Gebze is the last stop on the eastern branch of Marmaray and one of the busiest railway stops east of Istanbul. The Gebze Marmaray station sits in the town centre of Gebze, in Kocaeli Province, a short way beyond the Istanbul city boundary, and it also serves high-speed trains to Ankara and Konya.
The station is far older than the commuter line that now ends here. A railway stop has stood on this line since 1873, and the present building was rebuilt in the 2010s so that Marmaray and the high-speed service could share it. This guide explains what the station is, which trains call here, how it connects to Istanbul and what to check before travelling. Rail history, a long commuter ride and a changing local network all meet at this one stop.
Lines and interchanges: Marmaray B1 (eastern terminus). Interchange: Gebze (Marmaray B1 (eastern terminus)).
Quick Facts
| Turkish name | Gebze |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1873 |
| Address | Şehit Abdullah Horoz Caddesi, İstasyon Mahallesi, Gebze, Kocaeli Google MapsApple MapsYandex Maps |
| District | Gebze |
| Interchanges | Gebze (Marmaray B1 (eastern terminus)) |
| Best time to visit | The station works at any season. For a quiet visit, the middle of the day on a weekday is calmer than the morning and late-afternoon commuting hours. Weekends are generally less crowded on the commuter side. Spring and autumn are comfortable for combining a rail trip with a walk in Gebze town. |
Why Visit Gebze?
Few visitors come to Gebze for the station itself. They come because it is the point where Istanbul’s suburban rail network meets the high-speed line, and because it is the eastern starting point for day trips toward Izmit and the Marmara coast.
The station is also a good place to understand how the city’s rail system has grown outward. The same corridor carried the first railway from Istanbul in the nineteenth century, a commuter service from 1969 and, since 2019, the Marmaray line that runs through the tunnel under the Bosphorus. Knowing the layout saves time when changing between commuter and intercity trains.
How Gebze Is Laid Out
The station has five tracks served by two island platforms and one side platform. Commuter trains on Marmaray and long-distance trains share the building, so the departures board is the first thing to check on arrival, since it shows which platform each service uses.
Marmaray trains end their run here and return toward Istanbul, which makes Gebze easy to understand: every eastbound Marmaray train stops, and the train then leaves in the opposite direction. High-speed trains to Ankara and Konya call at the same station but follow their own timetable, so the two services do not run on the same schedule.
The station building lies between Plevne and Etem Pasa avenues, southwest of the town centre. Pedestrians reach it from the surrounding streets, and taxis and local buses stop in front. A planned metro line toward Darica is intended to connect here, but its opening has not been confirmed in this guide, so travellers check the operator’s pages before relying on it.
Highlights of Gebze
Marmaray's eastern terminus
Gebze is the last stop of the Marmaray line toward the east. Service began on this section in 2019, and trains run from Gebze through the Bosphorus tunnel to Halkali on the European side, with dozens of stops in between. Darica is the next station back toward Istanbul, then Osmangazi and Fatih.
The terminus makes this a simple place to board: every train starts here and runs one way, toward Istanbul.
Tip: A seat is easy to find at the terminus, which helps on the long ride toward the city, and the stop sequence on the line map shows how far each station lies.
High-speed train platforms
Since the station reopened in October 2014, high-speed trains to Ankara and Konya have called at Gebze. The service uses the same building as Marmaray but runs as intercity travel with its own tickets and timetable.
Travellers who live east of Istanbul often join the high-speed train here instead of travelling into the city first, which saves a transfer. Look at the departures board to see which platform serves the train you want, and allow time to walk between the commuter side and the intercity side.
Tip: Check the operator's official ticket site for the timetable, as the schedule differs from Marmaray.
Five tracks and three platforms
The layout is two island platforms and one side platform, with five tracks in all. That is more than the earlier station, which had two island platforms and four tracks in 1969.
The extra capacity exists because commuter and intercity services share the site and need room to turn trains and keep to separate timetables. On arrival, the platform numbers on the departures board and the signs in the concourse show where to go, and station staff can point the way.
Tip: Platform allocations can change, so a quick look at the board before descending avoids a wrong turn.
A railway stop since 1873
The station opened in 1873 as part of the Constantinople to Izmit railway, built by the Ottoman government. It is one of the oldest stops on the line east of Istanbul, and the route it belongs to shaped the growth of towns along the Marmara coast.
The current building is not the original one. It was rebuilt after commuter service paused in 2013, and the structure visitors see today dates from that work, with the original line and site as the continuing thread. Visitors should not expect a historic station hall.
