If the world were a single state, Istanbul would have been its capital –Napoleon Bonaparte
Istanbul is nothing short of a magical world tucked away at the confluence of 2 major powers in the world, Asia and Europe. As such, it is only expected that it would be a gem of a place. That is exactly what we offer in our Bosphorus Cruise Tour. From covering the medieval ages in the Spice Bazaar to watching the Golden Horn of Bosphorus in all its glory, the tour is designed so as to allow you to view the most of Istanbul in a single day. Of course, not everything can be covered in a city as richly steeped in history as Istanbul, but our tour is created keeping in mind you, the visitors.
Highlights of Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise Tour:
The Bosphorus Cruise Tour is a perfect blend of ethnic history and modern conveniences. It includes:
- A cruise covering the whole day featuring the Horn of Bosphorus and other top rated attractions in Istanbul including the Rüstem Pasha Mosque
- All round view from the Camlica Hill with the beautiful spread of the whole city
- Guided tour of the beautiful Dolmabahçe Palace.
- A beautiful 3 course lush spread of lunch by the waters of the Bosphorus at an authentic traditional restaurant
- A full tour of the Spice Bazaar so that you can relive Istanbul at its finest
- Lunch
What to Expect?
The Bosphorus Cruise Tour starts with our pickup vehicle at 08:00 am which will contact you directly at your hotel so that you do not have to expend any extra effort. Join others on the way to the Spice Bazaar while listening to amazing tales of how the city came to be and about your destination.
Spice Bazaar
If Istanbul is the capital of the world, the Spice Bazaar is where you will get everything you can think of. Do not let the name deceive you into thinking that this market deals only in spices. You will get some of the best deals in everything under the sun here. While there, do not forget to soak in the beautiful atmosphere that is always present in this place. Spices, Middle Eastern fruits and nuts along with tantalizing aromas pervade this bustling market at all times during the day. Be sure to pick up a few souvenirs like the colorful carpets as a reminder of the Bosphorus Cruise Tour while you are here and taste the authentic food fare available only at the Bazaar.
Rüstem Pasha Mosque
The beautiful mosque set in the city is one of the foremost examples of an architectural style from a bygone era. Created by the Grand Vizier Rüstem Pasha, one of the son in laws of Suleiman, this mosque was initially designed to be situated on a complex of shops, whose income was used to financially support the mosque. This mosque is famous for its liberal use of beautiful Iznik tiles, and forms a major attraction of the Bosphorus Cruise Tour. From use of deep red colors to equally magnificent purple and sage green, the whole architecture is intended to give a feel of sublime color palettes. The whole design is that of an octagon inside a rectangle and gives a beautiful geometrical perspective on the skills of the architects of the golden age of Istanbul.
Golden Horn
The Golden Horn of Istanbul is the primary part of the Bosphorus Cruise Tour. It covers a vast sweep of the city on a beautiful cruise along with the horn shaped estuary joining the Bosphorus strait to the Sea of Marmara. The reference to the word golden is assumed to refer to the huge riches that were brought to the city as long back as 7th century BCE via the harbors located along the coast. However, that alone is not the reason that the Bosphorus Cruise Tour is so symbolic. The Bosphorus runs parallel to countless architectural wonders of Istanbul. Besides the Bisphorus bridge, the only bridge linking 2 separate continents (Europe and Asia), the tour offers views of wonders like the Galata Tower and the Dolmabahçe Palace. Take in exactly what it means to live in Istanbul while cruising over the calm waters of the Bosphorus. While at it, do not forget to click pictures of landmarks like the Aynalıkavak Palace and the Runeli Fortress, all this to mention nothing of the innumerable beautiful mosques and mansions on the Asian side of the river.
Lunch
After all this, you are bound to work up a good appetite. Around midday, you will be taken to a shore based restaurant as a part of the Bosphorus Cruise Tour where you can sample some authentic Turkish food and drinks (not covered under the tour). Of course, other global cuisines are always available if you want to try something a little more conservative.
Finishing Up
The Bosphorus Cruise Tour then moves on to the final leg where you are taken to the Camlica Hill, the highest point in Istanbul so that you can view the whole city as a vast stretch in front of you. This is followed by a crossing of the Bosphorus Bridge and a guided tour of the Dolmabahçe Palace so that you can marvel at the Crystal staircase and other equally beautiful displays of the power and wealth of Istanbul with a glimpse into its glorious past.
The tour finally ends at 17:00 with a drop at your hotel.
What are you waiting for? Your visit to Istanbul is incomplete unless you cover all the important landmarks in the city. And what better way to do that if not through our Bosphorus Cruise Tour? Besides the value for money, the tour is designed to help you cover all the major sites in the minimum possible time. As we like to say, if you have not seen Istanbul, you have yet to see the world.
Note: The Dolmabahçe Palace is closed on Mondays and Thursdays, and as such, is replaced with visits to the Pierre Loti Coffee House, Eyüp and the Miniatürk.