Ferries from Mytilene, the main port of Lesvos, reach Ayvalık in 45 to 75 minutes and run all year. The boats are based in Ayvalık, so as of October 2026 they leave Mytilene in the late afternoon and arrive in Ayvalık in the early evening. That works well for a one-way crossing or a few nights in Turkey, and the car ferries also take vehicles.
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Stay near the port: Ayvalık
Getting around Ayvalık
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Short answer
As of 11 November 2026, the Lesvos–Ayvalık crossing takes 45–90 minutes (operators: Jalem Tur, Turyol, Ertürk Lines (summer) and Uğur Jale Lines); an adult foot passenger pays €30–35 one way. Season: Year-round; daily in summer, mostly 4 days a week in Nov–Mar (Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun). Documents: Turkey is outside Schengen; UK and most EU citizens need no visa for up to 90 days in 180, and German, Dutch, Belgian, French and Swiss citizens can enter with an ID card.
Data behind this answer: ferry fares 2026 (CSV) · 2027 timetable tracker · ferry map and route data
- Route: Mytilene harbour, in the town centre, to the Ayvalık sea border gate on the town waterfront.
- Departures (as of October 2026): Jalem Tur’s sea bus at 17:45 on its own timetable (shown up to 23 October); Uğur Jale Lines at 17:45, moving to 16:45 from 25 October; Turyol also sails the route.
- Crossing: about 45 minutes on the sea buses and catamarans, about 75 minutes on the car ferries.
- Fares (as of October 2026): the operators publish €35 one way and €45 return for an adult on the sea bus, priced from Ayvalık. They do not publish separate fares for trips starting in Mytilene, so check when you book.
- Cars: yes, on the car ferries, with the rental company’s written permission and insurance that covers Turkey.
- Entry to Turkey: UK, German, Dutch, Austrian and Swiss citizens need no visa for up to 90 days in 180 days. Germans, Dutch and Swiss can use a national ID card; Austrians need a passport.
Only going for the day? Our Lesvos to Ayvalık day trip page explains why a same-day return is rarely possible and suggests a one- or two-night plan.
Travelling from Turkey? Crossings that start in Ayvalık, with the Greek entry check on arrival, are in our Ayvalık to Lesvos ferry guide.
Operators and timetable
All sailings use Mytilene’s main harbour. Once you are through Greek exit control, it is a short crossing to the Ayvalık sea border gate (Ayvalık Deniz Hudut Kapısı), where Turkish passport control and customs take place.
| Operator / boat | Type | Crossing | Departs Mytilene (as of Oct 2026) | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jalem Tur, Eşref Jale | Sea bus / catamaran | 45 min | 17:45 on 16–18 and 21–23 Oct (no 19–20 Oct) | No |
| Uğur Jale Lines, Seda Jale | Ferry | 1 h 15 min | 16:45 on 1 Nov; 4 and 5 Nov extra sailings at other times; from 6 Nov to 29 May 2027 16:45 on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays (17:45 from 28 Mar 2027), also Sat 28 Nov and Fri 1 Jan (checked 30 Oct 2026, our report) | Yes |
| Turyol, Fokaia | Car ferry | about 75 min | 17:45, 16:45 from 25 Oct (third-party timetable) | Yes |
| Turyol, catamaran Kalimnos | Catamaran | about 45 min | Fri–Sun (third-party timetable) | No |
What the operators’ own pages show: Jalem Tur’s timetable showed Mytilene departures up to 29 October when we checked on 22 October 2026 (16:30 from 25 October). Uğur Jale Lines’ timetable ran to 20 November when we checked on 22 October 2026. Turyol’s own fare page shows no times; its pattern above comes from a Turkish ferry listings site used in our Ayvalık to Lesvos ferry guide.
November and December: according to timetables on third-party sites, Jalem Tur sails Wednesday to Sunday until 1 November and then four days a week (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday) through November and December, with its Mytilene departure moving to 16:30 from 25 October. Turyol’s own timetable (checked 1 November 2026) lists the Fokaia from Mytilene at 16:45 on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (17:45 from 28 March 2027) at least until the end of April 2027, with departures from Ayvalık at 09:00 (Sundays 12:00), and the Kalimnos catamaran from Mytilene at 16:30 on Fridays to Sundays until 28 February 2027 (details). Treat these as provisional until they appear on the operators’ own sites.
Occasional morning boats (checked 22 October 2026): Jalem Tur lists a 09:00 departure from Mytilene on Thursday 29 October, with an 18:00 sailing back from Ayvalık the same day, and Uğur Jale Lines lists 09:00 from Mytilene and 18:00 from Ayvalık on 4 and 5 November, so a same-day return works on those dates. The timetable on Ertürk’s agency site (checked 24 October 2026) shows the same Thursday pair (Mytilene 09:00, Ayvalık 18:00, under the ship name Fatih Jale) every Thursday from 5 November 2026 to 25 February 2027; Jalem Tur’s own page shows only about a week ahead, so we could not confirm the later dates. Earlier one-off morning sailings included Uğur Jale Lines’ 06:45 on 16 October. These are not part of the regular pattern; see our Lesvos to Ayvalık day trip guide.
