Bosphorus Daytime Sightseeing Cruise Lunch & Soft Drinks

Kabataş, departure point of Mega Lüfer Boats

Dolmabahçe Palace was built as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire and served as the residence of the Sultan and his family until its decline in 1922. It is a magnificent 19th-century palace that showcases an interesting combination of Ottoman, Baroque, and Neoclassical styles. With over 285 rooms, 46 halls, 6 baths, and splendid gardens, it ranks among the largest palaces in the world.

15 July Martyrs' Bridge, formerly known as Bosphorus Bridge and halk arasında Birinci Köprü (First Bridge), is an important suspension bridge located over the Bosphorus in Istanbul, connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. The bridge's piers are situated in Ortaköy on the European side and Beylerbeyi on the Asian side. Being the first bridge built over the Bosphorus, it is also known as the First Bridge. Along with the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, and the Eurasia Tunnel, it provides uninterrupted road transportation between the two sides of the city. Construction of the bridge began on February 20, 1970, and it was officially opened on October 30, 1973, by then-President Fahri Korutürk in a state ceremony, coinciding with Turkey's 50th anniversary of its founding.

Kuruçeşme

Bebek

The building of the Egyptian Consulate, Hıdiva Yalısı or Ali Pasha Yalısı, is an impressive mansion located in the Bebek neighborhood of Beşiktaş district in Istanbul. Situated right in the middle of Bebek Bay, this yali currently serves as the Istanbul Consulate General of Egypt. It was designed in 1902 by the renowned Italian architect Raimondo D'Aronco as a summer residence for Emine Valide Pasha, the mother of Hüdiv Abbas Hilmi Pasha. The lush wooded area behind it is known as Kortel Grove, belonging to Professor Fikret Kortel of Boğaziçi University. The existing structure was built in the early 20th century. After the proclamation of the Republic, Emine Valide Pasha donated this unique building to the Egyptian Government. The building was vacated in 2002 and underwent extensive restoration between 2008 and 2011.

The fortress located on the Bosphorus coast in the Sarıyer district of Istanbul, which bears the name of its neighborhood, holds historical significance. Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror built it before the conquest of Istanbul to eliminate potential threats coming from the Black Sea, at the narrowest point of the Bosphorus (698 meters), opposite the Anadolu Hisarı on the Anatolian side. The fortress covers an area of 32,000 square meters. Constructed in a short period of ninety days, this structure has three large towers, some of the largest castle battlements in the world. Rumeli Hisarı is referred to as Kulle-i Cedide in the sultanic foundations; Yenice Hisar in Neşri's historical writings; and Boğazkesen Hisarı in the documents of Kemalpaşazade, Aşıkpaşazade, and Nişancı.

Anadolu Hisarı Fortress, also known as Güzelce Hisarı, is an Ottoman fortress located in the Anadoluhisarı neighborhood of Beykoz district in Istanbul, at the site where the Göksu River flows into the Bosphorus. Anadolu Hisarı covers an area of 7,000 square meters and was built in 1395 by Yıldırım Bayezid at the narrowest point of the Bosphorus, which is 660 meters apart. The Genoese, allied with the Byzantines, established colonies in the Black Sea region (Kefe, Sinop, and Amasra). Therefore, passage through the strait was vital for the Genoese. The same was true for the Ottomans. On the opposite shore, on the European side of Istanbul, Rumelihisarı was constructed between 1451 and 1452 by Mehmed the Conqueror to monitor the passage of foreign ships. Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror added outer walls to this fortress during its construction.

Göksu Stream is a creek that flows into the Bosphorus between Anadoluhisarı and Göksu neighborhoods in Beykoz, Anatolian side of Istanbul. It originates from the convergence of flood channels descending from the southern hills of Göztepe and curves gently in a hilly area, draining into the sea along the northern edge of the plain called Küçüksu Field. The Küçüksu Stream also passes along the southern edge of this plain and reaches the sea near Küçüksu Pavilion. These twin waters are called "Fresh Waters of Asia" in Western languages. This name derives from the Byzantine period name Potamion (meaning small river), given to Göksu. During the Ottoman period, Sultan IV. Murad named it "Gümüş Servi" (Silver Cypress) because of the cypress forests extending to Kandilli at that time.

Küçüksu Pavilion or Göksu Pavilion is a historic building located in the Küçüksu neighborhood of Istanbul, between the Göksu River and Küçüksu River, on the Bosphorus along the Üsküdar-Beykoz shoreline. It was commissioned by Sultan Abdülmecid and built by Nigoğos Balyan, with construction completed in 1856. Formerly known as "Göksu Pavilion," this structure is one of the Bosphorus shoreline retreat pavilions for sultans. These pavilions are large structures built outside the palace and are considered the private property of the sultans. Not used for permanent residence, these pavilions served as places where sultans preferred to relax.

Çengelköy

II. When Mehmed conquered Istanbul, there was a grove, a monastery, and a tower in the area where the Kuleli Military High School is now located. Between 1512 and 1520, during the reign of Yavuz Sultan Selim, this monastery was allocated as barracks for Janissaries. Over time, this barracks area became known as Bostancıbaşı Rooms, and due to the beauty of the garden, it was recognized as Kuleli Garden. As soon as Sultan Süleyman became sultan, a large nine-story mansion with a tall tower was built in the garden; each floor was equipped with spring-fed pools. Sultan Ahmed III turned the tower garden and its surroundings into private property. During this period, a tower from the Byzantine era was demolished. In 1744, a mosque was built along the shoreline by Kaymak Mustafa Pasha, the son-in-law of Grand Vizier Nevşehirli Ibrahim Pasha.

Beylerbeyi

Beylerbeyi Palace is a summer residence of the Ottoman Empire located in the Üsküdar district of Istanbul. Today, it functions as a museum and is part of a complex consisting of various structures and elements. It is named after the Beylerbeyi neighborhood. Built between 1863 and 1865 under the orders of Ottoman Sultan Abdulaziz, it was designed by architect Sarkis Balyan.

Üsküdar

Following the naval victory at Cyzicus, in 408 BC, the Athenian general Alcibiades possibly built a special lookout station on a small rock off Üsküdar, likely for ships coming from the Black Sea. The tower, which has become the symbol of Üsküdar, is the only remaining structure from the Byzantine period, with a longstanding history dating back to 24 BC. In 1110, Byzantine Emperor Alexios I constructed a wooden tower reinforced with stone walls. From this tower, an iron chain was stretched to another tower built in the Mangana district of the historic peninsula. The islet was later connected to the Asian coast by a defense wall, along with submerged relics. During the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul in 1453, the tower housed a Byzantine garrison led by Venetian Gabriele Trevisano. Subsequently, during Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror’s reign, the structure was used by the Ottoman Turks as a watchtower.

Galataport is a cruise port and mixed-use facility located in Karaköy, Istanbul. Situated on the European side of the Bosphorus, at the point where the Golden Horn merges with the Bosphorus Strait. It is located along a 1.2 km long coastline on the Bosphorus. The facility includes a hotel, cafes, restaurants, boutique shops, offices, and two art museums. Galata Rıhtımı is Istanbul's and Turkey's first modern quay. It extends from Galata Bridge toward Fındıklı along the Karaköy waterfront. Construction began in April 1892 under the leadership of Mişel Pasha and was completed at the end of 1895. It is 758 meters long. Together with Salıpazarı Rıhtımı, it constitutes the Istanbul port. It is managed by the Turkish Maritime Organization.