Bodrum Ferry Port 2026: Kale (Castle) Port or Cruise Port?

Bodrum has two ferry terminals: Kale (Castle) Port by the castle, 450 m from the town square, and the Cruise Port in Kumbahçe, 1.9 km away. Routes, parking.

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On this page
  1. Short answer
  2. Getting to the port
  3. Parking
  4. Check-in and passport control
  5. Facilities
  6. Ferries from this port
  7. Choosing the right terminal
  8. The night before the ferry
  9. FAQ

The Bodrum ferry port is really two ferry terminals that are not next to each other: the small Kale Port (Castle Port, Kale Limanı) beside Bodrum Castle, and the Bodrum Cruise Port terminal in Kumbahçe, run by Global Ports Holding, which gives the distance to the city centre as 1.5 km. Boats to Kos leave from both, depending on the operator; your ticket names the terminal. Sailings from Turgutreis use a separate marina at the west end of the peninsula.

Short answer

  • Two separate terminals: Kale Port (Castle Port, Kale Limanı) is on the west side of Bodrum Castle, on the quay facing the marina, entered from Belediye Meydanı (the town hall square). Bodrum Cruise Port (Kruvaziyer Limanı) is at the far end of the bay east of the castle, on İskele Caddesi in Kumbahçe. Your ticket names the terminal.
  • Between the two: about 1.3 km in a straight line; about 2.2 km and roughly 30 minutes on foot along the seafront (our approximate calculation from OpenStreetMap data).
  • Walking from the centre: from Belediye Meydanı about 450 m (5–6 minutes) to Kale Port and about 1.9 km (around 25 minutes) to the Cruise Port. From the Merkez Garaj minibus station, Kale Port is about 1 km, 12–13 minutes.
  • Getting there: take a dolmuş to Merkez Garaj and walk, or take a taxi; the port operator says taxis are available at the Cruise Port terminal.
  • Operators (2026): Kos sailings by Tilos Travel and (per booking sites) Dentur Avrasya leave from Kale Port; Tilos Travel’s Leros sailings and the operators the port lists, Turkish Sea Lines, Yeşil Marmaris and Bodrum Sea Lines, use the Cruise Port. Details in the table below.
  • Routes from here: Bodrum → Kos, Bodrum → Leros
  • Check-in: Tilos Travel asks Kos passengers to be at its check-in office 1 hour before departure to collect the ticket and to be on board 15 minutes before sailing, earlier in peak season.
  • Parking: The port operator says Bodrum Cruise Port has parking for up to 100 cars. According to Bodrum Sea Lines (email, 25 October 2026) it is free from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027 and paid in season; the in-season fee and multi-day conditions are not published. We found no official parking information for Kale Port.

Kale Port or Cruise Port?

Kale Port (Castle Port) Bodrum Cruise Port
Location West side of the castle, quay facing the marina; entrance from Belediye Meydanı, customs passenger hall on the quay Kumbahçe, İskele Caddesi; operated by Global Ports Holding
Operators in 2026 Tilos Travel (Kos, Sea Star Kos); Dentur Avrasya (Kos, per booking sites); Bodrum Feribot (domestic Datça line) Tilos Travel (Leros, 15 May – 25 October 2026); the port’s own list: Turkish Sea Lines, Yeşil Marmaris, Bodrum Sea Lines and Tilos; booking sites also show Bodrum Ferryboat’s Kos sailings here
Walk from Belediye Meydanı about 450 m, 5–6 min about 1.9 km, around 25 min
Walk from Merkez Garaj about 1 km, 12–13 min about 1.9 km, around 25 min
From the intercity bus station in Torba (by road) about 5.5 km about 6.5 km
Parking no official information up to 100 cars per the operator; per Bodrum Sea Lines free 1 November 2026 – 31 March 2027, paid in season (fee not published)

The two ports are about 1.3 km apart in a straight line, about 2.2 km (roughly 30 minutes) on foot along the Kumbahçe seafront and about 2.3 km by road. If you turn up at the wrong one, a taxi covers the gap in a few minutes, traffic permitting in summer. We calculated these distances on 24 October 2026 with the OSRM routing engine from OpenStreetMap records downloaded on 15 October 2026 (Kale Port ferry terminal, Cruise Port ferry quay, Belediye Meydanı, Bodrum minibus station, intercity bus station); they are rounded and approximate. The port operator gives a 10-minute walk from the Cruise Port to the castle and 1.5 km to the city centre; the Kumbahçe side of the castle is closer to the Cruise Port than Belediye Meydanı is.

