The municipal ferry service across the Gulf of İzmir is both a practical transport option and one of the most pleasant twenty minutes available in the city. Boats run frequently from Konak and Pasaport piers on the central waterfront to Karşıyaka and Bostanlı on the northern shore. The crossing takes 20–25 minutes each way.
On the ferry, the city reveals itself differently — the long sweep of the waterfront from Konak to Alsancak, the hills rising behind to Kadifekale, the cruise ships at anchor in the outer bay. In the early morning and evening commuter hours, the ferries are packed with locals; at midday, they are quieter and it is easy to stand on the open deck and watch the city from the water. The fare is almost nothing.