In addition to the local population, one of the places frequently visited by tourists and foreign citizens in turkey is istanbul. this city, which remains crowded and always alive, fascinates everyone with its historic buildings, nightlife, delicious food and restaurants, and cultural activities. in addition, the city has a unique natural beauty that connects two continents, such as the bosphorus, and thousands of tourists visit the city every year because of this feature. as the city is divided into two parts by bosphorus, lots of different boats and ferries thread across the sea to get people where they need to go, and they even get people across bosphorus and across the marmara sea too.
published: 23 November 2022 / updated: 7 March 2024Share
Let us see the different ferry and boat options in Istanbul together. In this crowded and lively life, the city of Istanbul has developed itself and managed to have exceptional transportation infrastructures. Thanks to these local transportation services, tourists who come to discover Istanbul do not lose their peace of mind while traveling quickly.
Types of Transport
Local transportation services in Istanbul are very diverse and are designed to meet the needs of everyone, local and foreign, regardless of the time. People from all over the city can quickly and cheaply use a local transportation service to discover Istanbul. Although the use of taxis and private vehicles is also quite common in the city, especially in recent years, people who want to escape from the city's traffic have given more weight to using local transportation services.
It is possible to choose local transportation services by land or by sea for transportation in Istanbul. By transferring between these vehicles, whichever transportation system is closer to the region where you live, you can quickly and easily get to the place you want to arrive. Discovering Istanbul will thus take place in a way that does not make you nervous, even though you are not very familiar with the city.
If you want to make your choice in favor of a land route for transportation in Istanbul, there are options such as metrobus, bus, metro, taxi, and tram. The metro is the fastest among these options due to its rail system and the most preferred by people living in Istanbul. The metro, bus, and tram stops are diverse and very developed, so you can clarify where you want to arrive before you go. Another system you can use to discover Istanbul is sea transportation, and it is the most convenient method for exploring the natural beauties of the city. Thanks to sea transportation, you can explore the Bosphorus, one of the most tourist-attracting areas of Istanbul and witness the unique greenery area.
Therefore, if you want both fast transportation and a peaceful travel option with a view, you should put the sea route for transportation in Istanbul in the first place. There are options such as sea taxi, steamboat, and ferry for those who want to travel by sea branch of local transport services. Istanbul even names the boat and ferries under service and uses some of the ones discarded as touristic attractions. The name of the boat and ferries may derive from important historical figures, attractions, or even artists!
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Seaway Transportation
One of the most popular tourist centers in Istanbul is the Princes’ Islands near the city, easily accessible via boat and ferries. Transportation to the islands has become more accessible than ever today thanks to such options as steamboats and ferries and is carried out almost every hour. In particular, Istanbul's City Line steamboats offer the opportunity to tour the Bosphorus at a low cost by departing from widely used piers such as Eminonu, Karakoy, Kadikoy, Uskudar, Besiktas.
Ferries are one of the most popular means of sea transportation in Istanbul besides steamboats. Ferries also depart from various piers, and they are also vehicles that can be used within the borders of the Marmara Region on intercity trips. Ferries have been operated by an institution called IDO for many years and provide short-term intercity trips by sea. If you want to explore the cities close to Istanbul and use the sea route while doing so, let's look at the detailed information about ferries.
Ferries And Boats
Istanbul Marine Enterprises (IDO) is one of the local transportation services in Istanbul and provides transportation for you to different places you want to explore in the Marmara Region. On Saturdays and weekdays, IDO Ferries provide transportation for Harem-Sirkeci lines between 05:00 in the morning and 11: 00 at night. If you want to take your vehicle with you when crossing from Istanbul to another city such as Bursa or Yalova, the use of a ferry is just for you. Ferries use the Harem-Sirkeci and Eskihisar-Topçular lines for their services, and the latter option is available 24 hours a day on weekdays.
Ferries stop at Eskihisar, Topçular, Yalova, Bandırma, Bursa, Marmara Island, Avşa Island, Çınarcık, Armutlu Holiday Village, Kumla and Esenköy piers in the Marmara Region. Sariyer, Besiktas, Bakırköy, Kabataş, Istinye, Sarıyer, Küçükçekmece, Sirkeci, Avcılar and Büyükçekmece are the piers where you can take the ferry on the European side of Istanbul. If you want to take the ferry from the Anatolian side, you can use the Harem, Kadıköy, Bostancı, Maltepe, Pendik, Kartal, Beykoz, Burgazada, Kınalıada, Heybeliada, Büyükada, and Tuzla piers.
