Istanbul Small Group Luxury Night Cruise Experience on Bosphorus

The Bosphorus, or Bosporus with its historical name, is a strait and international waterway that separates the continents of Asia and Europe and connects the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. The Bosphorus generally stretches in the northeast-southwest direction and divides the city of Istanbul into the European Side and the Anatolian Side. The Bosphorus is a gateway connecting Asia and Europe and is 30 kilometers long. It is the point that connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. The depth of the Bosphorus is 60 meters on average, and the deepest point reaches up to 120 meters. Its width is very variable due to its distance from the shore, and its widest point is 3500 meters. In the Bosphorus, there are currents from the Black Sea to the Marmara on the water surface, and from the Marmara to the Black Sea underwater. There are also occasional counter currents on the water surface.

Dolmabahçe Palace is an Ottoman palace located on an area of ​​250.000 m² in Istanbul, Beşiktaş, between Dolmabahçe Street stretching from Kabataş to Beşiktaş and the Bosphorus. It is located on the left bank at the entrance to the Bosphorus from the Sea of Marmara, opposite Uskudar and Kuzguncuk. Dolmabahçe, which used to be a cove where ships anchored in ancient times, became the favorite residence of the sultanate, carries the memory of centuries and the clear splendor of the waters of the Bosphorus.

The Cıragan Palace was commissioned by Sultan Abdulaziz and designed by the architect Sarkis Balyan. It is located in the place of a former wooden summer palace built by Selim Ill in 1800. In the course of the palace's construction the wooden structure and the nearby Besiktas Mevlevihane were destroyed. Cıragan's construction was completed in 1871. The palace is made of marble and is spread out over a total area of 80,000 square meters. After Abdelaziz was deposed, he was imprisoned here for years together with his family. After Murat V was deposed, he was also imprisoned here in a similar fashion for 29 years with his family. After the declaration of the Second Constitutional Monarchy in 1908, the palace was used as the House of Parliament, however it was damaged by fire in 1910. The palace grounds were transferred to the Besiktas Sports Club and were used for some time as the Seref Stadium. Toward the beginning of the 1990's the palace was restored and reopened as a luxury hotel.

Ortakoy is a neighborhood and district in the district of Beşiktas, on the European side of the Bosphorus. Ortakoy district, which consists of Ortakoy and Mecidiye districts, is a settlement established on the slopes along the valley opening to the coast. The northern border of the district, which is surrounded by Kurucesme, Ulus, Levazım, Balmumcu and Yildiz districts, is Defterdarburnu. Ortakoy Bazaar is lively at all hours of the day with its "intellectual market", souvenir shops, cafes, bars and restaurants inside the bazaar. But in the early hours of the morning, the market is a bit uninspiring.

The feet of the Bosphorus Bridge, one of the two suspension bridges on the Bosphorus, are located in Ortaköy on the European side and in Beylerbeyi on the Anatolian side. The Bosphorus Bridge, the first bridge built on the Bosphorus, provides access between the two sides of the city, together with the later Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge and the ferries operating on the Bosphorus. The idea of ​​building a bridge over the Bosphorus is quite old. After many attempts, the construction of the Bosphorus Bridge started in 1970 and the bridge was opened on 29 October 1973, the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic. This suspension bridge, which is an important link in the Turkish transportation network and is very active at all hours of the day, is also an important crossing point of the Istanbul Eurasa Marathon organized by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. In addition to transportation, the bridge is one of the important symbols of Istanbul with its unique Bosphorus view.

Bebek is a historic Istanbul neighborhood, located on the European shores of the Bosporus, surrounded by Arnavutkoy, Etiler and Rumeli Hisari. The direct translation of the word Bebek is baby which is a reference to the neighborhood's attractive positioning on the Bosphorus. A popular residential district since the Ottoman rule, Bebek's population reflects the diverse society of the time. Today with its historical buildings such as Bogazici University and waterside mansions, with it's beautiful Bosphorus view and fancy restaurants.

