BOSPORUS (BOSPHORUS) CRUISES

The Bosporus or Bosphorus, also known as the Istanbul Strait, (Turkish: Bogaz or Bogazici) is a strait that forms the boundary between the European part (Rumelia) of Turkey and its Asian part (Anatolia).

Its English name comes from mythology. Zeus had an affair with a beautiful women named Io. When Hera, his wife, discovered his infidelity, she turned Io into a cow and created a horsefly to sting her on the rump. Io jumped clear across the strait.

Thus bous=cow,
and poros=crossing-place:
Bosporus= "crossing-place of the cow."

Bosporus is the world's narrowest strait used for international navigation. It connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara, which is connected by the Dardanelles to the Aegean Sea, and thereby to the Mediterranean Sea. It is approximately 30 km long, with a width of changing between 700 and 3700 meters. The depth varies from 36 to 124 metres in midstream.

The shores of the strait are heavily populated as the city of Istanbul with a metropolitan area in excess of 12 million inhabitants straddles it.

Two bridges cross the Bosporus named the Bosphorus Bridge and Fatih Sultan Mehmet (Bosphorus II) bridge.

There are half day, full day and night bosporus cruises available.

HALF DAY BOSPORUS CRUISES

Bosporus Cruise with Spice Bazaar (Half Day - Morning)

• Spice Bazaar (also known as Egyptian Bazaar)
• Bosporus Cruise
• Rumeli Fortress (from the sea)

This tour starts by Spice Bazaar and goes on with Bosporus Cruise. The magical journey which covers both European and Aisan shores by our private boat will let you see the marvelous monuments and districts like: Maiden Tower (Kiz Kulesi), Dolmabahce Palace, Ciragan Palace, Ortakoy, Fethi Ahmet Pasa Mansion, Ortakoy Mosque, Beylerbeyi Palace, Kuleli Military School, Arnavutkoy, Bebek and more highlights of Istanbul located on both sides of the bosporus. We will also see the Rumeli Fortress (Rumeli Hisari), which was built by Mehmet the Conquerer in 1452, for preparation of his planned siege of Byzantine Constantinople.

Half day morning bosporous cruise starts at 08:45 and finish at 12:30. The rate is 25 Euro per person including professional guide and boat trip. Bosporus Cruises are usually more crowded than regular Istanbul tours.

Spice Bazaar is closed on Sunday.

Please send us an email (info@goreme.com) to make booking

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Golden Horn and Bosporus Cruise (Half Day - Afternoon)

• City Walls
• Cable Car to Cafe Pierre Loti
• Cruise on the Golden Horn (Halic Cruise)
• Cruise on the Bosporus

Half day, afternoon bosporus cruise will start by the city walls in Sultanahmet and then we will take the cable car to cafe Pierre Loti. This cafe is located behind the Eyup Mosque, at the opt of the hill, is a small wooden building, typically oriental in its architecture. The cafe is named after the famous French writer Pierre Loti (1850-1923), who came here to work and contemplate the lovely panorama. After here, we will enjoy a boat cruise from Eyup all the way to Eminonu which forms Goldenhorn, while your guide gives information about Jewish and Orthodox Heritage. The cruise will continue to Bosporus to see fabulous examples of Ottoman architecture on both Europe and Asia shores.

Afternoon half day bosporus cruise starts at 13:30 and finish at 17:00. The rate is 25 Euro per person including professional guide and admission fees. Bosporus Cruises are usually more crowded than regular Istanbul tours.

Please send us an email (info@goreme.com) to make booking

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FULL DAY BOSPORUS CRUISES

Bosporus and Dolmabahce Palace (Full Day with lunch)

• Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar)
• Bosporus Cruise
• Rumeli Fortress from the Sea
• Dolmabahce Palace
• Bosporus Bridge
• Camlica Hill

This tour is combination of Bosporus Cruise with Spice Bazaar and Dolmabahce Palace and Asian Side tours which you can find on our Istanbul Tours page. Bosporus and Dolmabahce Palace tour starts at 08:45 and finish at 17:00. The rate is 50 Euro per person including professional guide, entrance fees and lunch.

Dolmabahce Palace is closed on Monday and Thursday and will be replaced by a visit to Imperial Yildiz Park and Yildiz Pocelain factory. Spice Bazaar is closed on Sunday.

Please send us an email (info@goreme.com) to make booking

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Istanbul Cocktail (Full Day with lunch)

• Galata
• Pera
• Sultan Palace of Yildiz
• City Walls
• Cable Car to Pierre Loti
• Cruise on the Golden Horn
• Cruise on the Bosporus

This tour is combination of Golden Horn and Bosporus and Pera and Sultan Palace of Yildiz tours which you can find on our Istanbul Tours page. Istanbul Cocktail tour starts at 08:45 and finish at 17:00. The rate is 45 Euro per person including professional guide, adimission fees and lunch.

Sultan Palace is closed on Tuesday and will be replaced with Imperial Yildiz Park and Yildiz Pocelain factory. Both cruises may be arranged by regular boats in case, there are not enough perticipants. On the weekend, we might use the tour bus instead of cable car to Pierre Loti because of the crowds.

Please send us an email (info@goreme.com) to make booking

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Bosporus by Night (Night Cruise with dinner)

• Bosporus Cruise

You will be picked up from your hotel at 19:00 for transfer to yacht. We will sail up the Bosphorus, the waterway between Europe and Asia, as far as the Black Sea. While passing under the suspension bridges and viewing Ottoman summer palaces, waterside mansions and modern villas which line the European and Asian coasts, you will enjoy the panoramic view of Istanbul at night.

A rich variety of open buffet dishes, fresh seasonal fish with unlimited local drinks and entertainment on the boat with international music is also included to this cruise. You will also watch the belly dancers on the boat. We will transfer you back to your hotels at midnight.

The rate is 70 Euro per person including boat trip, transfers, dinner and unlimited local drinks.

Please send us an email (info@goreme.com) to make booking