Bosphorus public ferry or tourist cruise: which one fits your trip
What the Şehir Hatları Long Bosphorus Tour is
Şehir Hatları is Istanbul's municipal ferry company, the one that runs the commuter boats between Europe and Asia. Its Long Bosphorus Tour (Uzun Boğaz Turu) is a scheduled service, not a tour: it leaves from Eminönü, calls at piers on both shores and sails up to Anadolu Kavağı, the last village on the Asian side before the Black Sea. There the boat waits for a few hours before returning, which gives time to climb to the ruins of Yoros Castle above the village and eat fish by the harbour.
There is no guide and no commentary. Timetables and fares change by season and are published on sehirhatlari.istanbul, which is the only place to check them. We do not repeat them here because a copied timetable goes out of date without warning.
Istanbulkart and tickets for Bosphorus ferries
The Istanbulkart is the city's rechargeable transport card. It works on the T1 tram, the F1 funicular, the metro and the commuter ferries, so you will want one anyway if you move around on your own. The short commuter crossings, such as Karaköy to Kadıköy, Eminönü to Üsküdar or Beşiktaş to Üsküdar, cross the Bosphorus rather than sail along it, but they are the cheapest way to be on the water for a few minutes.
For the Long Bosphorus Tour, check on sehirhatlari.istanbul how tickets are sold for your date, whether by card or at the Eminönü pier, before assuming the Istanbulkart covers it.
Public ferry vs tourist Bosphorus cruise: what changes
Distance: the public ferry covers the strait to Anadolu Kavağı. Most tourist cruises stop well short of that. The operator of Bosphorus Cruise Boat Tour in Istanbul describes its 2-hour option turning at the Second Bridge.
Commentary: none on the ferry. Tourist cruises bring a live guide, as on Istanbul Bosphorus Sunset Cruise Experience on Luxury Yacht, or a multilingual audio guide, as on Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise Tour with Audio Guide, according to their listings.
Timing: the ferry keeps a fixed timetable. Tourist cruises offer daytime, sunset and night slots, and sunset departures follow the season.
Comfort and extras: the ferry is a public boat with public-boat seating. Tourist cruises add drinks, snacks or dinner, and some include hotel pickup.
Who should take the Bosphorus public ferry, and who should book a cruise
The public ferry fits independent travellers with a free day who want to see the northern villages, walk up to Yoros Castle and don't mind an early start from Eminönü. It suits a second visit to Istanbul better than a first.
A tourist cruise fits a short stay, a first visit, anyone who wants to know what they are looking at, and anyone who wants the sunset, which the public tour does not target. There is also a middle way: the operator of Best of Istanbul 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour includes a Bosphorus cruise by public ferry on day 2 of the tour, with a private guide on board, from $100. And if you want the full length with comfort, Istanbul Bosphorus &Black Sea Lunch Cruise with Swimming on Yacht sails five hours to Anadolu Kavağı according to its operator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the Bosphorus public ferry tour leave from?
From Eminönü, at the southern end of the Galata Bridge, on the T1 tram line. The Şehir Hatları Long Bosphorus Tour calls at piers on both shores and ends at Anadolu Kavağı, near the Black Sea end of a strait about 30 km long. Timetables are on sehirhatlari.istanbul.
How far north does the Bosphorus public ferry go?
To Anadolu Kavağı, the last village on the Asian shore before the Black Sea, which makes it one of the few ways to see the whole Bosphorus, about 30 km. Most tourist cruises of 2 hours turn at the Second Bridge. The boat waits at Anadolu Kavağı before returning, so there is time to walk up to Yoros Castle.
Can I use the Istanbulkart on a Bosphorus ferry?
Yes on the commuter ferries that cross the Bosphorus, such as Karaköy to Kadıköy or Eminönü to Üsküdar, and on the T1 tram and F1 funicular that take you to the piers. For the Long Bosphorus Tour, check on sehirhatlari.istanbul how tickets are sold for your date before assuming the card covers it.
Is the public ferry better than a Bosphorus tourist cruise?
For distance, yes, it goes all the way to Anadolu Kavağı. For a first visit, usually not: it has no guide, a fixed timetable and no sunset slot. A guided 2-hour cruise with daytime, sunset and night slots starts from $11.69, rated 4.9 across 2,033 reviews.
Does the Bosphorus public ferry have a guide or commentary?
No. It is a scheduled municipal service. If you want commentary on a budget, the sightseeing cruise with audio guide, from $11.69 with 762 reviews, offers a 1-hour or 2-hour option with a multilingual audio guide, according to its operator.
What are the Bosphorus public ferry timetable and fares?
They are published by Şehir Hatları on sehirhatlari.istanbul and change by season, so check there for your date. We do not copy them here, as of our check on 21 September 2026, because a copied timetable goes out of date without warning and a missed morning departure costs the whole day.