Istanbul makes most sense from the water. Palaces, wooden mansions and fortresses line both shores of the Bosphorus, and from a boat you see how Europe and Asia face each other across a strait only a few hundred metres wide in places. There are three ways to do it, and they are very different.
1. The public ferry
The city ferries cross between Eminönü, Karaköy, Beşiktaş, Üsküdar and Kadıköy every few minutes. A crossing to the Asian side takes about 20 minutes and costs very little with an Istanbulkart. It is not a “cruise”, but sitting on the open deck with a glass of tea and a simit, gulls following the boat, is one of the best moments in Istanbul. Avoid rush hours, when the ferries fill with commuters.
2. The long Bosphorus tour
A daily tour boat goes from Eminönü up the whole Bosphorus to Anadolu Kavağı, the fishing village near the Black Sea, and comes back in the afternoon. It is a full day, with a few hours in the village for lunch and a climb to the old castle. Shorter round trips of about 90 minutes turn back before the second bridge – easier with small children.
3. A private yacht
For a family or a group, a private boat for two or three hours changes the experience. You choose the time, the route and the food – many boats can serve a halal dinner on board – and there is shade and a toilet, which matters with children and grandparents. The boat can pick you up at a pier near your hotel.
Timing: take the boat in the late afternoon. The light on the palaces is warm, the heat has gone, and you can watch the sun set behind the mosques of the old city on the way back.
What you will see
- Dolmabahçe Palace and the Çırağan Palace on the European shore.
- The Ortaköy Mosque under the first bridge – the classic photo.
- Rumeli Hisarı, the fortress built in 1452 before the conquest of Constantinople.
- The wooden “yalı” mansions of Kandilli and Yeniköy, and the Beylerbeyi Palace on the Asian side.
If you only have one evening, choose the private boat at sunset. If you have time, do both: a public ferry to Kadıköy for lunch, and a private boat later in the week.
Istanbul city guideThings to do, hotels we recommend, halal restaurants, tours and tips.
