Ferry from Istanbul to Bursa: How I Get There on My Own (BUDO vs İDO)
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Don’t want to deal with ferry times and piers? A Bursa day tour from Istanbul includes hotel pickup, transport both ways and a guide. My pick if you want Bursa without the logistics: Bursa day tour from Istanbul. Planning the day yourself? See my one-day Bursa itinerary.
Quick answer: Yes, there is a ferry from Istanbul to Bursa. BUDO sails from Kabataş to Mudanya in about 1 hour 50 minutes, for 720 TL (about $15). İDO sails mainly from Yenikapı to Güzelyalı in about 2 hours 20 minutes, for 765-825 TL (about $16-17). Both piers are about 30 km from Bursa city center, so add about an hour by bus and metro. There is no car ferry to Bursa.
The ferry is how I like to get to Bursa on my own. Two hours on the Sea of Marmara beat two hours in traffic on the motorway. But there are two companies, different piers on each side and a few things the official websites don’t tell you. Here’s how I choose, and what I’d want to know before my first trip.
Two companies run the route, and both belong to city governments. İDO (İstanbul Deniz Otobüsleri) is Istanbul’s municipal sea bus company. BUDO (Bursa Deniz Otobüsleri) is run by Burulaş, Bursa’s municipal transport company. Both use fast catamaran sea buses for foot passengers only. If an older guide tells you BUDO leaves from Eminönü or Sirkeci, it’s out of date: BUDO now sails from Kabataş.
BUDO vs İDO: Which Ferry to Bursa I Take
| BUDO | İDO | |
|---|---|---|
| Istanbul pier | Kabataş | Yenikapı (also Kadıköy; one sailing a day from Kabataş) |
| Bursa pier | Mudanya | Güzelyalı |
| Journey time | about 1 h 50 min (2 h on sailings via Armutlu) | about 2 h 20 min from Yenikapı, about 3 h from Kabataş |
| Sailings to Bursa | 4 a day, 5 on Sundays | 3-4 a day |
| Price | 720 TL (about $15), same on every sailing | 765-825 TL (about $16-17), rising closer to the date |
| Best if you stay in | Taksim, Beşiktaş, Galata, Sultanahmet | Sultanahmet, Yenikapı, the Asian side |
My pick is BUDO. It’s faster, it has the earliest departure, and the price is the same whenever you book. For a day trip, the 08:00 BUDO from Kabataş is the departure that gives you a full day in Bursa.
When I’d choose İDO instead: if I’m staying in the old city and the BUDO times don’t fit my day, or if I’m on the Asian side.
Which Pier to Use: It Depends Where You Stay
- Taksim, Beşiktaş, Galata or Karaköy → BUDO from Kabataş. From Taksim, the F1 funicular takes about 3 minutes down to Kabataş. From Galata and Karaköy, it’s a few stops on the T1 tram.
- Sultanahmet → BUDO from Kabataş, or İDO from Yenikapı. The T1 tram runs straight from Sultanahmet to Kabataş, the last stop, with no change. If the İDO times suit you better, Yenikapı is just as easy: take the Sirkeci-Kazlıçeşme rail line from Cankurtaran station, near Sultanahmet, or the Marmaray from Sirkeci.
- Kadıköy or anywhere on the Asian side → İDO from Kadıköy. The İDO sea buses stop in Kadıköy before Yenikapı.
I once stayed near Kennedy Caddesi, the seaside road the Yenikapı terminal sits on. Sultanahmet was 20-30 minutes away by bus, depending on traffic, and on nice days I walked it along the sea in about 40-50 minutes. So if you’re staying in that part of the old city, Yenikapı is the easy choice.
Finding the BUDO Pier at Kabataş
This is the part that catches people out, locals included. There are almost no signs for BUDO at Kabataş, and the Google Maps pin for BUDO points to the wrong spot.
- Use this location instead: BUDO departure point at Kabataş.
- BUDO leaves from the new Kabataş city ferry pier (Şehir Hatları), from Salon D / Gate D. Walk past the Beltur café and follow the signs for Salon D. İDO and BUDO leave from the same area, next to each other.
- Have a heavy suitcase? At the X-ray machine, the exit belt is high, so you’ll have to lift your bag off it yourself.
- The waiting area is basic. Don’t count on a café or toilets there.
The first time I went, I followed the Google pin, ended up at the wrong end of the pier and spent ten minutes asking where BUDO leaves from. Now I tell everyone the same thing: go the day before, find Gate D and buy your ticket at the office while you’re there.
