The Princes' Islands south of Istanbul are a popular destination for locals and visitors alike. The summer sees Istanbullus flock to the islands for their beaches, seaside promenades and tranquillity. Covered with pine trees and the 19th-century houses of the European bourgeoisie, they are well worth the short ferry ride out of the city. Though there are nine islands, only four are inhabited: Kinaliada, Burgazada, Heybeliada and Büyükada. Motorised transportation is prohibited, so many visitors rent bicycles or faetons, two-horse carriages that are useful to scale the islands' hilly geography.
Kinaliada
Kinaliada, which comes from the Turkish kinali (dyed with henna), derives its name from the island's earth, made red by copper and iron deposits. Worth visiting on the island is the Kinaliada Camii, a sharp-angled mosque with the architectural mark of the 1960s, as well as Bahar Patisserie, on the corner of Kinali Meydani (Kinali Square), next to the ferry landing.
Burgazada
Burgazada is known chiefly for its large Greek population, much of which remains from the Ottoman era. The island is home to St John's Orthodox church, as well as the Sait Faik Museum, a tribute to the famed Turkish writer, who lived on the island from 1939-1954.
Heybeliada
Heybeliada, which means "saddlebag island", is home to the Turkish navy's Naval Cadet School, which seems more mansion than maritime with its high windows, scalloped stairs and tiled roof. Also on the island is the Halki seminary, the Greek Orthodox theological school that has been a long-time source of contention between Greece and Turkey since it was shut down in the 1970s.
Merit Halki Palace also demands a visit, if just for the hotel's architecture. Built in the 19th century to house parents visiting their children attending the island's prestigious commercial school, it was renovated in 1991 after a huge fire. It combines the charm of 19th century Ottoman life with modern amenities, such as a health club. The hotel also has access to the island's forest, in which guests can ride or cycle. Walk to the balcony for a panoramic view of the Marmara Sea.
Büyükada
Büyükada, or Prinikpo, is the largest of the islands, and is home to a large Jewish population, as well as Armenians and Greeks. During the early 20th century, it was home to Leon Trotsky, who, along with about 25,000 other White Russians, fled to Istanbul in exile after being defeated by the Red Army. While there, he completed The History of the Russian Revolution. Trotsky's house, like many others, was a relic of the wealthy merchant class that prided itself on building wooden houses in a highly corrosive climate. Accordingly, the gingerbread-like architecture begs a walk around, which reveals scalloped-edged houses eroded by time and the salty air. Though many houses have been renovated in recent years, the look is that of many post-colonial landscapes, where old and new vie for predominance.
Hire a faeton and take a ride to the island's park, which has grills set up underneath pine trees for family picnics. St George's Monastery, which is accessible by faeton and a long walk up a steep hill, hosts two annual festivals, which see thousands of visitors - particularly infertile women - seeking answers to their prayers. The monastery boasts the most beautiful view of the island, as well as its own open-air restaurant, which serves homemade food and beverages. For a few lira, load up your tray, pick a picnic bench and watch the sun set over the Marmara with a plate of köfte and kebabs. On your way to the dock, stop by the main square at one of the myriad ice-cream vendors and pile a cone high with mastixa, a flavour made of resin that comes from the trees on the Greek island of Chios.
Kinaliada: Bahar Patisserie, Kinali Meydani, (+90 216 381 41 41).
Burgazada: Barba Meydane, (+90 216 381 2404).
Heybeliada: Merit Halki Palace, @email:www.halkipalace hotel.com.
Büyükada: St George (Agio Yorgi) Monastery, Aya Nikola Pansyon Cafe, @email:www.ayanikolabutik pansiyon.com.
Where to stay
There is no accommodation on Kinaliada or Burgazada.
Heybeliada: Merit Halki Palace, @email:www.halkipalacehotel.com.
Büyükada: Hotel Princess, @email:www.buyukadaprincess.com; Splendid Palas, @email:www.splendidhotel.net; Aya Nikola Pansyon, @email:www. ayanikolabutikpansiyon.com.
