Istanbul Marmaray (B1) train: the complete 2026 guide

The Marmaray is Istanbul's commuter rail line (officially the B1) that runs under the Bosphorus Strait, connecting the European and Asian sides through an undersea tunnel. It is the only rail crossing between the two continents, uses the same Istanbulkart as the rest of the city, and for tourists it is the fastest, cheapest way to hop from Sultanahmet (Sirkeci) to the Asian side (Üsküdar or Kadıköy) in minutes.

Quick facts

• Line: B1 (Marmaray), Halkalı ↔ Gebze
• Length: ~76 km, 43 stations, 2 of them under the Bosphorus
• End-to-end journey: about 1 hour 45 minutes
• Frequency: every ~8 minutes on the busy Ataköy–Pendik core, up to every ~15 minutes end to end
• Hours: 06:00 to 00:00 daily; last train ~22:58, plus non-stop service through Friday and Saturday nights
• Fare: distance-based, from ₺34.00 to ₺74.70
• Payment: Istanbulkart (recommended), contactless bank cards, or NFC phone

What is the B1 line in Istanbul?

The B1 is the Marmaray: two names for the same train. "Marmaray" is the popular name for the whole system, while "B1" is its official line code on transit maps and apps, shown in dark grey. When you see signs, app entries, or fare tables for "B1," they refer to the Marmaray train running from Halkalı in the west to Gebze in the east.

The line opened its undersea tunnel in 2013 and now carries commuters and tourists across the Bosphorus in about 4 minutes between Sirkeci (Europe) and Üsküdar (Asia). It is a full-scale commuter railway rather than a metro. The trains are longer, the stations sit further apart, and the line runs all the way out to the far suburbs on both sides.

Is the B1 the same as the Metrobüs?

No. The B1 (Marmaray) is a train, and the Metrobüs is a bus. They get mixed up because both cross between the European and Asian sides. The Marmaray is a rail line running mostly underground and through the undersea tunnel, while the Metrobüs is a high-capacity articulated bus on a dedicated road lane over the Bosphorus Bridge. They do meet: you can change between them at Söğütlüçeşme and Zeytinburnu, but they run as separate services with separate fares.

Marmaray fares in 2026

Marmaray uses a distance-based, pay-as-you-go fare, so the more stations you travel, the more you pay. When you tap in at the turnstile, your card is charged the maximum fare for the full Halkalı–Gebze distance (₺74.70). At your destination you tap again at an orange or grey refund machine, and the fare for the stations you did not travel is credited back to your card.

Always tap your Istanbulkart at the orange or grey refund machine when you exit a Marmaray station. If you forget, you are charged the full maximum fare (₺74.70) even if you only rode one stop. This is the most common fare surprise for tourists on the Marmaray.

Paying by contactless bank card or phone? There is no refund. The pay-as-you-go refund only works with an Istanbulkart. Tap-to-pay cards and NFC phones are charged a fixed full fare with no distance credit, so for anything longer than a couple of stops the Istanbulkart is much cheaper. Sharing one Istanbulkart between several people also breaks the refund: only the last person to tap gets the correct exit fare.

Key transfer stations for tourists

Five Marmaray stations do almost all the work for visitors, because they connect the train to the metro, tram, and ferries you need:

• Sirkeci (European side): steps from Eminönü and a short ride to Sultanahmet. Change to the T1 tram and the Bosphorus ferries.
• Yenikapı (European side): the city's biggest interchange, with connections to M1A, M1B, M2, and ferries.
• Üsküdar (Asian side): historic waterfront district, with the M5 and Üsküdar's ferry piers.
• Ayrılık Çeşmesi (Asian side): change to the M4 for Kadıköy and Sabiha Gökçen Airport.
• Söğütlüçeşme (Asian side): a direct link to the Metrobüs for a fast run across the city.

The two ends of the line, Halkalı and Gebze, plus Pendik, also connect to Turkey's intercity high-speed trains (YHT).

All 43 Marmaray stations (Halkalı → Gebze)

The Marmaray runs west to east from Halkalı to Gebze, stopping at 43 stations. The stretch most tourists use is the middle of the line, from Kazlıçeşme through Söğütlüçeşme, where the trains dive under the Bosphorus:

Halkalı · Mustafa Kemal · Küçükçekmece · Florya · Florya Akvaryum · Yeşilköy · Yeşilyurt · Ataköy · Bakırköy · Yenimahalle · Zeytinburnu · Kazlıçeşme · Yenikapı · Sirkeci · Üsküdar · Ayrılık Çeşmesi · Söğütlüçeşme · Feneryolu · Göztepe · Erenköy · Suadiye · Bostancı · Küçükyalı · İdealtepe · Süreyya Plajı · Maltepe · Cevizli · Atalar · Başak · Kartal · Yunus · Pendik · Kaynarca · Tersane · Güzelyalı · Aydıntepe · İçmeler · Tuzla · Çayırova · Fatih · Osmangazi · Darıca · Gebze

Between Sirkeci and Üsküdar the train passes through the undersea tunnel: about 4 minutes and roughly 60 metres below the seabed. It is the deepest immersed tube tunnel in the world, though from inside the carriage it feels like any other underground stretch.

Marmaray timetable: first and last trains

Marmaray service starts at 06:00 and standard service ends at midnight. On Friday and Saturday nights the trains run non-stop for 24 hours into the weekend, so you can cross between continents at any hour. The last standard departure from Halkalı toward Gebze is at 22:58, and the last from Gebze toward Halkalı is at 22:50.

Use the tabs below to switch direction and find the first train, last standard train, and the late Friday–Saturday night departure from each station:

For live times and service alerts, check TCDD's official Marmaray channels or the Metro İstanbul app, which also shows the B1 line.

How to cross from Europe to Asia by Marmaray

To cross the Bosphorus by train, ride the Marmaray between Sirkeci (Europe) and Üsküdar or Ayrılık Çeşmesi (Asia). It is a single, direct train with no changes. From Sultanahmet, walk or take the T1 tram to Sirkeci, tap in, and you are on the Asian side in minutes. To continue into Kadıköy, stay on to Ayrılık Çeşmesi and change to the M4.

From the airports to the Marmaray

• From Istanbul Airport (IST): take the M11 to Gayrettepe, transfer to the M2 to Yenikapı, then join the Marmaray. See the full IST to city guide.
• From Sabiha Gökçen (SAW): take the M4 to Ayrılık Çeşmesi and step across to the Marmaray to reach the European side. See the full SAW to city guide.

Marmaray or the ferry to cross the Bosphorus?

Take the Marmaray when you want speed, and the ferry when you want the view. The train crosses in about 4 minutes for a few lira and runs late into the night, which makes it ideal for getting between sides quickly or after the ferries stop. But it runs underground, so you see nothing of the Bosphorus. For the classic Istanbul experience of gulls, tea, and the skyline, take a ferry at least once between Eminönü, Karaköy, Üsküdar, and Kadıköy. Most visitors use the ferry for sightseeing and the Marmaray when they are in a hurry.