The Eminönü waterfront, at the southern end of the Galata Bridge over the Golden Horn just north of Sirkeci Train Station (map), is a major dock for ferryboats that cross the Bosphorus to and from the Asian suburbs of Üsküdar, Haydarpaşa, and Kadıköy, and for the car ferry to Harem on the Asian shore.
The Turkish word for dock is iskele(si) (from the Italian scala). Here's the rundown on the docks for Bosphorus cruises and Asian-shore destinations, and here's a map.
Eminönü Haliç İskelesi
This small wooden dock building, boarding-point for Şehir Hatları Golden Horn ferries, is a bit difficult to find. Walk west past all the TurYol docks to near the prominent T. C. Istanbul Ticaret Üniversitesi building. Here's more onGolden Horn ferry cruises.
TurYol Eminönü İskelesi
TurYol boats for Bosphorus cruise, Üsküdar, Haydarpaşa & Kadıköy. TurYol ferryboat signs are clear and straightforward. To walk from the Şehir Hatları docks on the east side of Galata Bridge to the TurYol docks on the west side, use the pedestrian underpass (yaya alt geçidi), either under the Galata Bridge or under the roadway.
Boğaz İskelesi
(Bosphorus Cruise Dock)
Boğaz (boh-AHZ, "throat, strait") means the Bosphorus, so this is the dock for those daily Şehir Hatları Bosphorus Cruise ferries. Also here, the Boğaziçi YolTur dock, another choice for a 1-1/2-hour Bosphorus cruise, departing frequently.
Üsküdar İskelesi
Officially the Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi İskelesi, it handles requent Şehir Hatları ferries cruise across to Üsküdar on the Asian shore. If you just want to take a short cruise across the Bosphorus, hop aboard, and ride it right back if you like.
Kadıköy İskelesi
Şehir Hatları ferries to Kadıköy every 15 or 20 minutes from this dock, named for Evliya Çelebi. Ferries from Karaköy/Galata, at the northern end of the Galata Bridgealso go to Kadıköy.
Katib Çelebi İskelesi
This was supposed to be the permanent dock for Şehir Hatları Bosphorus Cruise ferries, but became a bookstore and gift shop instead.
Harem Araba İskelesi
This car ferry also takes passengers across the Bosphorusto the Harem Otogar, the intercity bus terminal on the Asian shore.
Sarayburnu İskelesi
Sometimes used to moor larger ships.
TurYol Karaköy İskelesi
TurYol ferries to Üsküdar & Kadıköy, and in summer, Bosphorus cruise and Princes Islands (Adalar).
Karaköy İskelesi
Şehir Hatları ferries to Kadıköy on the Asian shore every 15 to 20 minutes.
Galataport
Galataport is a large pier for international cruise ships and also a shopping center. If you are coming to Istanbul with a cruise ship or joining a cruise ship from here, Galataport will be your destination.
Salıpazarı Cruise Ship Dock
Until Galataport was built, Salıpazarı was used for cruise ships. Walk to the Tophane stop of the Bağcılar-Kabataş tram for easy, inexpensive transport to major sightseeing areas.
Kabataş İskelesi
Kabataş pier is a central pier that provides transportation to various parts of Istanbul, serving the City Lines. There is also a Dentur Pier next to it. You can easily reach here by using the Bağcılar-Kabataş tram.
Yenikapı Feribot Terminali
İDO seabuses within Istanbul, and fast catamaran car ferries across the Sea of Marmara to Yalova, Bursa and Bandırma.
Harem Car Ferry Dock
Asian dock for car ferries to Eminönü (Dock 7). The Harem Otogar (Intercity Bus Terminal) is also here.
Kadıköy İskelesi
Şehir Hatları, TurYol & Dentur Avrasya ferries to Eminönü, Karaköy, Kabataş, Beşiktaş and Princes Islands (Adalar), Havataş and E10 & E11 city airport buses to Sabiha Gökçen Airport, Metro to Kartal.
Üsküdar İskelesi
Şehir Hatları, TurYol & Dentur Avrasya ferries to Eminönü, Karaköy and Beşiktaş, Marmaray to Sirkeci and Yenikapı Feribot Terminali.
Beşiktaş İskelesi
Şehir Hatları & Dentur Avrasya ferries to many places in İstanbul.
Bostancı İskelesi
İDO seabuses to Yenikapı, and other seabus docks, and İDOand Şehir Hatları ferries to the Princes Islands.
—by Tom Brosnahan
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