Ferryscanner lists Jale Turizm, Jalem Tur, Turyol and Uğur Jale on the Lesvos to Ayvalık route, with foot-passenger fares of €30 to €35. Its weekly counts are inconsistent, so use the operators’ timetables for planning.
Ayvalık is not the only Turkish port reachable from Lesvos. İDO sails from Mytilene to Dikili in season; see the Dikili to Lesvos ferry guide and the ferry map.
Fares and tickets
Jalem Tur and Turyol publish identical fares on their own sites (checked October 2026), in both cases for the Ayvalık to Mytilene direction:
| Ticket | Sea bus / catamaran | Car ferry |
|---|---|---|
| Adult one way / return | €35 / €45 | €30 / €40 |
| Child 6–12 one way / return | €22.50 / €27.50 | €20 / €25 |
| Infant | €10 | €10 |
| Car one way / return | – | €75 / €110 |
| Motorbike one way / return | – | €40 / €60 |
Neither operator lists fares for tickets that start in Mytilene. Ask the operator, or compare prices on a booking site, before you buy.
Ayvalık port fee: both operators add a port fee of 300 TL per passenger (750 TL for a car) for passengers leaving Ayvalık, paid in cash at the port entrance. It does not apply on your crossing from Lesvos, but it will on a return trip. They also list a Turkish exit levy; ask the operator whether it applies to you.
Where to buy: jalemtur.com, turyolonline.com, Uğur Jale Lines’ site, or Ferryscanner. Book early for summer weekends and Turkish public holidays, especially with a car.
Luggage: none of the operator pages we checked publishes a luggage allowance. Ask if you travel with more than a suitcase each.
Taking a car
Turyol Fokaia and Uğur Jale Lines’ ferry carry vehicles; the sea buses do not. A Greek rental car needs the rental company’s written permission to leave Greece and insurance that covers Turkey, and many companies do not allow it. With your own car, bring the registration document (or a notarised authorisation from the owner) and a Green Card valid for Turkey. Our guide to taking a car to the Greek islands covers the paperwork.
At Mytilene port
Jalem Tur’s general terms ask all passengers, drivers included, to be at the port at least two hours before departure; Ferryscanner’s Jalem Tur page says one hour and a 2026 Turkish ferry guide 1.5 hours. Allow two hours, especially with a car or on busy days.
- Swap your booking for a boarding card at the operator’s desk.
- Greek exit control (EES for non-EU travellers; see the entry box below).
- Board. In Ayvalık, Turkish passport control and customs are at the sea border gate.
Passports and visas for Turkey
Entry to Turkey in brief
- Leaving Greece: you pass a Schengen exit check at the Greek port. Non-EU travellers are recorded in the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), fully running since 10 April 2026; EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are not. GOV.UK says Greek authorities have indicated they will not take UK travellers' fingerprints and photos.
- Entering Turkey: Turkey is outside Schengen. UK, German, Dutch, Swiss and most other EU citizens need no visa for up to 90 days in 180. Germans, Dutch, Belgians, French and Swiss can enter with an ID card; Austrians, Danes, Swedes and Finns need a passport. Republic of Cyprus passport holders need a visa before they travel. Everyone else: check the Turkish Foreign Ministry and apply only on evisa.gov.tr.
- Schengen visas: a single-entry Schengen visa is used up when you leave Greece; coming back is a new Schengen entry.
- Clocks: Turkey stays on UTC+3. From 25 October 2026 to 28 March 2027 it is one hour ahead of Greece, so ask which clock your ticket uses.
Full rules by nationality, with sources: entry rules in our Turkey day trips guide · EES and ETIAS guide. Checked October 2026.
On this crossing:
- Arriving in Ayvalık: Turkish passport control and customs are at the sea border gate.
- Clocks: in winter, a 75-minute crossing leaving Mytilene at 16:45 Greek time would arrive at about 19:00 Turkish time, but Uğur Jale Lines’ timetable shows its 16:45 from 25 October arriving at 18:00, which suggests it uses Turkish time. No timetable states a time zone, so ask which clock your ticket uses.
Arriving in Ayvalık
The sea border gate is on the town-centre waterfront, and the old town is within walking distance. See our Ayvalık ferry port page for the terminal.
- Around town: taxis are the simplest way to Cunda or Şeytan Sofrası. Municipal buses run from the bus station to the centre, Cunda and Sarımsaklı.
- Bus onward: intercity buses use Ayvalık bus station (Ayvalık Otogarı). Ticket sites show journeys to İzmir of roughly two to three hours; some buses stop at Altınova or the Ayvalık junction instead, so check where yours stops.
