Istanbul's ferries: Between continents, stories and everyday life on the water

In Istanbul, countless ferries travel between Europe and Asia every day. They are far more than just a means of transportation: they are part of the urban lifestyle, a link between cultures and histories. Every year, over 40 million people use the city's ferry lines — commuters, tourists, musicians, dreamers.

Istanbul now has a population of around 16 million. In such a densely populated metropolis, the ferries offer a calming alternative to crowded streets. With travel times ranging from 10 minutes to several hours, they become a daily mobile oasis, a meeting place — or a stage for musicians.

A musician plays the guitar on the ferry while the other passengers listen to him attentively. "I think it's the most beautiful stage in the world," he says. The ships offer him both an audience and inspiration. For many artists, the ferries are a place where they can show themselves and combine everyday life with art.

A fully occupied ferry departs from the Eminonu terminal on the Golden Horn. Even in the Ottoman Empire, waterways were used for trade, transportation and war. Constantinople was a crossroads between East and West. This maritime tradition continues in Istanbul's ferries today, which see water not as an obstacle but as a lifeline.

The oldest ferries still in operation date from the 1950s and 1960s. Originally built to connect the two banks of the Bosphorus, they were part of an extensive transportation network in the Ottoman Empire. In addition to civilian purposes, they were also used for military transportation. Today they are floating monuments to living history.

A traveler from Morocco experiences her first crossing as a magical moment. “It's very special to travel from one shore to the other and see the monuments,” she says. The ferry becomes the gateway to a city where modern and ancient history are seamlessly combined.

One passenger is engrossed in his book. “I love the sea,” says another, who has lived in Istanbul for several years. For many, the ferries are more than just a means of transportation — they are transformed into floating offices. Laptops are opened, phones ring, voices mingle with the roar of the engines. The crossing becomes a productive break between two worlds.

Two women enjoy the crossing on the open deck of a ferry to the Princes' Islands. Ships depart several times a day from landing stages such as Kabataş, Eminonu or Kadıkoy to the car-free islands of Buyukada, Heybeliada, Burgazada and Kınalıada. The fastest connection takes around an hour — a trip to a quieter world, just a ferry ride away from the hustle and bustle of Istanbul.

A passenger lies on the benches and takes a nap. “When you travel by ferry, you get your energy back,” says a passenger. For many Istanbul residents, the ships are a refuge — a place to pause and take a deep breath. The view across the Bosphorus, the screeching of the seagulls and golden sunsets provide moments of quiet relaxation.

Istanbul's ferries not only connect two continents, but also past and present, work and everyday life, noise and silence. They are floating symbols of a city where movement never means standstill — but carries stories, day after day, wave after wave.