Yenikapı (İDO)
Yenikapı is a big, proper ferry terminal on the seafront, with cafés, shops and places to charge your phone. It’s next to the Yenikapı metro and Marmaray station. Be there at least 30 minutes before departure.
In Bursa
BUDO arrives in Mudanya, right on the town’s seafront. İDO arrives in Güzelyalı, about 10 minutes away by car. Neither is in Bursa itself, so plan for the transfer into the city.
Istanbul to Bursa Ferry Times
These are the key departures on the current autumn timetable. They change by season, and sailings are sometimes cancelled, so check the official site before you plan your day.
Istanbul → Bursa
| Monday-Saturday | Sunday | Journey time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| BUDO from Kabataş | 08:00, 11:30*, 16:30, 19:30 | 08:00, 10:30, 14:00*, 17:00, 19:30 | 1 h 50 min (2 h on * sailings) |
| İDO from Yenikapı | 09:50, 15:15, 18:00 | 12:00, 15:15, 19:20 | 2 h 20-25 min |
| İDO from Kabataş | 09:05 | 11:15, 18:35 | about 3 h 05 min |
Bursa → Istanbul
| Monday-Saturday | Sunday | Journey time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| BUDO Mudanya → Kabataş | 07:00 (08:00 on Saturdays), 09:30*, 16:00, 19:00 | 08:00, 09:30*, 13:30, 16:45 | 1 h 50 min (2 h on * sailings) |
| İDO Güzelyalı → Yenikapı | 08:30, 12:30, 18:30 | 11:30, 15:30, 18:30 | 2 h 25-40 min |
| İDO Güzelyalı → Kabataş | 18:30 | 15:30, 18:30 | about 2 h 50 min |
*These BUDO sailings stop at Armutlu on the way.
The one to watch: Sunday. The last BUDO back to Istanbul on Sunday leaves Mudanya at 16:45, more than two hours earlier than on weekdays.
Leave some slack. The sea buses don’t always arrive on time, even on calm days, and 20-30 minutes late isn’t unusual. I don’t plan anything tight right after the ferry.
Istanbul to Bursa Ferry Tickets and Prices
- BUDO: 720 TL (about $15), one price on every sailing, however early or late you book.
- İDO PROMO: from 765 TL (about $16). The cheapest fare, when you book a few days ahead. Non-refundable, with limited changes.
- İDO ECO: about 825 TL (about $17). Refundable and changeable. Close to the date, this is often the only fare left.
Buying Tickets Online: The Honest Version
In theory, you can buy tickets on the BUDO website and the İDO website. In practice, both ask for your passport number and a phone number in Turkish format, starting with 5 or with 11 digits. I couldn’t get my foreign number accepted on either site, so I stopped trying.
What I do instead:
- Buy at the ticket office at the pier, ideally the day before. BUDO sailings sell out, especially on weekends, so I wouldn’t count on buying on the spot.
- Buy your return at the same time. Sunday evening boats back to Istanbul fill up first.
- Don’t get attached to your seat. You choose a seat when you book, but the number on board doesn’t always match the deck you picked. Upper-deck window seats aren’t guaranteed.
- Skip third-party booking sites. If the terminal can’t find your reservation, you’ll pay again on the spot.
How to Get from the Ferry Pier to Bursa City Center
From Mudanya (BUDO)
- Take the yellow city bus 1/M from outside the pier to Emek metro station, about 15-20 minutes. The buses are timed with the ferry arrivals.
- At Emek, take the BursaRay metro to Osmangazi or Şehreküstü for the old town, Ulu Cami and Koza Han.
Last time, the 1/M was already waiting when I walked off the ferry, and I was in the old town in under an hour. You don’t need a BursaKart for a short visit: tap a contactless bank card or your phone on the bus and at the metro gates. Going to the bus station instead? Bus F/1 runs from the pier to Bursa Terminal.
From Güzelyalı (İDO)
- Take the yellow city bus 1/GY to Emek metro station, about 20-30 minutes.
- Take the BursaRay to Osmangazi or Şehreküstü, about 25-35 minutes.
If you’re two or three people with luggage, a taxi from either pier is the fastest option.
On Board: What to Expect
- The snack bar is overpriced. The last time I bought a pack of mints and a chocolate bar on board, I paid about twice the supermarket price. If that bothers you like it bothers me, bring your own snacks and water.
- There are power sockets, so you can charge your phone on the way.
