Located along Rıhtım Avenue, just east of the Galata Bridge, Şehir Hatları operates many ferries from Karaköy to Kadıköy, Bostancı, Üsküdar and to piers along the Golden Horn, as far west as Eyüp.

Connections to the historic Tünel funicular railway, Istanbul Tram and IETT city bus service is available, as well as connection to private Turyol ferry service at the nearby Turyol pier on the west side of the Galata Bridge.

Ferry service from the Galata-Eminönü area to Kadıköy began in the mid-19th century from Eminönü Pier, on the southern shore of the Golden Horn.

On 1 March 1966, two Soviet-flagged vessels, the M/T Lutsk and the M/T Kransky Oktiabr, collided near the Maiden's Tower causing 1,850 tons of oil to be spilled into the Bosporus.

This pier was replaced with a smaller one, located on land and connected to a small floating barge, which is still in operation to this day.