A day trip to the Princes' Islands

When the city gets overwhelming, the Princes' Islands are the perfect escape, a short, cheap ferry ride out into the Sea of Marmara to a cluster of car-free islands where the pace slows right down. Rent a bike and cycle the traffic-free pine-lined roads, swim, and eat fresh seafood by the water. The ferry there costs little more than a normal fare, making it one of the best-value day trips going. We'll tell you which island to head for and how to plan the day around the ferry times.