Located in the Saraylar neighborhood on the northern coast of Marmara Island, this pier is close to the ancient Proconnesos (Marble Island) port ruins. It serves as a hub for reaching marble quarries and beaches. It is the main island terminal where Marmara RoRo operates 6+ daily trips between Tekirdağ and Erdek.

Port Guide

Saraylar Pier (Marmara Island)

Saraylar Pier is a historic marble pier located on the northern coast of Marmara Island. It is situated right next to the village of Saraylar in the north of the island. It is a 25-30 minute drive to Marmara village and 15-20 minutes to Çınarlı beach. The pier serves as the main ferry terminal for the Tekirdağ and Erdek routes operated by the Marmara RoRo Cooperative.

History and Marble Culture

Saraylar is the marble mining center of Marmara Island. The white marble extracted here since antiquity has been used in monumental structures during the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods. Today, it continues to serve as one of Turkey's major marble export points; marble blocks cut from the Saraylar quarries are transported by trucks to the pier, and from there distributed to Bursa, Izmir, and European markets via RO-RO ships through Erdek and Tekirdağ.

Due to this marble traffic, the pier features a robust reinforced concrete dock structure accustomed to large-tonnage RO-RO cargo ships. While passenger services remain active year-round, marble cargo priorities form the core of the operation.

Pier Location and Geography

Saraylar Pier is located in a bay opening to the north of Marmara Island. This location:

Offers the shortest route for departures to Tekirdağ (180 mins)
Provides the fastest connection to Erdek (90 mins)
Is exposed to northern winds (poyraz), which can cause some voyage cancellations during the winter months
Is the closest pier to the marble quarries (5-10 km)

Facilities and Comfort

Despite being a small village pier, Saraylar Pier has a functional terminal structure:

Waiting area: Modest, with moderate seating capacity.
Ticket office: Marmara RoRo Cooperative ticket counter.
WC facilities: Available.
Cafeteria: Active during the summer season; serves tea, coffee, simit, and pastries.
Parking: Spacious passenger parking lot, with a separate area for marble trucks.
Truck park: Large area designed for marble trucks.
Disabled access: Limited; pier ramp is available.
ATM: 1 ATM in the Saraylar village center (5 minutes away).
Pharmacy: Available in the village center (during the summer season).

Transportation and Directions

Marmara village: 25-30 minutes by road.
Çınarlı beach: 15-20 minutes.
Topağaç village: 35 minutes.
Asmalı village: 30 minutes.
Marble quarries (visiting tours): 10-15 minutes.

For transportation from the pier to the villages and beaches, the minibus (dolmuş) connection operates in sync with the ferry schedules. It is particularly active in the summer; taxis are preferred in the winter.

Parking Information

The Saraylar Pier parking lot is free for passenger vehicles. There is a separate area for marble trucks:

Capacity: 200 passenger vehicles + 50 heavy vehicles.
Fee: Free (for passenger vehicles).
Caravans: Limited; you may need to relocate around Marmara village.
Security: Staff supervision throughout the summer season.

Surroundings and Nearby Places

Saraylar village and its surroundings offer an authentic Marmara Island experience:

Saraylar marble quarries: Historic mining facilities from antiquity to the present day.
Saraylar village square: Old Greek-era stone houses and a small fishing shelter.
Ancient marble ruins: Roman and Byzantine era columns and artifacts.
Çınarlı beach: 15-20 minutes; a blue flag beach.
Topağaç village: 35 minutes; authentic stone houses and olive groves with mountain views.
Adriana beach: 40 minutes; tranquil bays.
Marmara village center: 25-30 minutes; the administrative center, restaurants, and markets.

About Saraylar Village

Saraylar is one of the oldest settlements on Marmara Island. Known as "Proconnesos" in antiquity, it became the main center of marble mining, which gave the island its name (Proconnesos Island). The village's economy has been marble-focused for hundreds of years; however, in recent years, summer tourism has also become an important source of income. Modest fish and meze restaurants, small apart-pensions, and the local market are active during the summer months.