Ferry from Greece to Turkey
 

The sticky post for Turkey is a bit out of date, so:

Any information on the ferries from Greece to Turkey?

I've found several websites, but which ones to trust?

Looks like a 14 -18 hour trip, three times a week.

If I'm riding through Greece from North to South, does it make sense to take the ferry to Turkey, or drive back North again? If the ferry is worth it, I'll be leaving Turkey through Istanbul and up through Bulgaria/Romania.

Can I get the permits and insurance at the port in Turkey, or do I really need to go through the Northern roads?

'Greece to Turkey'. Given how spread out Greece is across various islands, it would help if you were a bit more specific on ports.

What is this 14-18 hour trip? From where to where?

Information from this year (I travelled with a car in April/May).

There are 4 car ferry routes:
Lesbos - Ayvalik
Chios - Cesme
Samos - Kusadasi
Kos - Bordum.

Of the four routes, only the top two are year round I think, and you don't state when you wish to travel.

There are no ferries from mainland Greece to Turkey.

'If the ferry is worth it'? Do you mean worth the saving in cost? Time? Or if the experience of using the ferry in itself 'worth it'?

The international ferries are not cheap, a lot more than the local ferries. Again, you don't mention where you mean by the south of Greece - if southern mainland, I think driving to Turkey would be cheaper and easier. If you are in Crete or the Dodecanese Islands, taking a ferry to Kos and on to Bordum might be cheaper - but that only works in summer.

Unlike the internal ferries, the information online on the international ferries is not very clear and for vehicle travel I think you need to book in person.

I travelled Turkey to Greece - I think you'll need to have insurance (Green card with Turkey valid) before you reach Turkey. In Bodrum cruise port for example, I didn't see an insurance agent.

EO

Yes...I didn't give much information because I don't have much information.

It would probably be in June that I would like to travel. The maps show a ferry from Piraeus, Greece (mainland) to Izmir, Turkey, but I can't find information about it other than some blogs that say 3 times a week and 14-18 hours. But, I couldn't find a website for that ferry line at the time I was looking....and I don't remember what blog I found that information.

So, I'll be looking again. I thought someone here may have done it in the last few years and still have information.

You can go from Piraeus to Cesme but it will be on two ferries with different companies and different tickets, stopping over in Chios.

There is no direct ferry from Athens to Izmir, this Tripadvisor post from 11 years ago confirms the same, and the trend for ferries is almost universally a decline in routes. Plus Greece - Turkey relations are not great at present.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopi...on_Attica.html

The excellent website 'Turkey Travel Planner' confirms the same:

https://turkeytravelplanner.com/tran.../tk-italy.html

Note that the Rhodes - Marmaris route was not carrying cars in 2024 (I confirmed this myself earlier in the year).

To get an idea of sailings you'll need to check schedules for the specific international routes I mention in my previous post, and they are all oeprated by small local (I think usually Turkish) operators.

Excellent information.

Thank you.

Earlier this year I did Greece (Piraeus) to Kos and Kos to Turkey (Bodrum). The two countries aren't best of friends so as far as I know there are no direct ferries, only via the islands. There is also one via Chios to Cesme.

I'd certainly recommend the Kos route, it's a lovely island to spend a week (but will be rather crowded with tourists in June) and the ferries to Bodrum are daily. However note it's a rather small boat that will only fit 2 cars so book your desired sailing date asap. There is a ticket sales kiosk at Kos port (ask at the gate). You cannot buy Turkish road insurance on arrival, in fact they will demand to see it before letting you on the boat. If you don't have a green card covering the country the guy in the ticket office can arrange it for you, but it takes a few days so allow time.

The Piraeus-Kos ferry is operated by Blue Star Ferries and is a late sailing. Get a cabin, the open seating is murder.

Mrs Trip & I are planning to go from Athens to Cesme via Chisos in late April. I came across this site that will provide green card for Turkey in advance.

https://ikamet.com/comprehensive-gui...nce-in-turkey/

That's the ferry I took in April. Just my car and a Hummer H2. I believe the ferry actually takes 4 cars.

I sailed in the opposite direction and had a terrible time convincing a knuckle-headed Turkish ticket agent that having a European-registered car, I did not need a Green Card (and in fact can't get one from our useless British insurance companies). The ticket agent at the cruise port was thankfully smarter and let me pass.

I was surprised by Kos - I thought it would be a pretty low-brow resort island but found it to be a beautiful green jewel (with stunning views from its highest point) and I loved the fascist-era Italian architecture in the capital.

is it worth it to take a ferry if i haven't been on one before?