Bosphorus Cruise, Is It Worth It? What Can You See During a Cruise? Istanbul is a beautiful and fascinating city that has a lot to offer its visitors. One of the most interesting and at the same time very popular tourist attractions is the Bosphorus Cruise. Enjoy a magical journey along the strait that separates Europe from Asia.
practical information
A visit to Istanbul should be combined with a few hours on a cruise on the Bosphorus. It is a strait of about 30 km long, located between the Balkan Peninsula and Asia Minor, connecting the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara. Its width varies from 0,7 to 3,7 km at its widest point. The Bosphorus has several bays, the largest of which is the Golden Horn.
When choosing a cruise, you can take advantage of organized trips offered by one of the many local tourist offices. In this case, the price of the event, in addition to the cruise and the guide's services, also includes access from the hotel to the port and back. More independent or budget tourists can go on their own to the embankment, next to the Galata Bridge, to buy a ticket for the cruise there without intermediaries. There are several options to choose from - from a day trip to an hour and a half cruise. The most popular among tourists in Istanbul is a two-hour cruise, which costs about 12-14 TRY. Various cruise ships are available for tourists, they vary in size and standards. Most ships provide outdoor seating, a heated cabin, a toilet and a bar with snacks, as well as cold and hot drinks. On cold days, you should try Turkish tea - strong and extremely aromatic, served with quite a lot of sugar.
From bridge to bridge
Cruises usually start from the Galata Bridge, and the ships sail to the Mehmed the Conqueror Bridge, returning along the other side of the strait. Departing from the port, you can admire the beautiful view of the left side of the Galata district, above which stands an impressive 63-meter-high tower built in 1384 by the Genoese. Another interesting site on the European side is the Dolmabahce Palace, the first in the Stambul a castle built in a European style, modeled on the Louvre and Buckingham Palace. Work on the complex lasted between 1842 and 1853, and its estimated cost at the time was 35 tons of gold.
The palace boasts an ornate interior, including a 4,5-ton crystal chandelier with 750 lights, a gift from Queen Victoria. A little further on is the Ciragan Palace, currently being converted into the luxury Kempinski Hotel. The next point of interest, clearly visible from the deck of the cruise ship, is the neo-baroque Ortakoy Mosque, built in the mid-nineteenth century by Sultan Abdulmecid. After passing the mosque, all the cameras move, and a moment later the ship will flow under the magnificent Bosphorus Bridge, cutting the strait in half. The bridge is especially impressive after dark, when its spans are highlighted in different, changing colors. When it was commissioned in 1973, it was the fourth largest bridge in the world. At least 180 cars pass through it every day. Equally photographed with anticipation is the 000th-century Rumeli Fortress, built on Byzantine ruins.
The farthest point, in most trips, connecting the two banks of the Bosphorus is the Sultan Mehmet Bridge, which is named after the Turkish sultan, he conquered Istanbul in 1453. The bridge was built in 1986-1988, the length (1510 m) is only slightly longer than the Bosporus Bridge. Some of the ships cross the Mehmet Bridge, and the guides continue to tell tourists about Rumeli Kavagi, an extremely picturesque place, famous for its many fish restaurants.
The Asian side of the strait offers many experiences. Opposite is the Rumeli Fortress, at the highest point of the Bosphorus, which was built in 1394 by order of Sultan Bayezid I. More interesting sites on the Asian waterfront include the summer residences of the sultans - the Goksu Pavilion and the magnificent Beylerbeyi Palace with its magnolias. However, it is not only the historical buildings that are of interest, as both banks of the Bosphorus are incredibly charming in terms of landscape, they are overgrown with lush hills of vegetation, presenting a picturesque contrast to the colors of the water and sky.
Once you get off the boat, it is worth extending the adventure and going to one of the many restaurants on the Galata Bridge to try freshly prepared fish dishes. After an eventful trip, they will taste better than ever. And if someone does not want to leave the embankment, they can go the other way, from the deck of another ship or water taxi, to admire the charm of the buildings along the Golden Horn.
