Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise

Half day afternoon tour - Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise including a visit to the Spice Market.

Cruising along the European and Asian shores by regular boat, you will be surprised to see the harmony of Ottoman and modern architecture.

During the cruise and the tour, your guide will give you a detailed information on the most important "Yalis" as for many their appeal lies also in their story. Lord Byron was so impressed that he immortalized them in his epic, Don Juan, "each villa on the Bosphorus look a screen new painted or a pretty opera scene.
As you are cruising along the Bosphorus, you will have the opportunity to see the major highlights of the city from the boat;

Dolmabahce Palace: The word "Dolmabahce" means "The filled garden" in English. Because it was founded upon a reclaimed area by filling up the sea. It's a beautiful 19th century palace right by the Bosphorus, on the waterfront. It's in baroque and rococo style and looks very French. The palace  was built by Sultan Abdülmecid and it is the second Imperial palace of Ottomans after Topkapi palace.The Balyan family of architects completed the construction of the palace, mosque and clock tower in 1853, at a time when the country was at war and deeply in debt. The palace has 285 rooms, 43 large halls, 6 main staircases and 6 baths. The crystal hanging-chandelier in the reciprocal room, which is a Bohemian crystal masterpiece and weighs four-and-a-half ton, was a present from Queen Victoria and is said to be the largest in the world. As Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, used Dolmabahce as his residence and died here on November 10, 1938, this palace holds special significance for Turks.

Besiktas: is a crowded transportation hub and commercial district of Istanbul with a university and several important museums nearby.

Beylerbeyi: Summer Palace of Ottoman Sultans. This marble palace was built by Sarkis Balyan for Sultan Abdulaziz between 1861-65. It was also used as a residence for visiting foreign dignitaries including Austria's Franz Joseph and France's Empress Eugenie. 

Rumeli Fortress: Built by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror as a preparation for the siege of Constantinople. He personally supervised the construction of the fortress to complete the whole work in an amazing 4 months and 20 days by using 2000 laborers and 1000 artisans.  

Ortakoy: Very famous area for handicrafts, European style outdoor cafes and night life.  

Kızkulesi (Leander Tower): An ancient lighthouse with many stories told about. The romance of the tower finds its roots in an ancient myth along the lines of Romeo and Juliet: Leander falls in love with the Aphrodite Priestess Hero; Leander drowns swimming to meet Hero; Hero finds lover's corpse; Hero commits suicide.

Spice Market: The vibrant oriental shopping area where, for centuries, travelers have marvelled at the goods on display where we will be able to buy the spices, herbs, fruits, vegetables and even aphrodisiacs of your choice.