Eminönü and Kabataş: How to Reach the Bosphorus Cruise Piers
Published: · Bosphorus Glow
In short
The T1 tram reaches both piers: get off at Eminönü for Eminönü, or ride to the last stop for Kabataş. From Taksim, the F1 funicular goes down to Kabataş in about two and a half minutes. If your cruise includes hotel transfer, we collect you and you do not need to find the pier yourself.
First: do you need to get there yourself?
Not always. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included in our night cruise, and hotel transfer is included in the 2-hour daytime tour (pickup at 10:00 for the 11:00 tour and at 13:00 for the 14:00 tour). You give us your hotel name and location in the reservation steps.
The one-hour boat tour at 17:00 has no hotel transfer, so for that one you come to Eminönü yourself. The directions below are for that tour and for anyone who prefers to make their own way.
Getting to Eminönü
Eminönü is on the old-city side of the Golden Horn, next to the Spice Bazaar and the Galata Bridge. The T1 tram stops right there, at the stop called Eminönü. From Sultanahmet it is three stops on the same line: Gülhane, Sirkeci, then Eminönü.
If you arrive by Marmaray, the train that runs under the Bosphorus, get off at Sirkeci. It connects with the T1 tram, one stop from Eminönü.
See the tours from EminönüGetting to Kabataş
Kabataş is on the European shore of the Bosphorus, below Taksim. It is the last stop of the T1 tram, so from the old city you simply stay on until the end of the line.
From Taksim Square, take the F1 funicular. It runs underground between Taksim and Kabataş and takes about two and a half minutes.
See the night cruise from KabataşTickets and timing
Trams, funiculars and the metro all accept Istanbulkart, the city’s rechargeable transport card, which you can buy and top up at machines in the stations. Both the T1 tram and the F1 funicular run from early morning until around midnight.
Allow extra time in the late afternoon and early evening, when trams are crowded. We confirm your meeting time and exact meeting point on WhatsApp when we confirm your reservation.
What to bring on board
It is cooler and windier on the water than on land, so bring an extra layer. Comfortable shoes help on the pier and on deck. Keep your phone charged: it is your camera, and it is how we reach you on the day.
Send a reservation requestQuestions and answers
Which tram goes to Eminönü?
The T1 tram. Get off at the stop called Eminönü, next to the Spice Bazaar and the ferry docks.
How do I get from Taksim to Kabataş?
Take the F1 funicular from Taksim Square. It reaches Kabataş in about two and a half minutes.
How do I get from Sultanahmet to Eminönü?
Take the T1 tram towards Kabataş. Eminönü is the third stop, after Gülhane and Sirkeci.
Which pier does my cruise leave from?
Our daytime tours leave from Eminönü and our night cruise leaves from Kabataş. For a private yacht the departure point depends on the yacht, and we tell you when we send the options.
Do I have to find the pier myself?
Not if your cruise includes hotel transfer: the night cruise and the 2-hour daytime tour do. For the one-hour tour at 17:00 you come to Eminönü yourself.
