Bosporus Experiences★★★
The Bosporus (İstanbul Boğazı) is much more than a strait — it is the soul of Istanbul. 30 km long, 700 m to 3.3 km wide, it separates and connects Europe and Asia. A ride on the Bosporus is a must-do.
Bosporus Tours
- Şehir Hatları Long Tour (Boğaz Turu): Departure from Eminönü daily at 10:35 AM, 6 hours round trip almost to the Black Sea (Anadolu Kavağı). Stops on both shores. Price: approx. 100 ₺ with Istanbulkart. THE best value-for-money experience in the city.
- Short Tour (2h): Private providers from Eminönü and Kabataş, approx. 200–400 ₺. Faster, but less authentic.
- Sunset Cruise: Evening tours with food and music, from 500–1,500 ₺. Kitschy, but the sunset behind the city skyline is magical.
Highlights on the Bosporus
- Dolmabahçe Palace: The opulent palace (1856) on the European shore — 285 rooms, 46 halls, the largest chandelier in the world (4.5 tons, a gift from Queen Victoria). Atatürk died here on November 10, 1938.
- Ortaköy Mosque: The delicate Baroque mosque right by the water under the Bosporus Bridge — the most photographed scene of Istanbul at night.
- Rumeli Hisarı: The mighty Ottoman fortress (1452), built in just 4 months in preparation for the conquest of Constantinople. Impressive walls with a Bosporus panorama.
- Kanlıca: Small fishing village on the Asian side, famous for its yogurt. From the ferry dock, view the villas (Yalıs) of the wealthy.
💡 Tipp
For the long trip: Sit on the right side on the way there (European side with palaces and mosques). In Anadolu Kavağı at the endpoint, you have 2–3 hours — climb to the fortress (Yoros Kalesi) for a sensational view of the Black Sea entrance, and eat fresh fish down at the harbor.