Getting around by boat and ferry Route de la soie

The first phase of one of the windows of Marseille, the place of convergence of the Marseille people, took place just before the event Marseille Provence 2013. The semi-piétonisation of this highly mineral natural space pays homage to its original aspect of 26 centuries ago, when Protis reaches its vaisseau vessel in the calanque of the Lacydon. The Old Port has been completely redesigned, redesigned, and the beautiful share has been made to pedestrians that significantly reduce the previously dedicated place for motorists. The second stage, with the end of the paving of the Island of Neuve (delivery before summer 2016) and the Port Pier (in 2017), as well as the creation of a parks of the Catalans and Fort Saint-Nicolas parks, and that of a public garden in the Anse du Pharo, started in September 2015 and will end in 2020. If the barriers to the Old Port have disappeared, further improvements have been made to the use of recreational boaters.

La Méridionale is the historic company for crossings between Marseille and Corsica. On board, you'll enjoy a warm welcome and top-quality services. You'll enjoy a comfortable cabin and a tasty Corsican-inspired meal concocted by the chef and his brigade. You'll travel in serenity and relaxation. Crossings are made at night on board human-sized ships, and 90% of customers say they are satisfied with their crossings on board (survey of 2,494 customers in 2022).

This private company manages certain maritime links in the city of Istanbul. The deniz otobüsü - fast boats - mainly cover long distances. They also allow you to go to the Princes' Islands and across the Marmara Sea: to Bursa, Bandırma or Yalova. In any case, get the leaflet indicating the lines and timetables, available at all ticket offices. The most important port is Yenikapi.

The Alilaguna company provides a connection between Marco Polo airport and Venice. Count on average 1h to 1h15 to reach the stops served in the lagoon and on the Grand Canal. It's quite long but much more pleasant than the bus ride... You will see the city opening up little by little before your eyes, right on the water... a great show! Five lines in total, the blue one (Airport, Murano, Lido, San Marco), the orange one (Airport, Guglie, Rialto, San Maria del Giglio) and the red one (Certosa, Lido, San Marco and Cruise Terminal) embody this network.

The Autonomous Port of Marseille is the number one in France and is particularly used for its regular lines to the Maghreb, Corsica and its neighbouring island, Sardinia. It has enclosed and secure cruise terminals and is very easy to access, as it is served by numerous means of public transport via the Joliette, metro or tranway. Numerous cruises also stop here since the city's tourist boom in 2013.

Taking a trip between the 4 stations of the Vaporetto on the Saône River has become a habit for those who want an easy link between Vaise, Vieux Lyon (Saint-Paul), Bellecour and Confluence, without having to use asphalt. The Vaporetto is an environmentally-friendly river shuttle with a hybrid engine. A pleasant little cruise between Vieux Lyon and the ultra-modern Confluence district. Futé loves the unlimited pass offer at a very attractive price.

Impossible to miss, it's the most established company with the largest fleet. At the port of Piraeus, the Blue Star ferries announce the color and destination of your dreams: Paros, Naxos, Santorini, Amorgos... It's even possible to let yourself be carried away by the stopovers to discover the Cyclades. These boats also take cars and offer all the comforts you need: bars, restaurants, stores and even cash dispensers. Connections from Piraeus to the Cyclades and the Dodecanese islands.

A recent company created in May 2016 out of the ashes of SNCM. With a fleet of seven ships, it offers crossings from Marseilles on one of its four mixed cargo vessels (passengers and freight) to Ajaccio, Bastia, Ile-Rousse and Porto-Vecchio. Journeys to Sardinia, Algeria and Tunisia are also provided. Some ships can accommodate more than 2,000 passengers and up to 800 vehicles. The staff is attentive and comfortable, with each ship having bars, snack bars and restaurants. In 2017, Corsica Linea still carried 560,000 passengers. Promotions are offered online.

