Bosphorus Cruise and Old City

Taking a Bosphorus Tour is one of the best activities you can do while visiting Istanbul as it gives you the chance of seeing almost all historical sightseeing spots from the water on a half-day boat tour. Besides, no trip to Istanbul will be complete without a Bosphorus tour. To cruise along the Bosphorus, you need to choose what type of a boat tour you would like to have. Make sure you take the right cruise that suits your needs, expectations, budget and time constraints.
The first option is to enjoy the spectacular views of Bosphorus on a private yacht. Such tours are only for you and your friends or family as they take place on a private luxury yacht. This is the most luxurious way of exploring the two sides of the city; European and Asian. These boat tours are also very popular among locals because pre or post-wedding celebrations, parties and engagement ceremonies can be organized on a private yacht tour. If you want to enjoy Bosphorus on a luxury yacht, you can book a private Bosphorus tour on a luxurious private yacht by signing up here.
The second option is taking a tour that combines a boat tour and a guided sightseeing tour such as cheap Bosphorus Cruise and Old City. First, you visit a historical landmark, Little St. Sophia, accompanied by a guide and later you cruise along Bosphorus with the same guide. After enjoying the breathtaking views of two continents, you might have a once-in-a-life-time experience if you prefer to disembark on Uskudar and watch the sunset there. This tour has another bonus, too. You can take Bosphorus boat tour after you have Free Tour Istanbul in the morning.
If you are looking for a more romantic activity, taking a Bosphorus dinner cruise and Turkish night show is a great idea. On a Bosphorus dinner cruise, you can discover the beauty and glory of Bosphorus at night and enjoy a traditional Turkish dinner and dance show on the boat. The typical Bosphorus dinner cruise lasts not less than 3.5 hours. On the dinner cruise you will have an amazing romantic night out in the city. Night cruise is among the top tours in Istanbul.
The the last option is taking the traditional public ferry service known as sehir hatlari. This is the shortest and least expensive option. Though the sightseeing spots will be more or less the same, the experience you get will not be the same because on these intercontinental ferryboats you will not be accompanied by a professional guide who is ready to provide information about the historical buildings and Istanbul’s popular neighborhoods as well as answer your questions.

Why is it called Bosphorus?

Since antiquity travellers have praised the natural beauties of the Bosphorus, for this historic strait is one of the loveliest and most dramatic sights in the world. New parks and promenades, particularly on the European side, have opened up the shores of the Bosphorus to strollers, so that it is now possible to walk for miles without interruption.
The Bosphorus derives its name from the myth of Io, a priestess of Hera who was seduced by Zeus. Zeus transformed Io into a heifer to conceal her from his jealous wife, but Hera was not deceived and sent to torment Io. Pursued by the gadfly, Io plunged into the strait that separates Europe from Asia, and thenceforth it was known as the Bosphorus, or the Ford of the Cow.
The Bosphorus also appears in Greek mythology in the legend of Jason and the Argonauts, who travelled up the strait to the Black Sea, the ancient Euxine, in their quest for the Golden Fleece. Many places on the Bosphorus are associated with the adventures of the Argonauts on their way up tie strait, a heroic voyage which represents the expansion of the lonia Greeks along the shores of the Euxine at the beginning of the first milleur nium BC.
The Bosphorus first appears in Greek literature in the Histories of Herodotus, where he describes the bridge of boats Darius constructed in 512 BC to transport his army across the strait in his campaign against the Scythians. From that time onward it played an important and even decisive role in the history of the city founded at its southern extremity in 667 BC , as Gyllius eloquently points out, the Bosphorus is ‘the first creator of Byzantium, greater and more important than Byzas, founder of the City’. And he later sums up the predominant importance of this Strait that surpasses all straits’, by the epigram: “The Bosphorus with one key opens and closes two worlds, two seas’.

Topography and Oceanography of the Bosphorus

Bosphorus is a strait some 30km long, running in the general direction north-northeast to south-southeast, and varying greatly in width from about 700m at its narrowest to over 3.5km at its widest. Its average depth at the center of the channel is between 50m and 75m, but at one point it reaches a depth of over 100Om.
The predominant surface current flows at a rate of 3-5km per hour from the Black Sea to the Marmara, but, because of the sinuosity of the channel, eddies producing strong reverse currents flow along most of the indentations of the shore. A very strong wind may reverse the main surface current and make it flow toward the Black Sea, in which case the counter-eddies also change their direction.
At a depth of about 40m there is a sub-surface current, called canal in Turkish, whích flows from the Marmara to the Black Sea. Its waters, however, are for the most part prevented from entering the Black Sea by a threshold just beyond the mouth of the Bosphorus; these lower waters, denser and more saline than the fluid above them, are turned back by the threshold, mingle with the upper waters, and are driven back toward the Marmara with the surface current. The lower current is so strong, under certain conditions, that if fishing nets are lowered into it, it may pull the boats toward the Black Sea against the surface current.
Both shores of the Bosphorus are indented with frequent bays and harbors, and in general it will be found that an indentation on one shore corresponds to a cape or promontory on the other. Most of the bays are at the mouths of valleys reaching back into the hills on either side, and a great many of these have streams that flow into the Bosphorus. Both shores are lined with hills, none of them very high. Buyuk Camlica and Yusa Tepesi are both on the Asian side.
In spite of the frequent forest fires, both sides of the Bosphorus are wooded, especially with cypresses, umbrella-pines, plane trees, horse chest nuts, terebinths, and judas trees. The pink blossoms of the judas trees in spring, mingled with the mauve flowers of the wisteria and the red and white candles of the chestnuts, make the Bosphorus during that season even more spectacularly beautiful.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bosphorus Cruises

How long is the Bosphorus cruise tour?
Bosphorus Cruise and Old City Tour includes 1.5-hour boat tour.
How much does Bosphorus Tour cost?
The cruise cost depends on the duration of the tour, the activities that are included and the quality of the service you get. Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise and Old City tour costs 15 Euros per person.
What is Bosphorus tour in Istanbul?
Bosphorus night cruise with dinner and Bosphorus sunset cruise on luxury yacht tours are popular cruise tours that you can enjoy the breathtaking views of Istanbul including palaces, mansions, fortresses and Istanbul’s neighborhoods. Boat tours are great for discovering both European and Asian parts of the city.
How far is Bosphorus from Istanbul’s old city?
The Bosphorus is close to Istanbul’s old city center namely the Sultanahmet district. The distance between them is 7 kilometers.

The cost of a Bosphorus boat tour is 15 euros per person. It is recommended to book in advance to secure the best prices and schedules.

The best ways to cross the Bosphorus are by ferry, offering spectacular views, or using Istanbul’s Metro, which connects the European and Asian sides of the city.

Yes, crossing the Bosphorus in Istanbul is safe, whether by ferry or public transport. However, it is advisable to keep an eye on your belongings and follow safety guidelines.

Ferries crossing the Bosphorus typically operate from early morning until midnight, with more frequent trips during the day. It is recommended to check specific schedules on the ferry company’s website.