TurYol Ferryboats, Istanbul

A private boat owners' cooperative named TurYol operates a system of ferryboats in Istanbul parallel to that of the traditional IDO ferries.

If a traditional ferry goes there (map), a TurYol one probably does as well.

Though the IDO ferries have the more prominent "official" ferry docks, the TurYol docks are usually nearby.

For example, at the Eminönü ferry docks on the Golden Horn, the IDO ferries depart from docks on the east side of Galata Bridge, (toward the Bosphorus) and TurYol ferries depart from the west side (toward the Golden Horn), heading for Üsküdar, Kadiköy (and Haydarpasa), the Bosphorus and the Princes Islands.

Here's info on the 1-1/2-hour TurYol Bosphorus cruise, a viable alternative to the 6-hour traditional ferry cruise.

To take a TurYol ferry, go to Eminönü, make your way to the west (inland) side of the Galata Bridge on the south shore of the Golden Horn, and look for the cluster of TurYol boats, as well as for the terminal and ticket booth shown in the photos on the right side of this page. More...

Here's the TurYol website.

Traditional IDO Ferryboats

TurYol Bosphorus Cruise

Traditional Ferry Bosphorus Cruise

Bosphorus Cruise Highlights

Ferryboat Route Map

Princes Islands

Istanbul Transport

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Istanbul Restaurants

Istanbul Homepage

Above, TurYol boats lined up at their dock on the west side of Galata Bridge in Eminönü.
Below, signs to look for in Eminönü.