Ferry fares to the islands
All fares below come from İBB's public transport fare tariffs, section F, which applies from 20 July 2026. The full fare is what a visitor pays with an ordinary İstanbulkart or QR ticket.
| Service | Full fare | Adakart holders |
|---|---|---|
| Şehir Hatları and private sea buses (Adalar) | 151.23 TL | 90.70 TL |
| İDO Kabataş–Adalar, Yenikapı–Adalar–Kadıköy | 272.18 TL | 209.47 TL |
| İDO Bostancı–Adalar | 171.89 TL | 113.30 TL |
Two details change the arithmetic:
- No transfer discount on the island ferries. The tariff lists 151.23 TL both for a first boarding and for a transfer. On ordinary city lines a transfer is charged less than the 46.20 TL first boarding (34.40 TL for the first transfer), but that saving does not reach the Adalar boats.
- The ferry operators' timetables were not readable when we checked. The Şehir Hatları site returned an error and the İDO site loads its schedules by script, so this guide gives no departure times. Check the operator's app or the pier board for the last boat back before you set off.
The tariff also notes that services to the Adalar district follow the district's own transport and logistics directive, which is why island fares and rules differ from the rest of the city.
Getting around Büyükada
İETT's Adalar Q&A describes the island network. On Büyükada, lines BA-1, BA-4 and BA-5 are local lines to residential areas, and BA-2 is a touristic ring around the island. The tour line starts at 09:00 and further services are added according to demand. İETT also says there is no Grand Tour, because of forest conservation measures, and points visitors to small metered vehicles it calls "Adamini", paid at the end of the ride.
The İBB tariff prices the island services as follows (section 15 for the electric buses, section 16 for island taxis):
| Island service | Visitor price | Adakart price |
|---|---|---|
| Electric bus (lines BA-1 to BA-5, HA-1 to HA-3, BU-1, KA-1, KA-2) | 158.35 TL per ride | 46.20 TL |
| Island taxi, non-Adakart (İstanbulkart) | 207.75 TL start, 166.27 TL per km, 32.13 TL per minute waiting | 103.88 TL start, 83.13 TL per km |
| Island taxi, paid by bank card (open loop) | 249.29 TL start, 199.52 TL per km, 38.59 TL per minute waiting | — |
The visitor bus fare is the same for students, teachers and over-60s; only Adakart holders pay less. The İETT Q&A does not say whether its Adamini vehicles are the island taxis in this tariff, so check the meter's starting figure against the table.
E-bus or island taxi: a worked comparison
Island taxis cost three to four times as much per km as a city taxi, so the choice depends on group size and distance. The figures are worked out from the İBB tariff and paid by İstanbulkart; distances are examples, not measured routes.
| Trip on Büyükada | 2 people | 4 people |
|---|---|---|
| Electric bus, one ride each | 316.70 TL | 633.40 TL |
| Island taxi, 2 km | 540.29 TL | 540.29 TL |
| Island taxi, 6 km | 1,205.37 TL | 1,205.37 TL |
Paying the taxi by bank card instead of İstanbulkart adds about 20%: the 6 km ride becomes 1,446.41 TL.
A day-trip budget for two
For two adults travelling from Kabataş to Büyükada and back, with one e-bus ride each:
- Şehir Hatları or sea bus both ways: 4 × 151.23 TL = 604.92 TL, plus 316.70 TL for the e-bus, so 921.62 TL in total.
- İDO from Kabataş both ways: 4 × 272.18 TL = 1,088.72 TL, plus 316.70 TL, so 1,405.42 TL.
Add the metro, tram or bus to the pier at 46.20 TL per first boarding. If time matters more than about 480 TL, compare İDO's departure times with Şehir Hatları's on the day; the tariff does not tell you which is faster.
For the wider choice of Bosphorus crossings and city ferries, see Istanbul on two continents. Back on the mainland, city taxis use a cheaper tariff, explained in our Istanbul taxi fares guide.
