Ferries to Türkiye from Italy and the Greek islands

You can reach Türkiye by sea with a motorcycle, but only on a few short crossings from the Greek islands. Most boats on the Aegean are fast catamarans that take foot passengers only. The ones that take bikes are slower car ferries, and they run less often outside summer. There is no direct ferry from Italy.

Which crossings take motorcycles

The table covers the main island-to-Türkiye routes. "Bikes" means the route has car ferries that load vehicles. On every route, some boats are passenger-only, so check that your sailing is a car ferry before you book.

Lesvos–Ayvalık

This is the most reliable crossing with a bike. Several Ayvalık companies run car ferries to Mytilini, and Uğur Jale Lines says it carries motorcycles, cars, campers and minibuses. Turyol's car ferry Fokaia runs all year. In November 2026 it sails from Mytilini on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays only. Other operators' car ferries run in summer. The İDO fast boat from Ayvalık carries no vehicles.

Jalem Tur's 2026 tariff listed a motorcycle at €40 one way and €60 return, not including port tax and the exit fee. Its vehicle sailings for 2026 ended in September. Space for vehicles is limited, so book ahead and confirm your place with the operator.

Chios–Çeşme

Ertürk Lines is the main operator. Its car ferries take cars, motorcycles and caravans. Its fast catamarans and the Sun Lines boats do not. In 2026 there were two or three sailings a day from May to October and one a day from November to April. The car ferry takes about an hour and a half. In Çeşme you arrive at the Ulusoy port.

Kos–Bodrum

Bodrum Ferryboat and Bodrum Maritime both run vehicle ferries on this route. Bodrum Ferryboat's fast catamarans take foot passengers only, while its conventional ferries take motorcycles, cars and caravans. The crossing is 30 to 45 minutes. Not every sailing on the timetable is a car ferry, so ask the operator which departures carry vehicles.

Samos and Rhodes

Do not plan on Samos–Kuşadası. In 2026 Tilos Travel, Meander Travel and İDO all ran it as passenger-only. From Rhodes, the boats to Marmaris are mostly catamarans and fast ferries for foot passengers. Vehicle sailings exist but are rare. If you are on Rhodes with a bike, Kos–Bodrum is the safer option.

Coming from Italy

A direct Ancona–Çeşme ferry ran in summer in the 2000s, but no direct line from Italy to Türkiye runs now. The usual way is to take a ferry from Italy to Greece, then continue overland or by island ferry. Routes run from Venice to Patras and Igoumenitsa, from Bari to Igoumenitsa and Patras, and from Brindisi to Igoumenitsa.

From there you have two choices:

• Ride across Greece to one of the land borders. See our Greece–Türkiye border guide.
• Take a ferry from Piraeus to Chios (about 7 hours 35 minutes on the fastest boat in 2025), then the car ferry to Çeşme. Book the bike on both legs, and check that both run on the days you need.

The land route is simpler, and it does not depend on island timetables or on the weather.

Before you board

Be at the port at least 1.5 hours before departure. This is an international crossing, so you go through Greek exit control before boarding. On board, you cannot stay with the bike. Vehicles ride on the lower deck and passengers go up to the lounge.

Operators ask for these papers for a vehicle:

• Your passport, plus a visa or e-Visa if your nationality needs one. See our visa guide.
• The original registration document.
• A notarised power of attorney if the bike is not yours. The owner must otherwise travel with it.
• A Green Card valid for Türkiye. See our insurance guide.
• Your driving licence. Some operators also mention an international licence. See our licence guide.

Customs at the Turkish port

Passport control and customs take place in the Turkish port when you land. The rules for your bike are the same as at a land border. Customs records the bike against your name in its vehicle tracking system, and the record is closed when you leave.

Customs will refuse the bike if you cannot show a valid ownership document or power of attorney. A Green Card with the "TR" box crossed out is not accepted. If you have no insurance that covers Türkiye, a compulsory Turkish traffic policy is issued at entry.

While the bike is in Türkiye, you may not rent it out, lend it or sell it. How long you can keep it, and who else may ride it, are covered in our checklist for riding into Türkiye.

Avoiding trouble

• Check that your boat is a car ferry. Many sailings on these routes are catamarans that cannot load a bike.
• Watch the season. Outside summer, car ferries run on fewer days and some stop altogether.
• Leave a spare day. Wind can cancel sailings, and you may wait for the next car ferry.
• Budget for extras. Port tax and exit fees may not be in the ticket price.

Quick checklist

• Route chosen: Lesvos–Ayvalık, Chios–Çeşme or Kos–Bodrum, not Samos–Kuşadası
• Sailing confirmed as a car ferry, with a vehicle place booked
• Passport, plus visa or e-Visa if needed
• Original registration, and power of attorney if the bike is not yours
• Green Card covering Türkiye, or money to buy a policy at customs
• At the port 1.5 hours before departure
• Bike recorded by Turkish customs before you ride off