Bodrum Sea Lines’ own site also names Kale Port among the places it sails from, while its booking screen lists the departure as “Bodrum (Cruise Port)”. We could not confirm the Kos terminal for Dentur Avrasya and Bodrum Ferryboat on those companies’ own sites. The terminal printed on your ticket is what counts.

The ports on the map

Bodrum · ferry terminal and surroundings
T T T T T T T P P P P 200 m N © OpenStreetMap contributors
  • Ferry terminal
  • PParking
  • Bus stop
  • TTaxi

Map drawn from OpenStreetMap data (October 2026). Terminals and customs points are placed where OSM tags them; your ticket has the binding meeting point and time. Data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL

Aerial view of boats anchored in a bay near Bodrum
Aerial view of boats anchored in a bay near Bodrum · Photo: Kaan Kosemen / Unsplash

Getting to the port

  • On foot: The Castle Port is in the old town beside the castle, 5–6 minutes from Belediye Meydanı. The Cruise Port is about 1.5 km from the centre according to its operator (about 1.9 km along the seafront from Belediye Meydanı by our OpenStreetMap calculation), so walking is possible with light luggage.
  • Taxi: Booking platforms put a taxi from the centre at about 5 to 10 minutes. In summer the roads near the harbour get busy, so allow extra time.
  • Dolmuş (minibus): Muttaş minibuses link Bodrum Merkez Garaj in the centre with Gümbet, Bitez, Turgutreis, Yalıkavak and other resorts; line 2-81 runs between Torba bus station and the centre.
  • From the airport: Milas-Bodrum Airport is 36 km from the centre according to TAV. Muttaş line 48-24 and Havaş run to Bodrum, but neither goes to the harbour; take a taxi or transfer for the last stretch. See Bodrum Airport transfers.
  • By car: Parking in the town centre is hard in summer. Most Greek-island boats from Bodrum carry no cars; according to Ertürk (email, 25 October 2026), the Turkish Sea Lines agency’s Kos ferry from the Cruise Port accepts vehicles (ask Turkish Sea Lines about days and fares; details in our Bodrum to Kos ferry guide).

Parking

Bodrum Cruise Port’s own transport page says the port has parking for up to 100 cars; it gives no fees, opening hours or multi-day conditions. In an email on 17 October 2026 Turyol told us this car park is free in winter (November to April) and paid in summer; we could not confirm that on the port’s own page. Yeşil Marmaris Lines also told us by email on 25 October 2026 that passengers can leave cars in the open car park at Bodrum port and should ask the port about the fee; the company says all port taxes are included in its own ticket prices. Bodrum Sea Lines, in its email reply of 25 October 2026, said there is parking at the port, free from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027 and paid in season; this matches Turyol’s winter/summer split, but no operator gave the in-season fee. We found no official parking information for Kale Port. If you plan to leave a car in season while you visit Kos, ask your operator or the port about the fee.

A white and blue boat in Kardamaina harbour on Kos
A white and blue boat in Kardamaina harbour on Kos · Photo: Jared Lisack / Unsplash

Check-in and passport control

Tilos Travel asks Kos passengers to be at its check-in office 1 hour before departure to collect the ticket and to be on board 15 minutes before sailing, earlier in peak season. Booking platforms give at least 60 minutes for other operators, and some sources 90 minutes in summer. Bodrum Sea Lines’ office at the Cruise Port opens at 07:45 and closes at 18:30, according to the company (email, 25 October 2026). The order is check-in, security scan, Turkish exit passport control, boarding; Greek border control with EES is on arrival.

Facilities

Global Ports Holding describes a terminal building at Bodrum Cruise Port with duty-free shopping, travel agencies and a restaurant. We could not verify facilities at the Castle Port.

