kinaliada or Proti (Πρώτη), plus smaller islands such as Sivriada and Yassiada. Both Büyükada and Heybeliada are picturesque and popular tourist resorts, while Burgazada and Kinaliada are somewhat less attractive and therefore quieter. There are several anchorages around the islands which can be used as lunch stops or overnight in settled weather, but only one properly sheltered anchorage, Çam Limani on the south coast of Heybeliada, which is safe in the prevailing N/NE winds.
On all the Princes' islands there are no motor vehicles allowed except municipal, naval (on Heybeliada, where there is a huge naval college) and police vehicles. There are otherwise no cars, motorcycles or scooters. People and goods are moved mostly by horse-drawn carriages and carts, although a few electric tricycles have begun to make an appearance. The islands are thus excellent places for walking or cycle hire, with the horse-drawn carriages the only frequent road hazard to be considered.
Charts
See Sea of Marmara.
Weather
Give local weather conditions or refer to another page (a region or island group) that covers these conditions.
Sources for Weather forecasts:
Passages
The Princes’ Islands are within 12 miles of all the main Istanbul marinas – Atakoy, Kalamiş/Fenerbahçe, Pendik – and even the new marina at Yalova is only 15 miles away. In addition to being a useful stop on passage between the Dardanelles and the Black Sea, they are therefore a handy place to visit in settled weather from any of the surrounding marinas.
Communication
Also see World Cruiser's Nets.
The approaches to the Princes' Islands are mostly free of dangers, although there are extensive shoals off the northern coast of Büyükada, marked with a N cardinal buoy, and isolated rocky patches close inshore around several of the islands. A large-scale chart is an advantage, although following the 10 metre contour around all the islands avoids all the dangers.
Islands in the Group
- Büyükada or Pringipos
- Heybeliada or Halki
- Burgazada or Antigoni
- Kinaliada or Proti
There are several anchorages around the islands which can be used as lunch stops or overnight in settled weather, but only one properly sheltered anchorage, Çam Limani on the south coast of Heybeliada, which is safe in the prevailing N/NE winds.
Berthing
Marinas & Yacht Clubs
None.
Anchorages
Çam Limani on Heybeliada, as mentioned above, is the only protected anchorage. There are however, several day anchorages that can be used by yachts for brief shore visits or lunch stops.
Çam Limani
Çam Limani lies roughly in the centre of the south coast of Heybeliada or Halki and is the only protected anchorage in the Princes' Islands. It is an attractive anchorage and very popular with motor cruisers from Istanbul. It natural beauty is spoiled, however, by some rather ugly institutional building ashore. Also, during the day there is a constant blare of moronic music from the speakers of the Ada Beach Club at the eastern end of the bay. However, once the beach bar closes around sunset, the cove can be blissfully quiet as long as you avoid the weekends and nightjars are often heard here at dusk and herons patrol the shoreline in early morning. Weekends, however, will see as many as 50 to 60 boats of all sizes crammed into the bay, diminishing to perhaps as few as a dozen by nightfall. Visit on weekdays, especially in early or late season, and you may even have the cove to yourself. Anchor anywhere the depths are suitable; depths range from 5.0 metres around 50 metres offshore to 15 metres in the centre of the bay. The holding is good in sand and weed, but make sure your anchor is through the weed before venturing ashore. In settled weather, there is often a SW seabreeze in the mornings, which turns NE in early afternoon. This should be borne in mind when deciding where to place your anchor in relation to other boats and in which direction to lay it.
The main town of Heybeliada can be visited easily from the anchorage: leave your dinghy on the small beach to the right of the Ada Beach Club and walk up the road past the naval college. The town is only around 30 minutes’ walk. It is also possible to take your dinghy, but there is little point as – unless you have a very powerful motor – it will still take you around half an hour and the harbour has nowhere really suitable for tying up.