Passenger traffic through the port of Genoa is very heavy every year. The Stazione Marittima has several berths for cruise ships, just a few steps from the Porto Antico and the historic center. From the Terminal Traghetti, ships arrive and depart for the main Mediterranean ports: Olbia, Arbatax and Porto Torres in Sardinia, Bastia in Corsica, Palermo in Sicily and, further afield, Barcelona, Tunis and Tangiers. Mobylines (www.moby.it), Grandi Navi Veloci (www.gnv.it) and Tirrenia (www.tirrenia.it) share the market.

Koutsoukellis Yachting offers yacht and sailboat charters with or without crew and a selection that can satisfy all tastes and needs. The establishment provides a personalized service that will turn your vacation into an unforgettable experience. Choose a yacht or a sailboat and embark for the Greek islands: Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, or Kos, Rhodes, Samos (Dodecanese) or Corfu and Lefkada (Ionian Sea). Whether you want special offers or budget luxury, the company will find the perfect solution for you.

ATVO S.p.A. is a transport company offering bus services between Venice Marco Polo airport and the city of Venice, as well as the Mestre railway station. The buses are comfortable, air-conditioned and equipped with a luggage hold. ATVO also offers connections to coastal points of interest such as Lido di Jesolo, Cavallino-Treporti, Eraclea Mare, Caorle, Bibione and Lignano Sabbiadoro. Customers can purchase discounted tickets online, on board Easy Jet aircraft, at ticket offices and vending machines at Venice Marco Polo airport, and at ATVO sales offices in Venice and Mestre. It is also possible to obtain itinerary information and purchase tickets for Venice's "vaporetti" boats at ATVO ticket offices and sales offices. Tickets must be validated before boarding the bus.

Tours to Cinque Terre and Portofino. Catamarano, Alassio, Loano, Portofino, Monte Carlo.

La Méridionale, the historic company for crossings between Marseille and Corsica, now offers a regular service between Marseille and Tangiers to discover Morocco. On board, you'll enjoy a warm welcome, comfortable cabins and a wide range of facilities (restaurant, play area). The atmosphere is one of conviviality. Crossings are made aboard a ship on a human scale. La Méridionale's excellent reputation for friendliness, service and hospitality is widely acclaimed by travelers.

Istanbul Şehir Hatları AŞ Genel Müdürlüğü is a transport company based in Istanbul. No: 63/A, 34440 Beyoğlu/İstanbul. The company offers ferry and cruise services on the Bosphorus, as well as boat rental and shipyard services.

St. Petersburg's seaport is an important access point for ships and ferries into the city. The port has several departments, including a commercial department and a material and technical supply management.

Guarantees connections between Genoa and Sardinia (Palau, La Maddalena).

This private company is one of the first competitors of the municipality's boats. It offers various trips between the two shores, cruises on the Bosporus and trips to the Princes' Islands. The advantage of these private boats is that they provide the connection Kabataş-Üsküdar (from 6:45 am to midnight every day, a boat every 15 minutes), unlike the municipality, for the same rate as city boats. Possibility to eat on board. Timetables to be consulted on the website.

It is impossible to talk about Lyon without mentioning its waterways, which are used by barges and pleasure boaters alike. The Voies Navigables de France manages, operates and develops the largest European network of navigable waterways, consisting of 6,700 km of canals and rivers, more than 4,000 engineering structures and 40,000 ha of public domain along the waterway. Between the Rhône and the Saône, VNF does not fail to inform the numerous pleasure boaters and sportsmen, in particular rowers, of the conditions for using the waterways.

The city manages almost all of Istanbul's maritime links. Ideal transport to travel on both sides of the Bosphorus, there are many ports, so that it is as easy to take the boat as any other means of transport. It is also possible to visit the Princes' Islands. Boats have the advantage of avoiding the city's endless traffic jams and thus saving you time. There are departures every 15 minutes between Europe and Asia. It is also a great way to discover Istanbul.

Located in Karaköy and close to the Galata Bridge, this port welcomes cruise ships. You can easily see it from the historical city (Golden Horn side). It includes a tourist office. In addition to hosting ships, it is also a shopping center and a cultural space. It is a huge project that was born in 2022 and should attract tourists. The architecture of the port is sober and it has an underground terminal, a world first! If you don't like shopping, a path along the Bosphorus has been developed.