The most beautiful ferry rides in Istanbul (with the Istanbulkart)

In Istanbul, the ferry is not an excursion reserved for tourists: it is public transport, which residents take every day to cross the Bosphorus. For the price of a tram ride, you get a view of mosques, palaces and both shores, with a glass of tea and a simit in your hand. This guide ranks the most beautiful rides, gives their fares with the Istanbulkart and the points to check before leaving. Fares are those found in October 2026; they change with the summer fare increases, and timetables change with the seasons: always check the Şehir Hatları website or app (sehirhatlari.istanbul).

How to take a public ferry

A Şehir Hatları ferry at the Kadıköy pier

Şehir Hatları ferries, and those of private companies such as Turyol on some lines, accept the Istanbulkart, the rechargeable card that also works on trams and metros: see our guide to transport in Istanbul to buy and top it up. You tap the validator at the pier entrance, then board; the outer decks are the best seats. Luggage over 50 litres or 30 kg is charged for.

Fares for the most useful routes with the Istanbulkart, from our transport guide (October 2026):

Route	Fare
Eminönü or Karaköy – Kadıköy	65.21 TL
Eminönü – Üsküdar	58.52 TL
Kabataş – Üsküdar	51.81 TL
Beşiktaş – Üsküdar	50.15 TL
Princes' Islands	151.23 TL

Allow 25 to 30 minutes from Eminönü to Kadıköy with the Karaköy stop, and about 20 minutes from Beşiktaş to Kadıköy.

1. Eminönü – Kadıköy: the classic

A Şehir Hatları ferry on the Bosphorus, heading for Kadıköy

The simplest crossing and one of the most beautiful. The boat passes near the Galata Bridge and its anglers before heading out. Leaving from Eminönü or Karaköy, you see behind you the silhouettes of Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapı, then, as you approach the Asian shore, the Maiden's Tower and Haydarpaşa station. On arrival, Kadıköy and its market are a short walk from the pier. Come back at the end of the day: the return crossing, with the setting sun on the old city, is one of the most beautiful images of the city.

2. Eminönü – Üsküdar: Sinan's mosques and the Maiden's Tower

The crossing to Üsküdar is shorter and leads to a district of Ottoman mosques facing the pier. On the way, the Maiden's Tower appears on its islet at the entrance to the Bosphorus; the boats to reach it leave from Salacak and Karaköy, not from these regular ferries.

3. The Golden Horn: from Karaköy to Eyüp

A regular ferry goes up the Golden Horn, with stops in several districts along the shore: you pass the old districts of Balat and Fener and get off at Eyüp, at the foot of Pierre Loti Hill. It is a less well-known ride than the Bosphorus, but one of the quietest: check the line, the stops and the day's timetable on the Şehir Hatları site, as the service varies with the seasons.

4. The Princes' Islands

The ferry to the Princes' Islands leaves from several piers depending on the line (Kabataş, among others) and takes more than an hour depending on the stop: check the pier and the day's timetable. The ride is worth it by itself: the Sea of Marmara, the old city's skyline receding, gulls following the boat. The fare found is 151.23 TL with the Istanbulkart (October 2026). Leave early on fine days: weekend ferries are full.

5. The long cruise to Anadolu Kavağı

A Şehir Hatları ferry approaching the Eminönü pier

The big ride: the Şehir Hatları Uzun Boğaz Turu goes up the whole Bosphorus from Eminönü to Anadolu Kavağı, with stops at Beşiktaş, Üsküdar, Kanlıca, Sarıyer and Rumeli Kavağı. Winter 2026-2027 timetable: departure from Eminönü at 10:35, arrival at Anadolu Kavağı around 12:25, return at 15:00, arrival at Eminönü around 16:40, every day. Allow 6 hours in total, including about 2 h 30 at the stop for lunch and the climb to Yoros Castle: see our page on Anadolu Kavağı and Yoros Castle.

Long cruise fares (October 2026): 640 TL return for foreign passengers, with the local fare half as high; children under 6 travel free. For details, alternatives (short cruise, private boats) and tips, read our page on the Bosphorus cruise.

Tips for enjoying the ferry

The best seats: the outer decks, on the old-city side on the way out; arrive early for the long cruise.
Food and drink: tea served on board, simit: prices on board are reasonable; do not feed the gulls too much.
Timetables: they change with the season and the day of the week, and the last departures are in the evening: check the last return before crossing.
Avoid the rush hour: on weekdays, between 8:00 and 9:30 and from 17:00, the ferries are full of commuters.
Weather: crossings are sometimes disrupted by strong wind or fog; plan an alternative (Marmaray, tram).

What to look for from the deck

From the water, look for the Galata Tower, the Süleymaniye Mosque, Dolmabahçe Palace and, further north, the fortresses of Rumeli Hisarı and Anadolu Hisarı: the Maiden's Tower and the wooden villages of the European shore complete the picture.