Practical · checked 30 Sep 2026
Istanbul ferries
Public ferries run by Şehir Hatları cross the Bosphorus all day and are the cheapest way to see the city from the water. Regular lines are paid with an İstanbulkart; the Bosphorus tours have separate fares, double for foreign passengers.
Winter timetable 7 Sep 2026 – 27 Jun 2027. Night services (00:30–05:30) cost double.
Bosphorus tours
| Tour | Foreign | Local |
|---|---|---|
| Long Bosphorus Tour, return | 640 TL (≈ €12) | 320 TL (≈ €5.8) |
| Long Bosphorus Tour, one way | — | 195 TL (≈ €3.5) |
| Long tour, under 12, return | — | 160 TL (≈ €2.9) |
| Long tour, under 12, one way | — | 100 TL (≈ €1.8) |
| Short Bosphorus Tour | 340 TL (≈ €6.1) | 170 TL (≈ €3.1) |
| Short tour, under 12 | — | 85 TL (≈ €1.5) |
| Moonlight Tour, return | 730 TL (≈ €13) | 365 TL (≈ €6.6) |
Children aged 0–6 travel free on the tours. Where the foreign column is empty the operator publishes no separate foreign fare.
Long tour timetable (daily)
| Outward | Time | Return | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eminönü | 10:35 | Anadolu Kavağı | 15:00 |
| Beşiktaş | 10:50 | Rumeli Kavağı | 15:10 |
| Üsküdar | 11:05 | Sarıyer | 15:20 |
| Kanlıca | 11:35 | Kanlıca | 15:40 |
| Sarıyer | 12:05 | Üsküdar | 16:10 |
| Rumeli Kavağı | 12:15 | Beşiktaş | 16:25 |
| Anadolu Kavağı | 12:25 | Eminönü | 16:40 |
Break at Anadolu Kavağı until the 15:00 return. Short tour: Eminönü 14:40 → Üsküdar 14:55 → Ortaköy 15:10; its return times could not be read clearly from the operator's table.
Sources: Şehir Hatları — tour fares · long tour timetable · short tour timetable · winter timetable notice
Cross-city lines (İstanbulkart)
| Line | Full fare |
|---|---|
| Karaköy – Kadıköy | 65.21 TL (≈ €1.2) |
| Eminönü – Kadıköy / Beşiktaş – Kadıköy | 65.21 TL (≈ €1.2) |
| Kadıköy – Kabataş distance-based | 62.70 TL (≈ €1.1) |
| Üsküdar – Eminönü | 58.52 TL (≈ €1.1) |
| Bosphorus line distance-based | 76.90 TL (≈ €1.4) |
| Multi-stop lines (more than 3 piers, not the Islands) | 76.90 TL (≈ €1.4) |
| Ortaköy – Üsküdar distance-based | 51.81 TL (≈ €0.9) |
| Ortaköy – Kadıköy distance-based | 71.07 TL (≈ €1.3) |
| Üsküdar – Kadıköy distance-based | 62.70 TL (≈ €1.1) |
| Beykoz – Sarıyer distance-based | 61.04 TL (≈ €1.1) |
| Çengelköy – Kuzguncuk – Beşiktaş – Kabataş distance-based | 61.85 TL (≈ €1.1) |
| Golden Horn lines (Beşiktaş, Kadıköy, Üsküdar) distance-based | 76.90 TL (≈ €1.4) |
| Bostancı – Moda – Karaköy – Kabataş distance-based | 76.90 TL (≈ €1.4) |
| Üsküdar – Aşiyan | 68.53 TL (≈ €1.2) |
| Aşiyan – Anadolu Hisarı – Küçüksu distance-based | 50.15 TL (≈ €0.9) |
| İstinye – Çubuklu | 50.15 TL (≈ €0.9) |
Distance-based lines charge the full amount on boarding; tap your card on the reader at the exit pier within 120 minutes to get the difference back. Transfer discounts onto the ferry apply only to personalised cards.
Source: Şehir Hatları — fares, checked 30 Sep 2026.
Princes' Islands
Boats to the Islands leave from Kabataş, Kadıköy, Beşiktaş, Bostancı and Maltepe (and Tuzla–Pendik to Büyükada). Visitors pay the full fare of 151.23 TL (≈ €2.7) per trip on an İstanbulkart; there is no refund system and no transfer discount on these lines.
Not verified Island timetables — check at the pier or on the operator's site.