Bosphorus Ferry Breakfast: Simit & Tea to Rumeli Kavağı
Simit, a glass of tea and a public ferry all the way north. Make room for a slower half-day on the water.
Like a Local · A morning on the Bosphorus
Passengers on the ŞH-Fatih ferry in Istanbul.
For a simple Bosphorus ferry breakfast, take the regular Eminönü–Rumeli Kavağı passenger ferry with a simit, then buy tea on board if the kiosk is open. Choose it when you want a long morning on the water and can spare most of a half-day. The breakfast is something you arrange yourself, rather than an included meal package.
Take the Şehir Hatları passenger ferry from Eminönü towards Rumeli Kavağı, sit outside if the weather and crew allow, and let the Bosphorus unfold. The ferry travels far beyond the area where many first-time visitors spend their days. We'd keep the plan simple: stay aboard to the northern terminus, take a short look around, and check your return separately.
Quick answer
The short version: Take the 09:35 Eminönü departure (published Winter timetable 2026–27), reaching Rumeli Kavağı at 11:25. Disembark, have a look around the harbour, and — if you prefer returning by ferry — check the 13:15 Rumeli Kavağı return, scheduled to arrive at Eminönü at 14:55. All times are Istanbul local time. Şehir Hatları timetable checked 14 October 2026. Recheck the timetable below and confirm any same-day notices at the pier.
Start in Eminönü. Stay on to Rumeli Kavağı.
Your route, at a glance
One ferry north, a waterfront break, then a separately boarded ferry back. Keep this plan handy on the day.
See where you’re going
Your ferry route on the Istanbul map
Follow the European shore north. The numbers on the map match the stops in the list.
09:35 sailing · Stops in order
- 1EminönüBoard here
- 2BeşiktaşStay aboard
- 3OrtaköyStay aboard
- 4ArnavutköyStay aboard
- 5EmirganStay aboard
- 6İstinyeStay aboard
- 7BüyükdereStay aboard
- 8SarıyerStay aboard
- 9Rumeli KavağıGet off here
Select a number or stop to highlight it on the map.
This sailing skips Bebek. All 9 stops are on the European shore. Stay aboard until stop 9.
View the full timetable ↓- Aim for 09:10 · Suggested arrival
Find the Eminönü departure pier
Go to the Şehir Hatları waterfront piers in Eminönü. Buy simit and have your Istanbulkart ready. Ask staff: “Rumeli Kavağı vapuru nereden kalkıyor?” (Where does the Rumeli Kavağı ferry depart?)
Walk to the Eminönü pier area ↗The map opens the pier area. Confirm the exact boarding gate with staff and the departure board; Eminönü has several piers.
- 09:35 → 11:25 · 1 hr 50 min
Board for Rumeli Kavağı
Look for Eminönü → Rumeli Kavağı. Stay aboard through the intermediate stops. Choose a permitted rear-deck seat if available, and buy tea if the kiosk is open.
Do not board at Karaköy. Check that the sailing reaches Rumeli Kavağı; some departures end at Sarıyer.
- 11:25 · Get off at the terminus
Explore the Rumeli Kavağı waterfront
Disembark at Rumeli Kavağı on the European shore. Keep your break around the harbour and waterfront so you can easily find the pier again. This is not Anadolu Kavağı across the water.
Save the Rumeli Kavağı pier ↗ - 13:15 → 14:55 · Return sailing
Come back to Eminönü
Return to the Rumeli Kavağı pier before departure and confirm Eminönü on the return board. Board and pay for this journey separately; do not assume you can stay on the outbound vessel.
Walk back to the Rumeli Kavağı pier ↗
Allow half a day: 5 hr 20 min from the first departure to your return, plus time to reach the pier. All times are Istanbul local time; timetable checked 14 October 2026. Recheck sailings and notices before leaving.
timetable belowThis is a local ferry, not a guided cruise. There is no guaranteed sightseeing narration, reserved outdoor seat, meal package or uninterrupted round trip. The ferry can be busy, open decks are weather-dependent and you must disembark at the terminus.
