Marmaray to Florya from Bakirkoy: Stops and Tips

To reach Florya from Bakırköy by Marmaray, take a Halkalı-bound train from Marmaray Bakırköy station; get off at Florya Akvaryum, the fourth stop, for the aquarium, or at Florya, the next stop, for the beach. Door to door, Istanbul Aquarium is about 30 minutes away, including the 8-minute walk from us to the station.

The Marmaray is the suburban line running between Halkalı and Gebze, linking the European and Asian sides under the Bosphorus. Marmaray Bakırköy station sits on it, so the same station is your gateway both to Florya and to the city centre.

Stop order heading west from Bakırköy

Past Florya the line continues through Küçükçekmece to Halkalı. If you miss your stop, simply get off at the next one and take a train back in the opposite direction.

Riding it, step by step

1. Have your Istanbulkart ready. Istanbulkart is valid on the Marmaray. Check the current fare from official sources.
2. Check the direction. Follow the Halkalı direction on the platform. The Gebze direction takes you to Yenikapı and Sirkeci.
3. Count the stops. Listen to the announcements; Florya Akvaryum is the fourth stop.
4. Get off at the right stop. Florya Akvaryum for the aquarium, Florya for the beach.
5. Take the Gebze direction back. Get off at Bakırköy after Yeşilköy, Yeşilyurt and Ataköy.

Marmaray or taxi?

The general rule: on weekdays outside peak hours the Marmaray is convenient; with a stroller, a lot of luggage or an older family member who finds walking hard, a taxi can be more comfortable.

Peak hours

The Marmaray can be crowded on weekday mornings and evenings. Check current departure information from TCDD Taşımacılık / Marmaray sources. With a family, setting off after the morning rush and timing the return before or after the evening commute makes the trip easier.

What the sea route is for

Sea bus and fast ferry services from Bakırköy seafront and İDO ferry pier run to Yalova and Bursa; if you want to add a Bursa or Yalova day to your Istanbul trip, the pier is a 14-minute walk from the accommodation. For Florya, the most practical options are the Marmaray and a car. For city ferry services, check the current timetable.

The same line into the city centre

The same station is your door to the city centre. Taking the Gebze direction from Bakırköy, you reach Yenikapı in about 15 minutes and Sirkeci in about 20. At Yenikapı transfer hub you can change to the metro lines; continuing to Taksim on the Yenikapı–Hacıosman metro takes about 40–50 minutes in total. For Galataport, continue from Sirkeci on the T1 tram for about 40–50 minutes in total; allow a comfortable half day for that outing.

Common mistakes

• Mixing up the stop names. Florya and Florya Akvaryum are separate stops. For the aquarium, get off at Florya Akvaryum, which comes first.
• Trying to reach Florya by Metrobus. The Metrobus stops at İncirli in Bakırköy and runs along the D-100. The most direct route to Florya is the Marmaray.
• Choosing a direction without checking the board. Before boarding, check on the platform board whether the train is going to Halkalı or Gebze.
• Topping up your card at the last minute. Queues at top-up points can be long at busy times; have your card ready the day before.

Accommodation

Staying 8 minutes on foot from Marmaray Bakırköy station makes it easy to spend one day in Florya and the next in the Historic Peninsula. The building has a lift and security cameras, so families arriving with suitcases and strollers reach their floor without hassle. We have Two-bedroom apartment (2+1) and One-bedroom apartment (1+1) for families and Studio apartment (1+0) for couples. For planning your Florya day see A family day out in Florya, for directions to the aquarium see How do I get from Bakırköy to Istanbul Aquarium?; the address and surroundings are on the location page. For availability call 0532 655 43 32 or send a WhatsApp message in English with your dates and the number of guests.

Common questions