TurkeyTravelPlanner.com A Day on the Bosphorus-Istanbul

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Here's a full-day itinerary for exploring the Bosphorus in Istanbul: cruise on a traditional ferry from Eminönü near the Galata Bridge up the Southern Bosphorus to the Northern Bosphorus, get off the boat and have lunch in Sarıyer, then travel south by land along the European shore, stopping at the major sights which you glimpsed as you cruised north. (For a shorter 1.5-hour cruise, go by TurYol boat.)

First thing is to get to the Boğaz İskelesi Ferry Dock in Eminönü:

Bosphorus Dock Sign

You can easily walk to the dock from Sirkeci hotels, walk or take the Kabataş tram or suburban train (banliyö treni) from Sultanahmet or Beyazıt hotels. From Taksim Square hotels, take the Füniküler to Kabataş, then the Zeytinburnu tram to Eminönü.

10:00 am: Go to Eminönü Boğaz Iskelesi Ferry Dock
Although the ferry doesn't depart until 10:35 am, get to the dock early to buy your ticket and get a good seat on the boat. The port (left) side will be sunny, the starboard (right) in more shadow; outside seats are cooler, inside seats warmer.

10:35 am: Bosphorus Cruise Departure
See the pages on Southern Bosphorus, Northern Bosphorus and European Shore for details.


View Bosphorus Cruise, Istanbul, Turkey in a larger map 

10:50 am: Beşiktaş Dock

11:15 am: Kanlıca Dock

11:30 am: Yeniköy Dock

11:45 am: Sarıyer Dock

Here's an alternative schedule to return south by land:

11:45 am - 13:30 (1:30 pm): Sarıyer
Leave the ferryboat when it docks at Sarıyer. Stroll around busy Sarıyer, enjoy the ambience and choose a place for lunch, preferably one of the seafood restaurants on the Bosphorus shore. If you only want to see Sarıyer and perhaps the beach at Kilyos or the Sadberk Hanım Museum, you can re-board the ferry for the southward trip in mid-afternoon.

13:45 - 15:00 (1:45 - 3 pm): Sadberk Hanım Museum
Spend an hour or so in this marvelous art and antiquities museum.

15:45 - 16:45 (3:45 - 4:45 pm): Rumeli Hisarı Fortress
Climb the castle walls for the marvelous views.

17:00 - 18:00 (5 - 6 pm): Ortaköy
Stop here for a rest, a drink hot or cold, a snack or meal, and some pleasant people-watching. Don't miss the ornate Ortaköy mosque.

19:00 (7 pm): Eminönü
Return to Eminönü in time to clean up and go out to dinner.

For transport options south from Sarıyer, see the Sarıyer page.


Bosphorus European Shore

Southern Bosphorus Sights

Northern Bosphorus Sights

Bosphorus Cruise by Ferry

Bosphorus Cruise by TurYol Boat

About Bosphorus Cruises

About The Bosphorus

Dolmabahçe Palace

Istanbul Sights

Istanbul Homepage

 

Boğaz Iskelesi (Bosphorus Dock), Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey

Above, the Bosphorus Dock
(Boğaz Iskelesi), Eminönü.

Below, stern of the ferry: the best place to be.

Bottom,
Rumeli Hisarı fortress.

 
 
Bosphorus Ferry Cruise, Istanbul, Turkey

Rumeli Hisari Fortress, Bosphorus, Istanbul, Turkey