Eminönü Ferry Docks, Istanbul

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The Eminönü waterfront, at the southern end of the Galata Bridge over the Golden Horn just north of Sirkeci Railway Station, is the major dock for ferryboats that cross the Bosphorus to and from the Asian suburbs of Üsküdar, Haydarpasa, and Kadiköy (map).

The docks are being reorganized and new terminals constructed, so the information below may have changed somewhat by the time you arrive.

The Turkish word for dock is iskele(si) (from the Italian scala). The docks are clearly marked with the Asian destinations of the boats that depart from them (from east to west):

Adalar Feribot Iskelesi
This small dock, a bit more difficult to see than the others, is to the right (east) of the car ferry dock. It's the terminus for traditional Istanbul ferryboats to the Princes' Islands (Adalar). Other ferries to the islands depart from the Kabatas ferry docks north on the European shore of the Bosphorus.

Harem Feribot Iskelesi
This car ferry also takes passengers across the Bosphorus to the Harem Otogar, the intercity bus terminal on the Asian side.

Üsküdar Iskelesi
Frequent ferries cruise across to Üsküdar, the principal Asian suburb, once called Scutari. If you just want to take a short cruise across the Bosphorus, hop aboard, and ride it right back if you like.

Kadiköy Iskelesi
The suburb of Kadiköy is not of much interest to most visitors, but this ferry also frequently stops at Haydarpasa Railway Station, the terminus for trains to and from Anatolia (ie, most of Turkey). If you're going to the station, be sure to ask if the ferry stops there. Otherwise, you'll have to take a short taxi ride from Kadiköy to get there. (Ferries from Karaköy/Galata, at the northern end of the Galata Bridge, also go to Haydarpasa and Kadiköy.)

Bogaz Iskelesi
Bogaz (boh-AHZ, "throat, strait") means the Bosphorus, so this is the dock for those daily Touristic Bosphorus Cruise ferries.

Istanbul Deniz Otobüsleri
This dock, just east of Galata Bridge, is for fast catamaran ferries to bedroom suburbs.

TURYOL FERRIES
On the Golden Horn (west) side of Galata Bridge, the TurYol ferryboat signs are equally clear and straightforward. To get to the TurYol docks, you'll probably have to use a pedestrian underpass (yaya alt geçidi), either under the Galata Bridge or under the roadway.