Turkey is a peninsula surrounded by seas on three sides. It is also located at a point where three continents meet. The development of maritime transportation has made this strategic position more effective. Ports are the gateways of a country's road and railway network to the world. Commercial goods transferred from the ports are distributed to the interior regions by highways and railways.
Sea transportation in Turkey is the most economical type of transportation while the cargo and passenger capacity of sea vehicles is quite high. Although port construction costs are high, once it is done, the ports can be used for many years. Besides, import and export processes between continents are easier and cheaper by sea.
Marmara Ferryboats and sea buses provide service between cities through the sea coasts. For instance, IDO voyages enable you to easily reach other cities such as Yalova, Bursa, Bandirma, or Iznik from the docks in Istanbul. For example, if you want to travel by ferryboats from Yenikapi port on the European side of Istanbul to Bursa, you can find a ticket for about for economy class is 56 TL/3,65 USD, business class is 101 TL/6,57 USD, first class is 650 TL/42,28 USD. You have to follow the hours on the website, but there are ferryboats and sea buses almost every day of the week.
The number of people traveling by sea in Istanbul was 644.851 per day in 2019.