Tip: The history is in the story of the route more than in the building, so a short read before a visit helps.
Reopened for the high-speed line in 2014
After commuter trains stopped in June 2013 so the station could be rebuilt, Gebze reopened on 29 October 2014 with high-speed service. Marmaray trains reached it later, in March 2019.
The gap between the two dates explains why Gebze stood closed to commuters for years while the work went on, and why the station now serves both kinds of rail. Anyone reading older accounts should expect different services from today's.
Tip: Older maps and articles may show the station without Marmaray, so newer material is more reliable.
The planned Gebze metro link
A separate metro line between the Gebze industrial zone and the Darica coast has been under construction, and plans place an interchange with the railway station here. This guide has not confirmed that the line is open, and its opening date has changed several times.
Until the operator confirms service, travellers treat the line as unavailable for planning, and a bus or taxi remains the link to the coast today.
Tip: Check the official announcement from the metro operator on the day of travel before relying on the link.
Atmosphere
Gebze station feels like a working commuter and intercity stop rather than a sightseeing site. The concourse fills with people heading to work in Istanbul in the morning and returning in the late afternoon, with a quieter stretch in the middle of the day.
Announcements, the hum of departures and the movement between platforms set the pace. High-speed trains add a different crowd: travellers with suitcases heading for Ankara or Konya. The surroundings are those of a busy town centre, with traffic on the avenues around the station and small shops and cafes within walking distance. Evenings are quieter, with the last trains carrying a thinner crowd.
History of Gebze
The 1873 railway. The station opened on 1 January 1873 as a stop on the Constantinople to Izmit railway, which the Ottoman government built eastward from the capital. The route became a main corridor between Istanbul and the interior of Anatolia, and the station at Gebze served the town from the start.
Commuter service from 1969. In 1969 a commuter service began between Gebze and Haydarpasa, and the line was electrified as far as Gebze. The station of that period had two island platforms and four tracks. For decades this was the local railway link between Gebze and Istanbul’s Asian side.
Closure for rebuilding, 2013. In June 2013 commuter service ended so the station could be rebuilt for two new projects: Marmaray, the rail link under the Bosphorus, and the high-speed line between Istanbul and Ankara. The work changed the layout to two island platforms and one side platform, with five tracks.
Reopening for the high-speed line, 2014. The station reopened on 29 October 2014 with high-speed service, and long-distance trains to Ankara and Konya began calling at Gebze.
Marmaray arrives, 2019. On 12 March 2019 Marmaray commuter service began on the section between Gebze and Halkali, with Gebze as the eastern terminus. The line has dozens of stops, passing through Pendik, Kartal, Bostanci and Uskudar before crossing the Bosphorus.
The metro project. Separately, work started in 2018 on a metro line between the Gebze industrial zone and the Darica coast, planned to connect with the railway station. The project passed to the national transport ministry in 2019, and tunnelling began in 2021. Its opening date has been moved several times and is not confirmed here.
Tickets and Booking for Gebze
Marmaray: Commuter trains on Marmaray are usually paid for with the Istanbulkart transit card, and fares depend on the distance travelled. Whether single tickets, contactless bank cards or mobile payment are accepted at a given moment is set by the operator and changes, so the official Marmaray and TCDD Tasimacilik pages are the source. Fare level for the long ride to Istanbul: ₺₺.
High-speed trains: Tickets for the Ankara and Konya services are sold by the state railway operator through its official e-ticket site (tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr) and at station counters. Rates for Turkish citizens and concessions differ from those for foreign visitors, and the terms for each category are on the operator’s pages.
Busy times: Commuter trains are fullest on weekday mornings toward Istanbul and in the late afternoon in the other direction. The operator’s site is the reference for all categories.
How to Get to Gebze
Gebze is the eastern terminus of Marmaray (line B1). From Istanbul, trains run from Halkali on the European side through the Bosphorus tunnel and along the Asian shore, with stops such as Uskudar, Kadikoy-side stations like Goztepe and Bostanci, Maltepe, Kartal and Pendik before Darica and Gebze. The ride is long, so a seat and a plan for the return are worth having.
- By high-speed train: trains from Ankara and Konya call at the same station.
- By taxi or local bus: the station lies southwest of the town centre between Plevne and Etem Pasa avenues, and local transport stops nearby.
- Metro link: a planned metro line toward Darica is intended to connect here, but its opening is not confirmed in this guide.