- No smoking on board, for the whole two hours.
- In summer, it can get hot and stuffy inside. The air conditioning doesn’t always keep up, so wear something light.
- The toilets are basic.
- Evening sailings can be choppy. If you get seasick, take something before you board.
My Day-Trip Ferry Plan for Bursa
- Monday-Saturday: BUDO 08:00 from Kabataş (arrives 09:50), back on BUDO 19:00 from Mudanya (arrives 20:50). That gives you about 7 hours in Bursa.
- Sunday: BUDO 08:00 from Kabataş, back on BUDO 16:45 from Mudanya. Only about 5 hours in the city, so I’d keep it to the old town.
İDO is harder for a day trip: the earliest arrival in Güzelyalı is 12:10, so you’d reach the old town around lunchtime.
For what to see in those hours, see my one-day Bursa itinerary. Going up the mountain? My Uludağ guide covers the cable car and where to stay in Bursa.
Can I Take My Car on the Ferry to Bursa?
No. There’s no longer a car ferry between Istanbul and Bursa, and both BUDO and İDO sea buses carry foot passengers only. If you’re driving, you have two options:
- Drive all the way via the Osmangazi Bridge motorway, about 2-2.5 hours.
- Take an İDO car ferry to Yalova, from Pendik on the Asian side (about 45 minutes) or from Yenikapı (about 1 hour 15 minutes), then drive about an hour to Bursa.
What If the Ferry to Bursa Is Cancelled?
Ferries across the Sea of Marmara are cancelled in strong wind, sometimes several sailings in a row.
- Check the cancellation pages the morning you travel: BUDO cancelled voyages and İDO cancelled sailings.
- The BUDO page is in Turkish. Look for your time and “olumsuz hava koşulları nedeniyle iptal edilmiştir”, which means “cancelled due to adverse weather”.
- Have a backup. Buses from Istanbul reach Bursa Terminal in about 2.5-3 hours, so a cancelled ferry doesn’t have to mean a cancelled day.
- Coming back: if your return is cancelled, check the other company’s sailings first, then the bus.
FAQ
Is there a ferry from Istanbul to Bursa? Yes. BUDO sails from Kabataş to Mudanya, and İDO mainly from Yenikapı (also Kadıköy and Kabataş) to Güzelyalı. Both piers are about 30 km from central Bursa.
How long is the ferry from Istanbul to Bursa? BUDO takes about 1 hour 50 minutes, or 2 hours with a stop at Armutlu. İDO takes about 2 hours 20 minutes from Yenikapı and about 3 hours from Kabataş. Add about an hour from the pier to Bursa city center.
How much is the ferry from Istanbul to Bursa? BUDO costs 720 TL (about $15) on every sailing. İDO costs from 765 TL (about $16) for a non-refundable PROMO ticket to about 825 TL (about $17) for a flexible ECO ticket.
Which is better, BUDO or İDO? BUDO is faster, cheaper and leaves earlier, so it’s better for a day trip and for travelers staying in Taksim, Beşiktaş or Galata. İDO from Yenikapı is convenient if you stay in the old city, and İDO from Kadıköy if you stay on the Asian side.
Where does the ferry to Bursa leave from in Istanbul? BUDO leaves from Kabataş, Gate D of the city ferry pier. İDO leaves mainly from Yenikapı, with stops in Kadıköy and one daily sailing from Kabataş.
Can I buy Istanbul to Bursa ferry tickets online? Both companies sell tickets online, but their sites ask for a passport number and a Turkish-format phone number, which foreign numbers often fail. Buying at the pier ticket office, ideally the day before, is more reliable.
How do I get from Mudanya to Bursa city center? Take city bus 1/M to Emek station, then the BursaRay metro to Osmangazi or Şehreküstü. It takes under an hour, and you can pay with a contactless bank card.
Can I take my car on the ferry to Bursa? No. There’s no car ferry to Bursa. Drivers use the Osmangazi Bridge motorway, or the İDO car ferry from Pendik or Yenikapı to Yalova and then drive about an hour to Bursa.
Can you do a day trip to Bursa by ferry? Yes, with BUDO. Take the 08:00 from Kabataş and the 19:00 back from Mudanya (16:45 on Sundays). That gives you about 7 hours in Bursa on weekdays.
Are ferries to Bursa cancelled in bad weather? Yes. Both BUDO and İDO cancel sailings in strong wind. Check their cancellation pages on the morning you travel, and keep the bus as a backup.
