Fast catamaran ferries speed between Istanbul and the towns of Yalova, Bursa (Güzelyalı), Bursa (Mudanya) and Bandırma on the south shore of the Sea of Marmara, connecting Istanbul with Bursa, İznik (Nicaea), and towns in the Aegean region (map).
There are more frequent departures in summer than in winter. Some ferries carry only foot passengers, some carry both cars and foot passengers.
In summer there are also İDO service connecting Istanbul with Avşa and Marmara islands.
Istanbul Docks
Three docks in Istanbul are used for the ferry services:
Kabataş Docks
Both İDO and BUDO catamaran passenger ferries use Istanbul‘s Kabataş docks on the Bosphorus at the northern end of the Bağcılar-Kabataş T1 tram line. If you don’t need a car ferry, Kabataş is probably the most convenient place to catch a ferry to Bursa. More…
Yenikapı Docks
İDO car ferries to Yalova, Bursa (Güzelyalı) and Bandırmause the Yenikapı Feribot Terminalı on the Sea of Marmaracoast.
Passenger-only İDO ferries serving other docks within Istanbul, and also Bandırma, use Yenikapı. (Passenger-only İDO ferries to Bursa (Güzelyalı) use Kabataş.) Ride the Marmaray from Üsküdar or Sirkeci to easily reach Yenikapı.
Kadıköy Docks
Mostly used by ferries traveling from one part of Istanbul to another, the Kadıköy docks are also used by some İDO passenger-only ferries serving Bursa (Güzelyalı)—they stop here on the route between Kabataş and Güzelyalı.
Passenger Ferries
Istanbul (Kabataş) & Bursa
Two companies, BUDO and İDO, operate ferries between Istanbul (Kabataş) and Bursa ports, making Kabataş the most convenient port for your trip from Istanbul to Bursa:
— İDO goes from Kabataş to Güzelyalı 4 to 6 times daily. More…
— BUDO goes from Kabataş to Mudanya. More…
From either of these ports you take a bus from the dock to the Bursaray (Bursa’s Metro) Emek station for the final leg of your trip to Bursa’s city center at Şehreküstü.
Istanbul (Kartal) & Yalova
Passenger-only ferries depart at least 3 times daily from Kartal, 20 km (12.5 miles) southeast of Kadıköy, to Yalova. (Note that the Pendik car ferry docks are only 5 km (3 miles) east of Kartal, with 12 sailings per day.)
Car Ferries
You don’t need a car to ride these ferries. Foot passengers are welcome as well. If the departure times of the passenger ferries described above do not work for you, a car ferry departure might.
Istanbul – Yalova Car Ferries
İDO car ferries depart both Istanbul (Yenikapı) and Yalova 6 times times daily. The voyage takes 75 minutes. More…
Pendik (Istanbul) – Yalova Car Ferries
A shorter, faster car ferry service from Istanbul‘s Asian suburb of Pendik runs 12 times daily to Yalova. Pendik-to-Yalova would be your better choice if you find yourself on the Asian side of the Bosphorus. The voyage takes only 40 minutes. More…
Istanbul – Bursa (Güzelyalı) Car Ferries
İDO car-and-passenger feribots connect Güzelyalı, near Bursa, with Istanbul‘s Yenikapı Feribot Terminalı, departing at least two times daily, making the voyage in 90 minutes. More…
Istanbul – Bandırma Car Ferries
At least one İDO car ferry makes the 2-hour voyage between Istanbul (Yenikapı) and Bandırma, with more voyages possible in summer, depending on the month and the day of the week. More…
Dardanelles Car Ferries
Conventional car ferries cross the Dardanelles between Gelibolu and Lapseki, and Eceabat and Çanakkale, frequently all day, and through the night. They can take any sort of vehicle up to and including 18-wheel tractor-trailer juggernauts. More…
—by Tom Brosnahan
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