Istanbul has always used the water as part of its transport network, and the IMM Sea Taxi gives that old habit a modern, on-demand format. Instead of working around a ferry timetable, you can book a direct journey between approved piers and travel across the city by water at the time you need it.
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How Istanbul Sea Taxi Works
IMM Sea Taxi works as a pre-booked, point-to-point transport service within Istanbul. You select an available departure point, destination, date and time through the official app, and the system assigns a Sea Taxi to that journey.
Routes Across Istanbul's Waterfront
IMM Sea Taxi operates across a broad network of designated piers and berthing points throughout Istanbul. The network reached 57 service points, covering far more than the city’s main ferry terminals.
You choose from the available departure and arrival points shown in the IMM Sea Taxi app, which remains the best place to check the current network as new locations are added.
This flexibility is especially useful when your plans take you between Istanbul’s European and Asian shores or between waterfront districts that take much longer to connect by road.
On a busy weekend evening, when road traffic between Kadıköy and Beşiktaş can eat into your plans, a Sea Taxi can make the crossing in around 13 minutes. It is exactly the kind of journey where paying more for a direct boat can make practical sense.
Booking Through the Sea Taxi App
You can book IMM Sea Taxi only through the official Sea Taxi application. Reservations depend on vessel availability for your chosen date, time and route, and you can book a journey up to five days in advance.
The service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but you still need to make a reservation before traveling. If your booking falls during normal pier hours, show the reservation in the app to the pier staff. For a late-night departure after the pier has closed, wait at the pier until your booking time and the Sea Taxi crew will guide you to the vessel when it arrives.
If you arrive late, the Sea Taxi waits for up to five minutes after the scheduled booking time. It is therefore worth reaching the pier a little early, particularly at a waterfront location you do not already know.
Fares, Payment & Cancellation Rules
- How the Fare Works: Sea Taxi fares are based on the distance of the journey, not the number of passengers. You pay a starting fare plus a charge for each nautical mile.
- Current Fare: The official tariff starts at 500 TL (approx. €9), plus 750 TL (approx. €13.50) per additional nautical mile. Check the IMM Sea Taxi app before booking, as fares may change.
- Payment: You pay through the IMM Sea Taxi app with a registered credit or debit card. Cash is not accepted.
- Cancellation: Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours receive a 50% refund, while cancellations within the final hour receive no refund.
- Just Booked? If you change your mind within the first five minutes after booking, you can cancel for a full refund.
How Shared Sea Taxi Works
The app also offers a Shared Journey option for passengers traveling along the same route at the same time. After choosing your route, date and departure time, select “Shared” instead of “Single” to open the journey to other passengers.
The person who starts the shared booking acts as the Guarantor and initially pays the full fare. Other passengers can then join as Attendants. Each person who joins pays one tenth of the total journey fare per seat, and those payments return to the Guarantor after the trip.
If nobody joins, the Guarantor remains responsible for the full fare. And if you are wondering about privacy, other passengers cannot access your personal information, including the Guarantor. The same general Sea Taxi rules apply to both single and shared journeys.
Passenger Capacity & Pet Rules
Each IMM Sea Taxi carries a maximum of 10 passengers. You can book one for yourself or travel with a group, but the crew cannot accept an eleventh passenger even if your group arrives together at the pier.
Pets can travel too. Animals small enough for a carrier must remain properly contained, while dogs need to travel with a leash and muzzle. The same pet rules apply on Shared Journeys.
Passengers older than 12 years can use the Sea Taxi alone, according to the official service rules.
See Both Sides of Istanbul
Built Locally at Haliç Shipyard
There is a distinctly local story behind the IMM Sea Taxi fleet. All 50 Sea Taxis were built at Istanbul’s historic Haliç Shipyard, where the city has constructed and repaired vessels for centuries. Five of those boats use electric-hybrid propulsion.
Environmental efficiency also shaped the original Sea Taxi design. According to Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the vessels combine relatively low fuel consumption with the ability to reach higher speeds, while the electric-hybrid models further reduce fuel use and carbon emissions.
The result is a modern transport service built in the city it serves, at a shipyard on the Golden Horn that has remained part of Istanbul’s maritime life since 1455.
24-Hour Service & Easy Boarding
IMM Sea Taxi operates 24 hours a day, with journeys booked in advance through the IMM Sea Taxi app.
The boats are designed for easier boarding, with a bow-berthing system and an obstacle-free hull that provide step-free access for wheelchair users and passengers with pushchairs.
There is no food or drink service on board, so it is worth bringing anything you may need before arriving at the pier, particularly for a longer journey.
Safety Rules While on Board
Each Sea Taxi carries a crew of one captain and one seaman. The vessels undergo tests covering areas such as engine performance, stability, wind conditions and emergency stopping, while life jackets sit beneath the passenger seats.
Camera systems monitor the boats for security. Passengers must remain inside the vessel throughout the journey, and smoking is prohibited on board.
These rules matter on the Bosphorus, where ferries, cargo traffic, fishing boats and private vessels all share the same waterway. Follow the crew’s instructions throughout the crossing rather than treating the Sea Taxi like a sightseeing boat with an open deck.
When Sea Taxi Makes Sense
Sea Taxi becomes especially useful when road traffic turns a simple cross-city journey into a long detour. On a busy weekend evening, for example, the IMM Sea Taxi app estimates around 13 minutes between Kadıköy and Beşiktaş.
Still, check the regular ferries before booking. If one is leaving soon and serves the route you need, it may be cheaper and just as practical. Sea Taxi makes more sense when the timetable does not work, you want a direct crossing, or several people are traveling together.
Want More Than a Crossing?
What to Know Before Boarding
- Check Your Pier: Confirm your exact departure point in the IMM Sea Taxi app before setting out. Sea Taxis only use approved piers and berthing points.
- Bringing Luggage: If you are changing hotels or traveling with suitcases, note that IMM does not publish a specific baggage allowance or size limit for Sea Taxi. For several large bags or oversized luggage, it is best to confirm before booking.
- Arrive a Little Early: Aim to reach your departure point a few minutes before your booking, especially if you have never used that pier before. Sea Taxi waits for late passengers for only five minutes after the scheduled departure time.
- Stick to Your Route: Your destination is fixed when you book. The captain cannot add an extra stop or change the route once the journey begins.
- Keep Your Booking Ready: Have your reservation accessible on your phone. During normal opening hours, pier staff can direct you after checking it.
- Late-Night Departures: If the pier is closed, wait there for your scheduled departure. The Sea Taxi crew will guide you when the vessel arrives.
- Check Current Information: For the latest fares, rules and booking conditions, see the official IMM Sea Taxi FAQ.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Other Tour can include a Sea Taxi crossing in a private Istanbul tour when it genuinely improves the route. Tell us where you want to go, how many people are traveling and what kind of day you have in mind, and we can decide whether Sea Taxi, a regular ferry or private road transport makes the most sense.