Why take the ferry beyond the first Bosphorus bridge?
The area around Sultanahmet, Dolmabahçe and Ortaköy is familiar to many visitors. But the Bosphorus extends north of the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, sometimes called the First Bosphorus Bridge, towards the Black Sea. Waterfront neighbourhoods, piers, trees and working harbours offer a different perspective as you travel.
The appeal is the changing shoreline and the time to watch it. The northern waterfront is a different setting from the central sightseeing stretch; how quiet it feels will depend on the day. Ekrem's suggestion below is an editorial preference, rather than a claim about who lives or travels on either side of the bridge.
Ekrem's Local Note If I were showing a friend the Bosphorus, I wouldn't rush to get off at the first interesting stop. I'd sit at the back with simit and tea and stay on the ferry all the way to Rumeli Kavağı. South of the first bridge is the Istanbul most visitors already know. North of it, you begin to see another side — quieter neighbourhood scenes, changing shores and a feeling that the city is still unfolding.
— Ekrem Gül, Editor · DoInIstanbul
Eminönü to Rumeli Kavağı: the ferry breakfast, step by step
09:10 — Arrive at the correct Eminönü pier
This is a suggested arrival time, not an operator check-in requirement. Aim to be early enough to identify the departure pier, load your Istanbulkart and buy a fresh simit from a nearby bakery or vendor. This route departs from Eminönü, not Karaköy; being on the wrong waterfront pier can mean missing the boat. Follow the current Şehir Hatları boarding signs rather than relying on the appearance of the pier in a photograph.
09:35 — Let the Bosphorus come to you
After boarding, find a permitted spot towards the open aft (rear) deck, weather and availability permitting. Buy a glass of tea from the onboard kiosk if it is operating, and unwrap your simit. If outdoor seating is unavailable, choose a safe indoor seat with a view. Never block doors, crew working areas or emergency access.
As the boat heads north, enjoy the changing waterfront without treating every passing landmark as a checklist. The 09:35 sailing calls at Beşiktaş, Ortaköy, Arnavutköy, Emirgan, İstinye, Büyükdere, Sarıyer before Rumeli Kavağı. This sailing skips Bebek. See each sailing’s stops in the timetable below.
11:25 — Reach Rumeli Kavağı
Rumeli Kavağı is a northern Bosphorus waterfront neighbourhood in Sarıyer. Step off at the terminus, enjoy the harbour and, if you wish, find another tea. Treat this as an ordinary working neighbourhood rather than a staged tourist attraction. Be respectful of residents, working boats and private spaces.
13:15 — Return if you want a full ferry day
The published return departs Rumeli Kavağı at 13:15 and reaches Eminönü at 14:55. You must get off at the terminus; do not assume the outbound vessel is automatically available for a stay-on-board return. Confirm the return pier and service on the day, as weather or operational changes can affect sailings.
The journey from 09:35 to 14:55 is approximately 5 hr 20 min including the time ashore, not a two-hour round-trip cruise. If you have only two or three days in Istanbul, choose this as a deliberate half-day replacement for other plans, not an extra stop to squeeze into a packed itinerary.
Eminönü–Rumeli Kavağı: full ferry timetable
Important: Not every Eminönü ferry on this line reaches Rumeli Kavağı; some services terminate at Sarıyer. These are published timetable times from the official operator, checked 14 October 2026, not guaranteed departures on your travel date. The Winter timetable 2026–27 is announced for 7 September 2026–27 June 2027. Recheck timetable below and any service alerts before leaving your hotel.
Bosphorus ferry breakfast cost: fare, simit and tea
The Şehir Hatları published full Istanbulkart Bosphorus line fare is 76.90 TL, checked 14 October 2026. The operator states that distance-based refunds can apply to eligible routes when the card is tapped at exit refund machines within the specified window; check the relevant conditions rather than assuming a fixed final charge for every passenger. At that published full fare, two separately charged ferry journeys total 153.80 TL before any eligible refund or concession. This is a planning calculation, not a guaranteed final debit. Simit, tea and any Istanbulkart purchase or top-up costs are separate; no food price is confirmed here. Fares can change: see the fare information below.
