Istanbul Bosphorus Tours:
Seeing A Ferry Nice City!

(Read through for pictures and a short description of the Istanbul Bosphorus Tours I’ve been on, and skip to the bottom for recommendations on operators to travel with.)

Istanbul really seems, to me, like a city meant to be seen from a boat.

Perhaps this explains why cruises on the Bosphorus are such a popular tourist activity. Get on a boat in Eminonu, maybe grab a fish sandwich on the way, and then spend the day watching this massive and ancient city flow by.

There are old fortress and palaces, of course, that once controlled the rise and fall of empires.

And old rotting homes that would have once made an incredible place to live.

Perhaps the best way to experience this day, though, would be to cut it in half. First, in the morning, ride the ferry all the way to Anadolu Kavegi at the north end of the Bosphorus.

From there, hitch a ride back to the opposite shore and then explore a bit on land too.

You’ll see plenty of fishing going on.

Some fishing.

And some “fishing”.

There are more brilliant buildings to explore, of course, like the Rumeli Fortress.

But also excellent waterfront parks like this one beside the Egyptian embassy.

And perhaps the greatest thing about exploring here? If you get tired of it, there’s always the option just to catch the next boat back to downtown!

Be sure to check the ferry schedule, though, so you don’t get stranded and forced to take one of the infamous Istanbul taxis!

 

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These ferries are easy to catch on your own from Eminonu, and give you the option to get off and explore at the stops instead of just riding past. If you want to get some Bosphorus action but are limited in time in Istanbul, I’ve done the Istanbul City and Bosphorus Tour while working as a photographer for GetYourGuide and it caught many of the same sites on a much more compressed timeframe.