Separating Europe and Asia, and connecting the Black Sea with the Mediterranean, the Bosphorus is the lifeblood of Istanbul.
It has served a strategic body of water for the Roman and Ottoman Empires alike, and remains a major shipping and trade port.
The Bosphorus cruise starts out by passing under the famous Galata Bridge, where you’ll get great views of the city including the Galata Tower, historic Topkapi Palace and countless mosques.
Along the cruise our local guide helped point out many other landmarks as well, like the modern art museum and beautiful Dolmabahce Palace.
As we headed towards the Bosphorus Bridge, you can take in all the sites and sounds of the seaside neighborhoods like Besiktas, Bebek and Ortakoy…
And on the return, we floated along the Asian side where you’ll see traditional Ottoman homes, and the iconic Maiden Tower.
The waterfront culture is a quintessential aspect of life in Istanbul, and cruising along the Bosphorus is a great way to experience it all.
For more information about Istanbul Bosphorus tours and cruises, check out Walks of Turkey.
Check out the entire Istanbul Attractions video series at YouTube.com/Tourist2Townie
One Response
A cruise on the Bosphorus is probably the most overlooked Istanbul tourist attraction.
Great article exploring the beauty.