Istanbul to Bodrum is 360 nautical miles: about 4 days non-stop, or about 9 days with overnight stops.
1. Route details
| Route | Distance | Non-stop | With overnight stops |
|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul → Bodrum | 360 NM | 4 days | 9 days |
Durations assume 8 hours under way per day, 18 knots for motor yachts and 7 knots for sailing yachts and catamarans. Weather waits and port formalities can add time.
2. On the route
The route crosses the Sea of Marmara and leaves through the Dardanelles into the Aegean, then runs south via Bozcaada-Babakale, Ayvalık, Çeşme, Kuşadası and Didim to Bodrum. Fuel and rest stops are planned in these ports.
The Marmara and the Dardanelles carry heavy ship traffic: the strait is transited in daylight, following the traffic separation scheme and keeping a listening watch on the relevant VHF traffic channel. More: Marmara and the straits.
3. Weather, current and season
The surface current in the Dardanelles runs south towards the Aegean and helps a southbound boat. The prevailing north wind in the Aegean (poyraz, and the meltemi in summer) is behind you going south; Babakale point and the waters off Karaburun and Çeşme are where it builds.
Spring and autumn are the main delivery seasons.
4. Fuel and stops
Typical legs with overnight stops:
- Istanbul - Marmara Island or the Erdek area.
- Marmara - Çanakkale.
- Çanakkale - Bozcaada or Babakale.
- Babakale - Ayvalık.
- Ayvalık - Çeşme (rounding Karaburun).
- Çeşme - Kuşadası or Sığacık.
- Kuşadası - Didim.
- Didim - Bodrum.
Legs are combined or split to suit the boat's speed and the weather; a shelter is chosen for every leg.
5. Before departure
- Papers: registration, insurance confirmed to cover the delivery, and for foreign-flagged yachts a valid transit log.
- Readiness for sea: engine oil and cooling, fuel filters and spares, bilge pumps, navigation lights, VHF and safety gear.
- The day before departure the forecast and the shelters along the route are reviewed one last time; the go/no-go decision is the skipper's.
- A photo-documented report is made at departure and on arrival, from the same angles.
6. How the delivery works
Quote, preparation, skippered passage and photo-documented handover are described on the delivery services page. Fuel, marina and port costs and the crew's return travel are listed as separate items in the quote; if you have just bought the boat, the survey and the delivery can be planned in one quote.
Delivery fee on this route (2026)
Skippered delivery Istanbul - Bodrum, 360 nautical miles, from our delivery calculator for the normal season (April-October). Fuel, provisions and marina fees are excluded; motor yacht fuel is calculated separately; a 20 percent winter supplement applies from November to March. Prices exclude VAT.
| Length | Sailing yacht | Motor yacht | Catamaran |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 ft | €1,950 + VAT | €850 + VAT | €1,950 + VAT |
| 40 ft | €1,950 + VAT | €850 + VAT | €1,950 + VAT |
| 50 ft | €2,150 + VAT | €950 + VAT | €2,150 + VAT |
Other lengths and dates: open this route in the calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Pages
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