Istanbul’s ferries, a beloved link between two continents

For nearly two centuries, the white ferries gliding over the Bosphorus Strait have provided an iconic link for countless passengers travelling between Istanbul’s European shores and its Asian side.

Despite the increasingly congested waters and competition from the Turkish megacity’s bridges and undersea metro line, the ferries remain very popular.

The main operator Sehir Hatlari carries at least 40 million passengers a year.

“Any view of Istanbul must include Maiden’s Tower, a ferry and a seagull,” smiled Adil Bali, a specialist on the history of Istanbul’s ferries, referring to a tiny rocky outcrop at the southern entrance to the Bosphorus.

“It is one of the few cities in the world that can be crossed by sea, so the ferries are indispensable here.”

Their arrival in 1843 transformed t