Discover Istanbul's calmer cousins, these nine islands which are about 1.5 hours' ferry ride from the city centre. From the moment you walk off the boat, you'll be stepping back in time and if it's summertime, an ideal escape from the stifling heat and noise of Istanbul. Cars aren't permitted, so the only way of getting around is on foot, by horse and cart or on a push bike - bike rentals are plentiful. The islands take their name from the Byzantine era, when princes lived here in exile. It was also where Leon Trotsky settled for a period, following his deportation from Russia in 1929. Don't miss the really handsome Ottoman-era mansions.