The most common question from travellers hoping to cross from Turkey to Egypt by sea is: "Is there a regular ferry?" As of 2026 the honest answer is clear: No — there is currently no regular, scheduled passenger ferry from Turkey to Egypt on sale. This guide explains the history of the former line, why it does not operate, and the realistic ways to reach Egypt.
There used to be a line — but it was unstable
A RoRo (vehicle/freight) line historically operated between İskenderun and the Egyptian ports of Port Said and Damietta. It was not a tourist passenger ferry but mainly a truck-and-vehicle service; individual travellers could only cross with their own vehicle. The line suffered chronic demand and cost problems and was suspended in 2014 due to insufficient demand. No stable, scheduled passenger service has resumed since.
The situation today (2026)
Major ferry-booking platforms (Direct Ferries, DFDS, etc.) do not list any passenger sailing on sale from Mersin, İskenderun or any other Turkish port to Egypt. Today the maritime link to Egypt is limited to container/cargo (CMA CGM and others) and irregular RoRo movements — not a service a tourist can buy a ticket for.
So how do you get to Egypt?
- By air (most practical): There are frequent direct flights to Cairo from Istanbul, Ankara and Antalya (Turkish Airlines, EgyptAir, Pegasus). Rather than waiting for a sea route, flying is the only realistic option — fast and affordable.
- If you are travelling with a vehicle: To ship a car to Egypt you would need to check current RoRo/cargo movements and port agents (e.g. at İskenderun) separately; these sailings are not scheduled or guaranteed and change case by case.
Where can you actually go by ferry from Turkey?
Regular cross-border sea crossings from Turkey are predominantly to the Greek islands (Çeşme–Chios, Kuşadası–Samos, Bodrum–Kos, Marmaris–Rhodes, Datça–Symi, Çanakkale–Lemnos). There is no scheduled passenger ferry to Egypt or other North African countries. If you are planning Mediterranean ferry travel, these Turkey–Greece routes are the reliable choice.
Note: no schedule or ticket price is given on this page because there is no regular Turkey–Egypt passenger ferry on sale. This content will be updated if the situation changes.