Use our Istanbulkart guide to plan buying and topping up your card. Don't build your budget around a discount or refund until you know that its conditions apply to your card and journey.
A few practical things to know
- Simit and tea: Buy simit ashore if you want to be certain of having it. Tea service on board depends on kiosk operation; don't assume a particular menu or price.
- Where to sit: We love the rear deck, but no seat or deck access is guaranteed. Dress for wind even on a sunny morning.
- Weather: Ferries can be delayed, rerouted or cancelled. Check the timetable below shortly before you set out.
- Accessibility: Pier ramps, gangways and outdoor decks vary. Check your specific departure with the operator if step-free access is essential.
- Children: Keep children supervised near open-deck areas and follow crew instructions.
- Boarding: Check for the Eminönü → Rumeli Kavağı direction; Karaköy is not a stop on this route.
- Photography: Show respect for passengers and residents. Historic images in this article do not show today's service conditions.
Regular passenger ferry or Bosphorus sightseeing tour?
Choose this regular ferry if you like independent travel, a slower local atmosphere and a low-cost day on the water. Choose an organised sightseeing cruise if you want a shorter packaged experience, a particular departure time or an on-board guide. Neither is automatically better for everyone.
Do not confuse this route with the dedicated Şehir Hatları Long Bosphorus Tour to Anadolu Kavağı. Rumeli Kavağı and Anadolu Kavağı are different destinations, and the sightseeing tour has its own timetable and ticket conditions. This guide describes the regular Eminönü–Rumeli Kavağı passenger line.
For a broader comparison, see our Bosphorus cruise guide. For other city crossings and route choices, use our Istanbul ferry transport guide.
How to fit it into three days in Istanbul
If you have three days, decide whether your last day is for neighbourhood walks or a long Bosphorus outing. The long simit-and-tea ferry journey is a good alternative if the Bosphorus is your priority and you prefer public transport. Replace most of Day 3 with it. Don't add a full breakfast venue, both neighbourhood walks and the 5 hr 20 min ferry outing on the same day.
Questions travellers ask
Do I need to book this public ferry in advance?
This is a scheduled passenger route, not a privately reserved sightseeing package. Check the operator's current fare, payment and boarding rules. You should not assume reserved seating.
Can I board at Karaköy?
Not on this service. The published Eminönü–Rumeli Kavağı route lists Eminönü, not Karaköy, as its central starting pier.
Is the entire journey a non-stop cruise?
No. The ferry makes several passenger stops, and some departures have different stopping patterns. At Rumeli Kavağı you disembark, then return on an applicable later sailing.
Can I just drink tea and enjoy the view without getting off earlier?
Yes — if the ferry is operating normally, you can stay on until its final stop at Rumeli Kavağı. That's Ekrem's suggested way to enjoy the route. Seating remains first-come, subject to crew direction.
Is this suitable for a rainy or windy day?
An indoor seat may be more comfortable, but delays or cancellations are possible. Check official notices; don't plan a tight onward connection.
How long is the Eminönü–Rumeli Kavağı ferry ride?
The published 09:35 departure takes 1 hr 50 min to Rumeli Kavağı. Pairing it with the 13:15 return means 5 hr 20 min from your outbound departure to your arrival back at Eminönü, including time ashore. Allow extra time before boarding and for disruption.
Is breakfast included in the ferry fare?
No breakfast package is included in this plan. Buy your simit ashore and pay separately for tea if the onboard kiosk is open. No particular menu, price or seat is guaranteed.
Does this ferry take me to Anadolu Kavağı?
No. This passenger route ends at Rumeli Kavağı on the European shore. The dedicated Long Bosphorus Tour to Anadolu Kavağı is a different service with separate timetable and ticket conditions.
Plan your ferry morning
Check the departure, destination and return before you leave. Buy your simit ashore, have your Istanbulkart ready and keep the rest of the day flexible. For the next practical step, read our Istanbul ferry guide or Istanbulkart guide.