- Airports: Balıkesir Koca Seyit Airport (EDO) near Edremit is the closest; GoTürkiye puts it about 45 km from Küçükköy, just south of Ayvalık, and Pegasus says shuttles and taxis run between the airport and Ayvalık. İzmir Adnan Menderes (ADB) has far more international flights but no Havaş bus to Ayvalık; GoTürkiye gives about 178 km from the airport to Küçükköy. Details are on our İzmir airport transfers page.
- Money: Turkey uses the Turkish lira. Cards are widely accepted, but carry some lira for taxis and buses. The German Foreign Office notes that Turkish banks usually charge a fee for cash withdrawals.
What to see in town is in our Ayvalık travel guide.
Staying in Ayvalık
With an evening arrival, a hotel in the centre lets you walk from the ferry. Both come from our accommodation guide; for more areas see where to stay in Ayvalık.
Kidalyo Hotel - Special Category
Ayvalık town centre
- Best for: couples, history lovers
A central first night in Turkey after the boat from Mytilene; adults only.
Orchis Hotel
Ayvalık town centre (Pazar Yeri)
- Best for: night before the ferry, couples, families
In the town centre near the sea, where the Lesvos boats also dock, so a short walk with luggage.
For the crossing in the other direction, see the Ayvalık to Lesvos ferry guide. Operator profiles: Jalem Tur and Turyol.
Trip toolkit
Tours and day trips
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FAQ
Is there a morning ferry from Mytilene to Ayvalık?
Not regularly. The timetables show late-afternoon departures from Mytilene, with occasional morning sailings: when we checked on 22 October 2026, 09:00 on 29 October (Jalem Tur) and on 4 and 5 November (Uğur Jale Lines), each with an 18:00 return from Ayvalık the same day.
How long is the ferry from Lesvos to Ayvalık?
About 45 minutes on Jalem Tur’s sea bus and Turyol’s catamaran, and about 75 minutes on the car ferries.
How much does the ferry cost?
As of October 2026, the operators publish €35 one way for an adult on the sea bus and €30 on the car ferry, priced from Ayvalık. Ferryscanner lists €30 to €35 from Mytilene.
Does the ferry run in winter?
Yes, on fewer days. Third-party timetables show Jalem Tur four days a week and Turyol three days a week in November 2026. Check the operators’ sites closer to your date.
Can I take a hire car from Lesvos to Turkey?
Only with the rental company’s written permission and insurance valid in Turkey. Many companies do not allow it.
Do I need a visa for Turkey?
Not as a UK, German, Dutch, Austrian or Swiss citizen for stays up to 90 days in 180 days. Other nationalities should check the Turkish Foreign Ministry’s visa page.
Timetables, prices and entry rules change; check the official source before you travel.
Sources
- Jalem Tur – Sailing times (checked 22 Oct 2026)
- Ertürk Lines – Ayvalık–Mytilene timetable (agency listing) (checked 22 and 24 Oct 2026)
- Jalem Tur – Fares (accessed Oct 2026)
- Jalem Tur – General terms and rules (Turkish) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Turyol – Ayvalık–Mytilene fares (accessed Oct 2026)
- Uğur Jale Lines – Timetable (checked 22 Oct 2026)
- Uğur Jale Lines – About us (accessed Oct 2026)
- Feribotseferleri.com.tr – Mytilene–Ayvalık sailings (accessed Oct 2026)
- Feribotseferleri.com.tr – Ayvalık–Mytilene sailings 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
- Feribotseferleri.com.tr – Ayvalık–Mytilene guide 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryscanner – Lesvos to Ayvalık (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryscanner – Lesbos nach Ayvalık (German) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryscanner – Jalem Tur (accessed Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK – Turkey entry requirements (accessed Oct 2026)
- Auswärtiges Amt – Türkei: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (accessed Oct 2026)
- ÖAMTC – Travel information for Turkey (accessed Oct 2026)
- Republic of Türkiye MFA – Visa information for foreigners (accessed Oct 2026)
- Republic of Türkiye MFA – Countries whose citizens can enter with national ID cards (accessed Oct 2026)
- Republic of Türkiye e-Visa (accessed Oct 2026)
- European Commission – Entry/Exit System (accessed Oct 2026)
- Hellenic MFA – EES takes full effect on 10 April 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK – Vehicle insurance when driving abroad (accessed Oct 2026)
- Dave’s Travel Pages – Renting a car in Greece (updated July 2026) (accessed Oct 2026)
- GoTürkiye – Ayvalık (accessed Oct 2026)
- Pegasus – Balıkesir Koca Seyit Airport (accessed Oct 2026)
- Turna – İzmir–Ayvalık bus (accessed Oct 2026)
- timeanddate.com – Clock changes in Athens (accessed Oct 2026)
- Wikipedia – Time in Turkey (accessed Oct 2026)
- Turyol – Timetable, Ayvalık–Lesvos (Fokaia) (checked 1 November 2026)
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