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The Bosphorus Bridge spanning the strait between Europe and Asia

Cruise guide · Europe meets Asia

The Bosphorus: Our Favourites

How to cruise the Bosphorus by public ferry or private boat, and what you will see: Dolmabahçe, Ortaköy, Rumelihisarı, Beylerbeyi, the villages, the yalıs, waterside restaurants and palace hotels.

The back story

  1. The back story

    The yalı: Bosphorus waterside mansions, the back story

    Anadoluhisarı·In depth: architecture

    The wooden summer mansions that line the Bosphorus, and how to see them.

    Explore View on map

  2. The back story

    The Bosphorus: the back story

    Bosphorus·In depth: the strait

    Thirty kilometres of water between Europe and Asia, lined with palaces, fortresses, wooden mansions and fishing villages: the Bosphorus is Istanbul’s great avenue, and a ferry ride along it is the best day out in the city.

    Explore View on map

  3. The back story

    The best restaurants with a Bosphorus view: the back story

    Bosphorus·In depth: food

    Dinner on the Bosphorus is one of the great pleasures of Istanbul: the lights of the bridges, ships gliding past and two continents on either side of your table.

    Explore View on map

Taking a cruise

  1. The full Bosphorus by ferry

    Bosphorus cruises

    Eminönü·Ferry cruise·€€

    The public ferry’s full Bosphorus tour from Eminönü to Anadolu Kavağı, plus shorter round trips and private boats.

    Boğaz İskelesi, EminönüExplore View on map

What to see

  1. The sultans’ 19th-century palace

    Dolmabahçe Palace

    Beşiktaş·Palace museum·€€€

    The vast waterfront palace completed in 1856, with a crystal staircase and a 4.5-tonne chandelier. Closed on Mondays.

    Vişnezade, Dolmabahçe Caddesi, BeşiktaşExplore View on map

  2. A jewel under the bridge

    Ortaköy Mosque

    Ortaköy·Mosque

    The graceful 1850s mosque on the water at Ortaköy, under the Bosphorus Bridge.

    Ortaköy, Mecidiye Köprüsü Sokak, BeşiktaşExplore View on map

  3. The summer palace on the Asian shore

    Beylerbeyi Palace

    Beylerbeyi·Palace museum·€€

    The sultans’ summer palace of the 1860s on the Asian shore, under the Bosphorus Bridge.

    Beylerbeyi, Abdullahağa Caddesi, ÜsküdarExplore View on map

  4. The fortress of 1452

    Rumelihisarı

    Rumelihisarı·Fortress museum·€€

    The fortress Mehmed II built in 1452 at the narrowest point of the Bosphorus, before the conquest.

    Rumeli Hisarı, Yahya Kemal Caddesi, SarıyerExplore View on map

  5. A tower in the Bosphorus

    Maiden’s Tower

    Salacak·Tower on an islet·€€€

    The little tower on an islet off Üsküdar, restored and reopened as a museum in 2023.

    Salacak, ÜsküdarExplore View on map

  6. Wooden houses on the water

    Arnavutköy

    Arnavutköy·Bosphorus village

    A village of 19th-century wooden houses and fish restaurants on the European shore, between Kuruçeşme and Bebek.

    Arnavutköy, BeşiktaşExplore View on map

  7. The chic bay

    Bebek

    Bebek·Bosphorus village

    The smart bay on the European shore, with a seafront park, cafés and the Ottoman-era Egyptian consulate.

    Bebek, BeşiktaşExplore View on map

  8. A village of three faiths

    Kuzguncuk

    Kuzguncuk·Bosphorus village

    A small village on the Asian shore with a mosque, churches and a synagogue side by side, wooden houses and cafés.

    Kuzguncuk, ÜsküdarExplore View on map

  9. The older fortress on the Asian shore

    Anadoluhisarı

    Anadoluhisarı·Fortress

    The small fortress of the 1390s on the Asian shore, facing Rumelihisarı across the narrowest point.

    Anadoluhisarı, BeykozExplore View on map

  10. Where the Black Sea begins

    Anadolu Kavağı & Yoros Castle

    Anadolu Kavağı·Village & castle

    The fishing village at the end of the Bosphorus ferry tour, with fish restaurants and a ruined castle above the mouth of the Black Sea.

    Anadolu Kavağı, BeykozExplore View on map

  11. Tulips by the Bosphorus

    Emirgan Park

    Emirgan·Park

    A large hillside park on the upper Bosphorus, famous for its tulips in April, with three historic pavilions.

    Emirgan, SarıyerExplore View on map

  12. Woods above Çırağan

    Yıldız Park

    Beşiktaş·Park

    The wooded former palace gardens above Çırağan, with pavilions, ponds and shady paths.

    Yıldız, BeşiktaşExplore View on map

  13. Calligraphy on the Bosphorus

    Sakıp Sabancı Museum

    Emirgan·Museum·€€

    A museum in a Bosphorus mansion at Emirgan, with Ottoman calligraphy, paintings and major international exhibitions.

