The oriental and the occidental come together with the most beautiful view of the sea in a one-of-a-kind city Istanbul. The Bosphorus Strait cuts through the city of Istanbul almost 30 kilometers in length and approximately 2100 meters in width. From Kadıkoy to Anadolu Feneri and from Yenikapı to Rumeli Feneri is where the Bosphorus Strait lies.

What does the Bosphorus strait divide?

Well, it obviously divides the city of Istanbul into two but the interesting thing about it is that the city has two sides that carry different names of different continents; Asia and Europe. The city might be torn into two pieces but is brought together by the beautiful Bosphorus Bridge. However, Bosphorus is not the only bridge above the Marmara Sea.

How many Bosphorus bridges Istanbul has?

The answer is that there are three on the Marmara Sea that connect the Asian Side to the European Side of Istanbul. These are Fatih Sultan Mehmet, Yavuz Sultan Selim, and the Bosphorus Bridge which is also referred to as the first of the bridges. These create the famous landscape of Istanbul and provide both the residents and the wanderers of Istanbul with the perfect visuals of the natural and the manmade combined. Beylerbeyi and Ortaköy are two neighborhoods where the Bosphorus Bridge is located. For those who are wondering how to visit Bosphorus, these two locations are suitable to take a closer look at the bridge.

There are other ways to discover Bosphorus from an even closer angle. You can always stop by the cafes or restaurants that have a Bosphorus view, which we later will provide our suggestions on. However, the best thing to do on the Bosphorus is to take boat tours or cruises on the Bosphorus strait. If you want to go and are wondering where to book Bosphorus cruise tickets, you can always book online. Let us remind you that with this kind of sea trip, the visitor will have the opportunity to experience every corner of the Marmara Sea while seeing the marvelous constructions that are symbolic of Istanbul’s landscape such as Rumeli Fortress, Maiden’s Tower, Beylerbeyi Palace and so on.

In addition, it is the easiest and the most enjoyable way to discover so many attractions at once. It is a great idea to attend a Bosphorus dinner cruise with Turkish shows because it will give you all the Turkish traditions you are looking for from food to entertainment. And it will all happen on the Bosphorus Strait of Istanbul! 

Details About the Best Bosphorus Dinner Cruise

Dinner Cruise on the Bosphorus with a Live Show brings together delicious traditional Turkish dishes and the perfect sea view. This cruise tour is beyond what you expect from a boat tour, however. Because it also brings you the Turkish way of fun with traditional musical performances, folk dance shows, belly dancers as well as DJ performances. After a tasty meal, you will conclude with Turkish coffee then continue to enjoy your night to the fullest. The Dinner Cruise starts at 20.30 and takes about 3 hours. You can attend the cruise every day except for New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day.

What’s More

Bosphorus Strait has shores in central neighborhoods of Istanbul like Karaköy, Kabataş, Beşiktaş, Ortaköy, Kuruçeşme, Arnavutköy, Sarıyer, Bebek, and more. These places include many restaurants and cafés with Bosphorus views. If you especially want to see the Bosphorus Bridge while relaxing, sipping your coffee, or enjoying your meal and having fun with your friends but want to be on the land, you might try a few of them as well. Some of them in which you will be able to see the Bosphorus very clearly are Kaşıbeyaz Bosphorus, Villa Bosphorus, The House Café, and Mercure Hotel Bosphorus Sky Bar Restaurant.

If your wish is to crown your stay in Istanbul and treat yourself by staying at one of the hotels with a Bosphorus view, we have suggestions for that too. Gezi Hotel Bosphorus, Radisson Blu Bosphorus Hotel Istanbul, and Four Seasons Istanbul at the Bosphorus are our recommendations. Last but definitely not least, there are few locations that can be reached by cable car such as the one climbing Pierre Loti Hill and the one that operates between Maçka Taşkışla and Taksim. You sure can travel these distances on foot but with the cable car you are exposed to views of Istanbul you cannot find anywhere else. Therefore, it might be a good idea to book Bosphorus cruises with cable cars.