Located in Sariyer, Rumeli Fortress (Rumeli Hisari) was constructed directly across from the Anadolu Hisari (the Anatolian Fortress). Construction began in 1453 at the order of Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror placing the fortress at the narrowest point of the Bosphorus. The construction was completed in the short span of three months. Before the conquest of Istanbul, it was used to protect against naval attacks. After the conquest it was used to as an inspection point for maritime traffic on the Bosphorus. Over the centuries, the area inside the fortress filled with small wooden houses but in the course of restoration work in 1953 these houses were removed. After its restoration, the fortress came to be known for the numerous concerts given here during the summer months, and it now serves as an open-air theater and museum.

Istanbul's second bridge spanning the Bosphorus, the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge (Fatih Sultan Mehmet Koprusu) was built between Kavacik and Hisarustu. Construction began in 1986 and the bridge opened on the 3rd of July 1988. The Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge is the 14th largest steel suspension bridge in the world. Along with the Bosphorus Bridge and the city's ferries, the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge carries a significant portion of Istanbul's trans-Bosphorus traffic. It has also become an unforgettable piece of the Istanbul skyline.

The Anatolian Fortress (Anadolu Hisari) is located in in Beykoz (on the Asian Side), at the narrowest point of the Bosphorus. It was built in 1395 by Beyazit I and is made up of a citadel and its exterior castle walls. After the conquest of Istanbul, it lost much of its strategic importance and was converted into a military hospital. Over time the area around the castle became settled. Today waterfront houses and old mansions are dispersed among the castle's ruins. During restoration work which lasted from 1991-1993 it was converted into a museum however it is not open to the public. Today, Anadolu Hisari is an open-air museum but only outer walls can be visited, and the road passes just through it.

The Kucuk Su Palace, located on the Bosphorus coast road between Uskudar and Beykoz, is a small Ottoman summer palace ordered by the Ottoman Sultan Abdulmecit. The palace was designed by the famous architect of the time, Nikogos Balyan. With its excellent view of the Bosphorus, Kucuksu attracted many Sultans during the Ottoman period who used the palace for relaxation. Because of the fine quality of furniture, paintings, carpets and the delicacy in details the small palace was opened as a museum during the Republican period.

The Beylerbeyi Palace (It means -Lord of Lords") is an Ottoman summer palace complex built in the 1860's on the shores of the Bosphorus. Today it lies right under the Bosphorus bridge. The building was designed by the well-known architect Sarkis Balyan and it combines elements of renaissance, baroque and other styles from both the East and West. The main building of the complex is a two-store construction, made of stone, on a high basement. The building was constructed on a land of about 2,500 square meters sits on a rectangular floor area. The South side of the Palace was organized as Imperial Mabeyn and The North side as Valide Sultan's Apartment. There is total 6 halls, 24 rooms, 1 hamam and 1 bathroom at two stores. In addition to the fantastic view of the Bosphorus and historical architecture, one should not miss exploring its lily pond and large garden.

The Maiden's Tower (Kiz Kulesi) is a distinctive feature of the Bosporus skyline. Built on a tiny island located about 200m from the shore of Uskudar, the tower is the main subject to many legends. The most popular legend though is about a sultan and his daughter. An oracle prophesied that the sultan's daughter would be killed by a snake bite on her 18th birthday. The sultan decided to protect her from this misfortune and had the tower built in the middle of the Bosphorus, where she was put to live her life in secrecy and protection. Finally on her 18th birthday, the sultan brought her a basket of fruits as a birthday gift, not aware of the hidden snake inside. Upon reaching into the basket the princess got bitten by the snake and died in her father's arms as foreseen by the oracle. Referring to this legend the tower got its name: Maiden's tower.

Galataport is a modern port and social hub in Istanbul's Karaköy district. It seamlessly blends the city's historical charm with contemporary architecture. The area features restaurants, cafes, shops, and cultural venues, making it a vibrant destination for both locals and tourists. The innovative underground terminal efficiently manages cruise ship traffic, adding to its appeal. Galataport is a prime example of Istanbul's fusion of culture and modernity.