    Emirgan, Sakıp Sabancı Caddesi No:42, SarıyerExplore View on map

Where to eat

  1. Bosphorus terrace

    Lokanta Feriye

    Ortaköy·Turkish & Ottoman·€€€€

    Turkish and Ottoman-inspired cooking in the historic Feriye buildings on the Bosphorus shore, between Çırağan and Ortaköy.

    Yıldız Mahallesi, Çırağan Caddesi No:44, BeşiktaşExplore View on map

  2. One MICHELIN Star (2026)

    Sankai by Nagaya

    Bebek·Japanese·€€€€

    Chef Yoshi Nagaya’s Japanese cooking with Turkish seafood, by the Bosphorus in Bebek; one MICHELIN Star.

    Bebek, Cevdet Paşa Caddesi No:34, BeşiktaşExplore View on map

  3. One MICHELIN Star (2026)

    Araka

    Yeniköy·Modern Turkish·€€€€

    Vegetable-led, ingredient-focused cooking in Yeniköy on the upper Bosphorus; one MICHELIN Star.

    Kapalı Bakkal Sokak No:8, Yeniköy, SarıyerExplore View on map

  4. The view from Ulus

    Sunset Grill & Bar

    Ulus·International & sushi·€€€€

    A long-running hilltop restaurant in Ulus Park with a panoramic terrace over the Bosphorus.

    Kuruçeşme Mahallesi, Yol Sokak No:2, Ulus, BeşiktaşExplore View on map

  5. The Bosphorus lit up

    Ortaköy by night

    Ortaköy·Waterfront

    The square around the Ortaköy Mosque under the lit-up Bosphorus Bridge, with cafés, kumpir stalls and bars.

    Ortaköy Meydanı, BeşiktaşExplore View on map

  6. MICHELIN-selected (2026)

    Tuğra Restaurant

    Beşiktaş·Ottoman & Turkish·€€€€

    The fine-dining restaurant of Çırağan Palace, with Ottoman and Turkish cuisine and terraces on the Bosphorus; in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide.

    Çırağan Caddesi No:32, BeşiktaşExplore View on map

  7. MICHELIN-selected (2026)

    Park Fora

    Kuruçeşme·Fish & seafood·€€€€

    A fish and seafood restaurant in the park at Kuruçeşme, right on the Bosphorus with the bridge in view; in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide.

    Muallim Naci Caddesi No:54/A, Cemil Topuzlu Parkı, Kuruçeşme, BeşiktaşExplore View on map

  8. On the Asian shore

    Lacivert

    Anadoluhisarı·Mediterranean & seafood·€€€€

    A Mediterranean and seafood restaurant on the Asian shore at Anadoluhisarı, beside the Bosphorus near the second bridge.

    Anadoluhisarı, BeykozExplore View on map

Where to stay

  1. A sultan’s palace on the Bosphorus

    Çırağan Palace Kempinski

    Beşiktaş·Palace hotel·€€€€

    A 19th-century Ottoman palace on the Bosphorus shore, now one of the most famous hotels in the city.

    Çırağan Caddesi No:32, BeşiktaşExplore View on map

  2. A palace on the water

    Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus

    Beşiktaş·Luxury hotel·€€€€

    A luxury hotel around a restored 19th-century Ottoman palace building on the Bosphorus.

    Çırağan Caddesi, BeşiktaşExplore View on map

  3. Resort-style on the Bosphorus

    Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus

    Kuruçeşme·Luxury hotel·€€€€

    A contemporary luxury hotel on the Bosphorus at Kuruçeşme, with a large spa and waterfront pools.

    Muallim Naci Caddesi No:62, Kuruçeşme, BeşiktaşExplore View on map

  4. Mansions on the upper Bosphorus

    Six Senses Kocataş Mansions

    Sarıyer·Luxury hotel·€€€€

    A wellness-focused luxury hotel in two historic mansions on the upper Bosphorus at Sarıyer.

    SarıyerExplore View on map

  5. A converted distillery on the Asian shore

    Sumahan on the Water

    Çengelköy·Boutique hotel·€€€

    A design hotel in a converted 19th-century distillery on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus, with its own boat.

    Kuleli Caddesi, Çengelköy, ÜsküdarExplore View on map

  6. A yalı on the Asian shore

    A’jia Hotel

    Kanlıca·Boutique hotel·€€€

    A boutique hotel in a 19th-century waterside mansion at Kanlıca, on the Asian shore.

    Kanlıca, BeykozExplore View on map

  7. By Dolmabahçe Palace

    Shangri-La Bosphorus

    Beşiktaş·Luxury hotel·€€€€

    A luxury hotel on the Bosphorus waterfront next to Dolmabahçe Palace.

    Hayrettin İskelesi Sokak No:1, BeşiktaşExplore View on map

Share your The Bosphorus tips

Know a lovely corner of The Bosphorus? Share it with other visitors.

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