Ferry tickets are 14,50 Turkish Liras. Still, if you own an Istanbulcard that you use for transportation within Istanbul, it is 14,50 TL for full tickets, 7,00 TL for students, and 10,50 TL for the social type of Istanbulkart. If you want to use the Harem-Sirkeci ferry line at these prices, you need to pay for the vehicles next to you, except for bicycles. For example, 20,00 TL is taken from motorcycles, 40,00 TL is taken from cars and minivans, and 46,00 TL is taken from minibusses. It is possible to get your ferry tickets from the IDO website, call centers, terminals, and the IDO Mobile application.
Frequently Asked Question
Are there boats in Istanbul?
Yes, boats are the main types of sea transportation in Istanbul.
What are ferry stops in Istanbul?
There are many ferry stops, including Kumla, Besiktas, Bakirkoy, Avcilar, Kartal, Buyukada and more.
When do ferries and boats operate in Istanbul?
Ferries operate from 5 AM in the morning to 11 PM in the evening.
Can you go to Princes’ Islands by ferry?
Yes, you can visit Princes’ Islands by ferry in Istanbul.
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The anglican church, used by the sri lankan anglican community, is located on serdari ekrem street, extending to the galip dede street in beyoğlu, istanbul.
Where is selamicesme? the selamicesme neighborhood of the kadikoy district is home to the selamicesme mosque. being one of the most well-known and adored neighborhoods on istanbul's asian side, getting there is not a problem. the marmaray and stepping out at the feneryolu stop are the most direct ways to travel to kadikoy from the european side of istanbul. selamicesme mosque is about a 5-minute walk from there.you can board one of the ferries that depart from eminonu for kadikoy if you prefer a more time-consuming yet enjoyable mode of transportation. by doing this, you can spend about 15 minutes admiring the stunning bosphorus strait while grabbing a cup of tea and some goodies from the store inside the ships. when you arrive at the kadikoy pier, seek the big yellow iett bus pick-up location, which is very close to the kadikoy pier. take the bus with the number 4 or the one with the 16d. to get to the selamicesme mosque, get out at the onsekiz mart stop and walk for 5 to 10 minutes. other things to do in and near kadikoy visit the moda neighborhood: the moda neighborhood is one of kadikoy's attractions that stands out from the rest. there is enough to do here to keep you busy for a full day. take a stroll along istanbul's moda coast to observe the bosphorus strait from one of the city's most picturesque and tranquil coastlines. you will unavoidably pass by a few tea gardens on the way there. choose one with a view of the bosphorus, and as you take in the scenery, order a cup of tea or turkish coffee. visit dondurmaci ali usta to sample any of the more than 50 types of delicious, all-natural ice cream for some of the best ice cream in turkey. next, board a tram and begin exploring kadikoy. you will observe the district's prevailing bohemian aesthetic during your trip. you can take a culinary walks kadikoy tour to enjoy turkish cuisine while touring one of the most well-liked neighborhoods on istanbul's asian side because kadikoy is home to a lot of fantastic restaurants where you can sample numerous dishes from the well-known turkish kitchen. visit moda stage theatre to see some of the finest works of turkish theater and cinema. the location for art lovers in kadikoy, there are various plays and movies being produced here, from well-known shows to more independent, arthouse films. after all of this, it might become a little bit late, but don't worry—kadikoy is recognized for having fantastic nightlife with a variety of top-notch bars and pubs. arkaoda is undoubtedly one of istanbul's top bars and a favorite among both locals and tourists. this establishment, which can be found on bar street, features fantastic live music, a wonderful ambiance, and a wide selection of top-notch drinks. viktor levi wine house provides more than 12 different varieties of wines prepared in their cellar if you prefer outstanding house wine over a few beers. the interior of the building is decorated with a variety of plants, adding to its elegant appearance. do you like rock music? so zincir bar is the spot for you. this inviting and welcoming tavern offers a wide selection of drinks and snacks at more reasonable prices than other bars around. are you prepared for another adventure? the following day, depart from the kadikoy dock and board a ferry to eminonu. once there, enter the historic neighborhood of fatih because there is much to learn about this area.
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Seaway Transportation