Planned expansion (November 2026): the Cruise Port’s operator plans a new 106.8 m ferry pier (ferries able to berth at once rising from 3 to 4) and berths for 130 boats. The environmental impact review is under way, with the review commission meeting on 1 December 2026; there is no approval or construction date, and sailings this winter are not affected. Details: our news report.

A person on a ferry deck looking out over the sea
A person on a ferry deck looking out over the sea · Photo: Veronica Dudarev / Unsplash

Ferries from this port

Route Operators Season Crossing Guide
Bodrum → Kos Tilos Travel (Sea Star Kos), Makri Travel, Bodrum Ferryboat, Dentur Avrasya, Bodrum Sea Lines, Yeşil Marmaris Lines, Exas, Lafasi, Turyol, Turkish Sea Lines, Sky Marine Year-round; many daily sailings in summer, reduced in winter 20–45 min Bodrum → Kos
Bodrum → Leros Tilos Travel (Sea Star Kos) 15 May – 25 October 2026, daily (Tilos Travel) 60 min Bodrum → Leros
Bodrum → Tilos Tilos Travel (Sea Star) unconfirmed 150 min –
Bodrum → Symi Makri Travel (per Ferryhopper) unconfirmed 95–120 min –
Bodrum → Rhodes Makri Travel (per Ferryhopper), İDO (sells ‘Bodrum–Rodos’) unconfirmed 120 min –

Choosing the right terminal

  • Check which terminal is on your ticket; which operator uses which port is in the “Kale Port or Cruise Port?” table at the top of this page.
  • Landing at Milas-Bodrum and sailing the same day is possible but tight once you add the drive, summer traffic and passport control; a night in Bodrum first removes the risk.
  • Tilos Travel accepts Turkish passengers with the island express visa for Kos only on certain morning sailings from the Castle Port.
Aerial view of Bodrum's white buildings
Aerial view of Bodrum's white buildings · Photo: Mert Kahveci / Unsplash

The night before the ferry

Bodrum has two departure points about 2.2 km apart along the Kumbahçe seafront, so choose a room near the one your ticket names: Kale Port for Tilos Travel’s Kos boats, the Cruise Port for Leros and for the Turkish Sea Lines Kos ferry that takes cars. Areas and hotels: where to stay in Bodrum; the town: Bodrum travel guide.

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FAQ

Where is Bodrum Castle Port (Kale Port)?

On the west side of Bodrum Castle, on the quay facing Milta Marina. You enter from Belediye Meydanı, the square on the north side of the castle; from there it is about 450 m, 5–6 minutes on foot, to the customs passenger hall (our calculation from OpenStreetMap data). The Merkez Garaj minibus station is about 1 km away. Bodrum Cruise Port in Kumbahçe is a different terminal, so check which one is on your ticket.

How far is Kale Port from Bodrum Cruise Port?

About 1.3 km in a straight line; about 2.2 km and roughly 30 minutes on foot along the Kumbahçe seafront, or about 2.3 km by road (our approximate calculation from OpenStreetMap data). If you realise late that you are at the wrong port, take a taxi.

Which Bodrum terminal does my Kos ferry leave from?

It depends on the operator: Tilos Travel uses the Castle Port beside the castle; booking sites list other operators at either the Castle Port or Bodrum Cruise Port. Your ticket names the terminal; see the Bodrum to Kos ferry guide.

Where do boats to Leros leave from?

Tilos Travel says its Leros sailings leave only from Bodrum Cruise Port. See the Bodrum to Leros ferry guide.

How early should I be at the port?

Tilos Travel asks for 1 hour before departure at its check-in office; for other operators, plan at least 60 minutes and up to 90 in summer, and follow the time on your ticket.

Is there parking at Bodrum ferry port?

Bodrum Cruise Port says it has parking for up to 100 cars but publishes no fees or long-stay conditions. According to Bodrum Sea Lines (email, 25 October 2026), the car park is free from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027 and paid in season. We found no official information for Kale Port. Ask your operator or the port about the fee if you are leaving a car for a few days in season.

Timetables, prices and entry rules change; check the official source before you travel.

Sources

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