Jazeera Airways offers flights from Dubai to Istanbul for Dh400, while Qatar Airways offers flights from Abu Dhabi and Dubai for Dh1,800. From Istanbul, take the Ido fast ferry, which leaves every half-hour, at either Sirkeci or Kabatas station. @email:www.ido.com.tr/en/index.cfm.
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20HyveGeo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abdulaziz%20bin%20Redha%2C%20Dr%20Samsurin%20Welch%2C%20Eva%20Morales%20and%20Dr%20Harjit%20Singh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECambridge%20and%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESustainability%20%26amp%3B%20Environment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24200%2C000%20plus%20undisclosed%20grant%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVenture%20capital%20and%20government%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Youth YouTuber Programme
The programme will be presented over two weeks and will cover the following topics:
- Learning, scripting, storytelling and basic shots
- Master on-camera presence and advanced script writing
- Beating the algorithm and reaching your core audience
Specs – Taycan 4S
Engine: Electric
Transmission: 2-speed auto
Power: 571bhp
Torque: 650Nm
Price: Dh431,800
Specs – Panamera
Engine: 3-litre V6 with 100kW electric motor
Transmission: 2-speed auto
Power: 455bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: from Dh431,800
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDirect%20Debit%20System%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sept%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20with%20a%20subsidiary%20in%20the%20UK%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elaine%20Jones%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
The Al Barzakh Festival takes place on Wednesday and Thursday at 7.30pm in the Red Theatre, NYUAD, Saadiyat Island. Tickets cost Dh105 for adults from platinumlist.net
THE SPECS
Aston Martin Rapide AMR
Engine: 6.0-litre V12
Transmission: Touchtronic III eight-speed automatic
Power: 595bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh999,563
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
The lowdown
Bohemian Rhapsody
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee
Rating: 3/5
UAE%20Warriors%2045%20Results
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%0DMain%20Event%0D%3A%20Lightweight%20Title%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EAmru%20Magomedov%20def%20Jakhongir%20Jumaev%20-%20Round%201%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-Main%20Event%0D%3A%20Bantamweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERany%20Saadeh%20def%20Genil%20Franciso%20-%20Round%202%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECatchweight%20150%20lbs%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EWalter%20Cogliandro%20def%20Ali%20Al%20Qaisi%20-%20Round%201%20(TKO)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBantamweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERenat%20Khavalov%20def%20Hikaru%20Yoshino%20-%20Round%202%20(TKO)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFlyweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EVictor%20Nunes%20def%20Nawras%20Abzakh%20-%20Round%201%20(TKO)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFlyweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EYamato%20Fujita%20def%20Sanzhar%20Adilov%20-%20Round%201%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELightweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EAbdullo%20Khodzhaev%20def%20Petru%20Buzdugen%20-%20Round%201%20(TKO)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECatchweight%20139%20lbs%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERazhabali%20Shaydullaev%20def%20Magomed%20Al-Abdullah%20-%20Round%202%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFlyweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ECong%20Wang%20def%20Amena%20Hadaya%20-%20Points%20(unanimous%20decision)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMiddleweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EKhabib%20Nabiev%20def%20Adis%20Taalaybek%20Uulu%20-%20Round%202%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELight%20Heavyweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EBartosz%20Szewczyk%20def%20Artem%20Zemlyakov%20-%20Round%202%20(TKO)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
%3Cp%3ECory%20Sandhagen%20v%20Umar%20Nurmagomedov%0D%3Cbr%3ENick%20Diaz%20v%20Vicente%20Luque%0D%3Cbr%3EMichael%20Chiesa%20v%20Tony%20Ferguson%0D%3Cbr%3EDeiveson%20Figueiredo%20v%20Marlon%20Vera%0D%3Cbr%3EMackenzie%20Dern%20v%20Loopy%20Godinez%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETickets%20for%20the%20August%203%20Fight%20Night%2C%20held%20in%20partnership%20with%20the%20Department%20of%20Culture%20and%20Tourism%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20went%20on%20sale%20earlier%20this%20month%2C%20through%20www.etihadarena.ae%20and%20www.ticketmaster.ae.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A