By Boat & Ferry in Turkey's Mediterranean Coast

By Boat & Ferry

There are no longer any long-distance ferries serving the southwestern Turkish coast, but a number of ferries link individual Turkish ports with Greek islands. In general, anyone with a U.S. or European passport, can visit Greece. Note that you need to be at the boats at least an hour before departure time to complete passport formalities. Be aware that shops and museums on Greek islands usually close during the midday heat and do not reopen until late afternoon, so that it's sensible to stay a night or two if you are going to take the trouble of making the journey. However, that usually means you will have to buy two separate round-trip tickets.

A weekly car ferry (two hours) links the Greek island of Rhodes with the Turkish port of Marmaris. A major Marmaris agent handling hydrofoil and car ferry tickets to Rhodes is Yesil Marmaris. A day return trip is about $35. Hydrofoils also link Rhodes with Marmaris (50 minutes) and Fethiye (90 minutes).

A car ferry (two hours) links the Bodrum port with Datça's Körmen port (Körmen is run by the Datça port authority but is several km on the other side of the peninsula. In the June-September season, the Bodrum-Datça boats run from both ports at 9 AM and 5 PM. In winter they run just Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, at 9 AM from Datça to Bodrum and at 5 PM from Bodrum to Datça. If taking a car, reserve in advance.

In the summer, a passenger boat leaves every Saturday at about 9 AM from the Greek island of Symi to Datça Harbor, returning at 3:30 PM. On the Turkish side, tickets are negotiated for cash on board, usually less than $30. Remember that if you take this boat over to Symi, you cannot come back the same way for another week.

Another passenger boat runs daily from Kas to the Greek Island of Kastellorizon, known as Meis in Turkish. This and much else in Kas can be arranged by Phellos Travel. Passports must be presented by 9 AM for a 10 AM start. The boat returns at about 2 PM. The price of a day return trip is $40.

Contacts

Bodrum Port (252/316-0882). Datça Harbor (252/712-2226). Fethiye Port (252/612-3733). Körmen Port (Datça) (252/712-2143). Marmaris Port (252/412-1013). Phellos Travel (242/836-1981. www.phellostravel.com). Yesil Marmaris (252/412 2290. www.yesilmarmaris.com).