• Bosphorus Bridge - This stunning strait, sometimes spelled Bosporus or Bosphorus, has been known by this name since ancient times. According to mythology, Io, the mistress of Jupiter, crossed it in the form of a cow. It is similar to the Dardanelles in length, width, and current, and serves as a narrow divide between Europe and Asia. Unlike a solitary stream between deserted shores, it is a lively waterway, winding through banks adorned with palaces and villages, shaded by magnificent trees, offering a new scene of bustling life at every mile.

• Dolmabahce Palace - Dolmabahce Palace is located on the European shore of the Bosphorus and, with its various dependencies, forms almost a small town, with gardens stretching for over a mile along the water’s edge.

• Ortakoy - Ortaköy Mosque, officially known as the Büyük Mecidiye Camii in Beşiktaş, Istanbul, Turkey, is situated at the waterside of the Ortaköy pier square, one of the most popular spots on the Bosphorus.

• Bosphorus Bridge - Inaugurated on October 29, 1973, on the fiftieth anniversary of the Turkish Republic, it boasts the longest span in Europe and the fourth longest in the world. This suspension bridge measures 1560 meters (1706 yards) in total length and 33.4 meters (110 feet) in width.

• Ciragan Palace Kempinski - Located between Besiktas and Ortaköy on the European shore of the Bosphorus are the ruins of the Ciragan Palace, built by Sultan Abdülaziz between 1863 and 1867. It resembles the Dolmabahce Palace with its long facade and baroque architectural style.

• Rumeli Fortress - RUMELISHISARI FORTRESS - (RUMELIHISARI CASTLE) At the narrowest point of the Bosphorus stands the Rumelihisari Fortress, constructed by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror on the European shore. The Sultan himself laid the foundation stone of the Fortress on March 26, 1452, to control the passage of ships through the Bosphorus and use it as a base for his attack on the city.

• Bebek Park - In the 19th century, Ottoman aristocrats chose Bebek’s ideal location to build their summer houses and palaces. Today, it remains a popular residential area.

• Kanlica Meydani - Kanlıca is a neighborhood on the Asian side of the Bosphorus strait, in the Beykoz district of Istanbul Province, Turkey. Kanlica is renowned for its specialty, yogurt topped with castor sugar, available in local restaurants and cafés.

• Anadolu Hisari Fort - On the opposite bank stands the Anadoluhisari Fortress by the Göksu stream. This romantic castle, which adorns the Asiatic shore of the Bosphorus, was built in 1395 by Sultan Bayazit, the Thunderbolt, and named “Güzelcehisar.” It was later expanded by Mehmet the Conqueror. Today, as the first possession of Turks on the Bosphorus, it serves as a landmark of Turkish rule.

• Küçüksu Pavilion - KUCUKSU PALACE The summer Palace of Kucuksu, sometimes referred to as the Palace of Göksu, is located between the villages of Anadoluhisan and Kandilli on the Asiatic shore of the Bosphorus.

• Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge - The Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, also known as the Second Bosphorus Bridge, spans the Bosphorus strait in Istanbul, Turkey. When completed in 1988, it was the 5th-longest suspension bridge span in the world; today, it ranks 24th.

• Beylerbeyi Palace - BEYLERBEYI PALACE Situated on the Asiatic shore of the Bosphorus between the villages of Kuzguncuk and Cengelköy, the palace was built by Sultan Abdülaziz in 1865. Beylerbeyi Palace, seen from the Bosphorus, appears like a white vision from a fairy tale. It is the most extravagant royal house of the 19th century, on which millions were spent.

• Galata Koprusu - The Galata Bridge spans the Golden Horn in Istanbul, Turkey. Since the late 19th century, the bridge has been featured in Turkish literature, theater, poetry, and novels.

• Galata Tower - The Galata Tower, known as Christea Turris by the Genoese, is a medieval stone tower in the Galata/Karaköy quarter of Istanbul, Turkey, just north of the Golden Horn’s junction with the Bosphorus.

• KIz Kulesi - KIZKULESI (MAIDEN’S TOWER - LEANDER’S TOWER) About 180 meters from the shores of Üsküdar stands this tower, known by two different names. Europeans who called it Leander’s Tower believed it was here that Leander drowned while attempting to swim the Bosphorus to reach his beloved Hero, the priestess of Aphrodite. However, Leander never crossed here, even in the legend, which refers to the Hellespont, Dardanelles.

• Halic - One of the popular areas of the historical peninsula, the Golden Horn shores are among the must-see places on an Istanbul trip. It is long and narrow but also has a horn-shaped geographical structure. For this reason, it is also known as the Golden Horn. Haliç is also one of the most important trade centers of old Istanbul.

• Lunch (soup, chicken and meatballs, Salad, Desert)
• English/Russian guide
• pickup from hotel

• Soft drink

Instead of spending the day in Istanbul on a crowded tour bus, experience the city’s charm in style with a leisurely cruise along the Bosphorus. This waterway separates Asian Turkey from European Turkey. From the open-air deck, admire riverside attractions such as the Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy Mosque, and Rumeli Fortress, all beautifully illuminated by the evening light. Enjoy a provided lunch as you sail and learn about Istanbul’s historical landmarks from your on-board guide. This cruise is available year-round, weather permitting, and begins at 1:15 PM.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.