Istanbul Waterway Photos -- National Geographic's Ultimate City Guides

Ferry Ride
Photograph by Sinan Cakmak/Images & Stories
Enjoying the ride, a ferry passenger holds onto his wind-whipped jacket as he travels to visit his Istanbul-based parents.
Ferry to Buyukada
Photograph by Sinan Cakmak/Images & Stories
Residents of water-laced Istanbul—which straddles the Bosporus, Sea of Marmara, and Golden Horn—often depend on ferries for transportation. Here locals and tourists board a ferry to the Princess Islands.
Ferry Crossing the Bosporus
Photograph by Sinan Cakmak/Images & Stories
Ferries cross paths in the Bosporus, the water body that represents the boundary between the European and Asian sides of Istanbul.
Istanbul Ferry
Photograph by Sinan Cakmak/Images & Stories
A 30-minute ferry crossing of the Bosporus lends itself to varied pastimes, including conversations, sightseeing, and, well, yawning.
Karakoy Port
Photograph by Sinan Cakmak/Images & Stories
Ahoy! Ferry passengers hail a large cruise ship at the Karakoy port, near Istanbul's historic center. Cruise and freight ships are common sights in this water-bound city.
Seagulls Flying Over Ferry
Photograph by Sinan Cakmak/Images & Stories
Seagulls glide along with a traveling ferry hoping for food handouts. More than one local painting has featured ferries and their attendant seagulls.
Couple Crossing the Bosporus
Photograph by Sinan Cakmak/Images & Stories
Waving the flag: Turkish ferry passengers greet each other on their way to a political event in Istanbul.
Pier in Üsküdar
Photograph by Sinan Cakmak/Images & Stories
Anticipation fills the faces of ferry passengers arriving at the pier in Üsküdar.
Grandfather and Grandchild on a Ferry
Photograph by Sinan Cakmak/Images & Stories
A grandfather enjoys a laugh with his granddaughter on a ferry ride to visit the mosques and bazaars in Istanbul's old quarter.
Ferry at Night
Photograph by Sinan Cakmak/Images & Stories
An embracing couple on a ferry entering the Golden Horn waterway is framed by the Galata Tower (right) and the grand Süleymaniye Mosque (left, in the distance).