Büyükada
Burgazada
Heybeliada
Amenities
| Facilities | |
|---|---|
| Water | N/A (Not Available) |
| Electricity | N/A |
| Toilets | N/A |
| Showers | N/A |
| Laundry | N/A |
| Garbage | There are bins |
| Supplies | |
| Fuel | N/A |
| Bottled gas | ? |
| Chandlers | None |
| Services | |
| Repairs | N/A |
| Internet | Only in internet cafes in Büyükada and Heybeliada |
| Mobile connectivity | ? |
| Vehicle rentals | None. But, you can hire a horse drawn buggy or rent a bicycle on Büyükada and Heybeliada |
Provisioning
In Büyükada [[Princes Islands#In Büyükada|In Büyükada]] there are everal stores.
In Heybeliada] [[Princes Islands#In Heybeliada]|In Heybeliada]]] there are everal stores.
Eating out
- In Büyükada
-
[[Princes Islands# | ]] a number of attractive restaurants and patisseries.
- In Heybeliada
- [[Princes Islands# | ]] a number of attractive restaurants and patisseries.
- In Burgazada
- [[Princes Islands# | ]] a number of attractive restaurants and patisseries on the waterfront.
Transportation
Regular ferries to Istanbul. In summer, they buzz like flies.
Tourism
History
Give a short history of the island.)
Places to Visit
 An Old House in Halki
|
In Büyükada
Büyükada island is a very affluent and busy but attractive resort. Many of the old Ottoman houses have been restored and the streets above the harbour are lined with magnificent mansions, all with beautiful gardens enclosed by intricate ironwork fences and gates. Wealthy Istanbullus maintain a number of villas here with well-kept gardens and overall there is a general air of great opulence. There are also a number of old fashioned and rather plush hotels. One of the best ways to see the island is to hire one of the horse drawn buggies, which can take you on a complete tour of the island.
In Heybeliada
Heybeliada or Halki has been a resort for wealthy Istanbul Greeks, Armenians and Jews for centuries. Today, it has a more relaxed and less frenetic charm than its big sister, Büyükada. Behind its busy waterfront, packed with restaurants and cafes, you will still find a number of old Ottoman houses in varying degrees of restoration, from the magnificent to the all but derelict.
Also, located here is the Halki Theological School and monastery. This school has educated generations of Christian Orthodox clergy including the present Patriarch Bartholomew. It is an imposing building both from the inside and from the outside. The building is large and imposing. The enclosing gardens are well kept and lovely with many colorful blooming flowers. Inside the garden there is a lovely church. All the classrooms in the main building are clean and it is furnished by old, well polished, wooden furniture. There used to be 300 students here until 1971 when the school stopped operating by order of the government. The Patriarch is very active in trying to obtain permission for the school to function again. You can see the dining room and the reception room, all very opulent. All the signs, including the large plaque at the entrance, are exclusively in Turkish. It is a piece of Byzantium in moth balls transported to modern Turkey. Very strange!
Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forums
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
Links
- Princes Islands at the Wikipedia
- Prince Islands at the Wikivoyage
- Büyükada or Pringipos at the Wikipedia
- Heybeliada or Halki at the Wikipedia
- Burgazada or Antigoni at the Wikipedia
- Kinaliada or Proti at the Wikipedia
References
See Turkey.
Comments
We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.
- From early June to late September, avoid the anchorage at Çam Limani before 1900 on Saturdays and Sundays. After that time, it’s just busy. Before that time, it’s frantic! --Athene of Lymington 17:17, 7 June 2011 (BST)
- Cam Limani is a beautiful anchorage and the island paths very pleasant. The water is swimable in contrast to the sewage nearer Istanbul. The beaches are littered with refuse which does not appear to bother the inhabitants which is quite disappointing. --Monterey May 2013
Verified by
Date of member's last visit to Princes Islands and this page's details validated:
- June 1998 --Istioploos
Travels with S/Y Thetis
- June 2011 --Athene of Lymington 17:17, 7 June 2011 (BST)
- May 2013 --Monterey
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 Contributors to this page |
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Names: Istioploos, Atheneoflymington, Lighthouse, Haiqu,Monterey |
