04Experiences

Experience

A ferry on the Bosporus

The Bosporus is a 31-kilometre strait joining the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara and splitting Istanbul between Europe and Asia. It is the narrowest strait in the world used for international shipping, only 700 metres wide at its tightest point, between Kandilli and Aşiyan. The best way to see it is from the water: ferries and sea buses run between the European and Asian shores, and even a short crossing shows you palaces and waterside houses, with suspension bridges overhead. From the deck the city's skyline opens up, domes and minarets on the hills and the Süleymaniye Mosque above the Golden Horn. Heading north toward the Black Sea, the banks turn greener and the buildings thin out. Go before sunset, sit on the open part of the deck and bring a light jacket, as the wind on the water is cool even in spring. Get off on the Asian side, wander its streets for a while and come back on another boat; the ride itself is the view.

0 km

Length of the Bosporus

0 m

Narrowest point