Bosphorus Strait

Mesmerising watching all the ships passing through. Super cheap to take the ferry from the European side to the Asian side and back again. Even saw some dolphins.

Crossing the Bosporus in a ferry is a great way to enjoy the view, travel from the European side to the Asian side and all for the price of 12.5TL which is about 0.5$!!! It runs every 20 minutes for about 20 minutes. Great and simple with amazing photo ops.

We had a great day and the trip was wonderful. We left the Besiktas dock, crossed the Bosphorus, and made a stop in Uskudar to pick up more passengers. For over an hour and a half, we toured the Asian side of Istanbul, where we saw the impressive houses along the coast where rich people, Turkish and foreign, live. On the way back, we saw the European side of the city and had nice views of Dolmabahçe Palace, Galatasaray University, and Ortakoy, the most modern city in the Beyoglu district. We also saw the headquarters of Turkish TV and the imposing Bogaziçi bridge which links the European and Asian Sides of the city.

Crossing the Bosphorus on the excellent ferry system costs only ONE Canadian dollar. Best deal in Istanbul. It's the best way to get to the foodie district of Kadakoy on the asian side.

It would be lovely to take a cruise to this body of water that traverses the 2 continents of Europe and Asia. The European side showcases old world charm and highlights several high end hotels that look like palaces. Of course there are those castles reminding us of the previous empire. The Asian side is more of upscale homes and residences of the rich and famous. Anyway which way , it will always be good.