Tale of a Turkish ferry

Istanbul’s ferry system, celebrating 175 years of service, remains a vital transit artery for a city straddling two continents. Unlike the isolating experience of subways or buses, the Bosphorus ferries offer a communal space where passengers engage with nature and the city’s historic skyline. Third-generation captain Güngör Mutlu maintains a pilot house filled with gifts from children, emphasizing that the sea provides a unique peace that keeps commuters off their phones. The vessels function as floating living rooms, serving 40 million passengers annually with essential amenities like traditional Turkish coffee and toasted sausages prepared by long-term staff like 65-year-old Arif. From the historic mansions of Galatasaray University to the constant flow of international cargo ships, the ferry system serves as both a practical transport solution and a cultural lens through which residents and expatriates alike experience the global significance of the Bosphorus Strait.