Accessibility
The station is described as accessible, but details such as the number of lifts, tactile paving and platform gaps are not confirmed here. The state railway operator and Marmaray customer services can confirm the arrangements for wheelchair users and travellers with reduced mobility. Travellers with heavy luggage find the high-speed side easier at quiet times.
Food Nearby
Gebze town centre lies close to the station and has the usual cafes, bakeries and small restaurants serving Turkish dishes such as lahmacun, pide and kebab. No single venue is named here because none was verified. Visitors who arrive by high-speed train can find simple food options in the streets around the station.
What to Bring
An Istanbulkart or another accepted payment method for Marmaray, a charged phone and a power bank for the long ride, water, a light layer for air-conditioned carriages and an identity document for high-speed tickets. Bags are normally allowed on trains, and staff instructions apply on site.
Photography Rules
No station-specific photography rules were found. A railway station is a working transport site, so staff instructions apply, and filming that interferes with passengers or operations is likely to be stopped. Drones and tripods in the concourse are not suited to a busy commuter stop.
Family Suitability
The station is workable for families, with a straightforward layout and the Marmaray terminus making boarding simple. The commuter ride to Istanbul is long, so young children benefit from snacks and a seat at the start. Strollers can generally move through the station, but lift and escalator arrangements are not confirmed here and are best checked with the operator.
Istanbul Vibes Tips
- Gebze lies in Kocaeli Province, just beyond the Istanbul city boundary, so it is a day-trip station rather than part of the city centre.
- The next stop toward Istanbul is Darica, then Osmangazi, and the whole line has dozens of stops, so the journey to the European side takes a long time.
- Commuter and high-speed trains share the station but not the timetable; the departures board shows which service is which.
- Many older maps and articles show the station before Marmaray reached it in 2019, so recent material is more reliable.
- The planned Gebze metro link has had several delays, so its status is worth checking on the operator's announcements before planning around it.
- Combining the station with a trip to Izmit by train makes a simple day out from Istanbul.
Explore Nearby Gebze
Metro stations near Gebze
Pendikabout 16.4 km awayMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Bostancı – about 32.6 km awayOpen daily 06:00–23:30Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Gebze
Gebze Railway Stationabout 50 m away (~1 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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İzmit: Ancient Nicomedia, Ottoman Heritage and Industrial Port CityMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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İdealtepeOpen daily 05:30–23:30Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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Browse more: More in Gebze · All Metro Stations · All Railway Stations
FAQ: Gebze
Is Gebze in Istanbul?
No. Gebze is a town in Kocaeli Province, just east of the Istanbul city boundary. It is included in this guide because Marmaray, Istanbul's cross-Bosphorus rail line, ends here, and many people use it as the eastern gateway to the city.
Which trains stop at Gebze?
Marmaray commuter trains end here, and high-speed trains to Ankara and Konya call at the same station. Intercity services such as the Ankara Express also use the line. Timetables differ, so the operator's official pages and the departures board show the current services.
How do I get from Gebze to central Istanbul?
Marmaray runs from Gebze through the Bosphorus tunnel to Halkali, with stops including Pendik, Kartal, Bostanci, Goztepe and Uskudar. The ride is long, with dozens of stops. Interchanges to other lines are available along the route, so travellers can leave the train at the stop closest to their destination.
When did Marmaray begin running to Gebze?
Marmaray service on the section between Gebze and Halkali began on 12 March 2019, with Gebze as the eastern terminus. Before that, the station had been closed to commuters since 2013 while it was rebuilt, and the high-speed line had reopened it in 2014.
Is the station very old?
The railway stop dates to 1873, when the Constantinople to Izmit line opened. The building itself is much newer, because the station was rebuilt after 2013 and reopened in October 2014 for the high-speed line. Little of the original structure is a reason to visit.
Is there a metro at Gebze?
A separate metro line between the Gebze industrial zone and the Darica coast has been under construction, with a planned interchange at the railway station. Its opening date has changed several times, so the operator's announcements are the source for whether it runs, and older articles may give out-of-date dates.
How do I pay for Marmaray?
Commuter trains are usually paid for with the Istanbulkart, with fares based on distance. Other options such as contactless bank cards or single tickets depend on the operator's current rules. The official Marmaray and TCDD Tasimacilik pages state what is accepted, and the fare level for the long ride is moderate.
Is Gebze worth a visit?
The station is mainly a transport point, not a sight. It is useful as a starting point for trips toward Izmit and the Marmara coast and as a way to see the eastern end of Marmaray. Visitors interested in rail history will find the 1873 background of the line interesting, and the station is easy to reach by train.
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