Turyol

Who they are

Turyol is a private Turkish ferry company founded in 1995. Most of its business is in İstanbul, where it runs commuter ferries on the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara alongside İDO and the city's own ferries, plus Bosphorus tours and Princes' Islands sailings. It also runs seasonal ferries in the Gulf of İzmir.

For international travellers, Turyol matters for its crossings to the Greek islands of the north-eastern Aegean: Ayvalık to Lesvos (Mytilene) and Çeşme to Chios. Some of its ferries on these routes carry cars as well as foot passengers.

Because these routes cross the Turkey–Greece border, every passenger needs a valid passport, or an EU ID card where accepted, and has to pass passport control at both ends.

Network and routes

Ayvalık–Lesvos is Turyol's main international route, landing at Mytilene, the island capital. The crossing takes about 50 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on the boat. Several other Turkish operators also sail between Ayvalık and Lesvos, so there are usually a few crossings a day in summer.

Çeşme–Chios links the resort town near İzmir with Chios Town, with morning and evening sailings in both directions in season. Crossings on this route take from about 20 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes depending on the operator and vessel.

Direct Ferries also lists Turyol with a daily Bodrum–Kos sailing in 2026. Turyol's online booking site sells tickets on other Turkey–Greece routes too, including Kuşadası–Samos, Fethiye–Rhodes and Turgutreis–Kos. Some of these sailings are run by other companies, so check the operator and departure port on your ticket.

The Greek island routes are busiest from May to October, with the highest frequency in July and August.

Fleet and on board

Ferryhopper lists six Turyol vessels on its Greek routes. The Fokaia and Chios are small open-deck ferries carrying around 350 passengers and 30 vehicles each; the Lesvos, Kaptan Şevket and Kaptan İlyas Mert are passenger-only boats, and the Sinan Paşa is a passenger catamaran.

Luggage rules are relaxed: Ferryhopper says you can bring as many bags as you can carry yourself at no extra charge. Pets are allowed on board. Facilities are simple on crossings this short, usually a small café or snack counter.

Booking and tips

Tickets are sold on Turyol's online booking site, at the port offices in Turkey and at agents on the Greek islands, as well as through booking sites such as Ferryhopper and Direct Ferries. In July and August, book ahead, especially if you are taking a car.

Arrive at the port well before departure so you have time to clear Turkish passport control and customs. On arrival in Greece there is passport control again; non-EU travellers are registered in the EU Entry/Exit System on entering the Schengen Area.

Check the weather before travelling. The Aegean can be choppy when the summer meltemi wind builds in July and August, and small boats are the first to be delayed or cancelled.

Check visa rules for both countries before a day trip. UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens and most EU citizens need no visa for Turkey for short tourist stays and none for Greece, but citizens of many other countries need both a Schengen visa for Greece and a Turkish visa or e-Visa.