The strait that splits Istanbul between Europe and Asia — how to get out on the water cheaply, what you pass on each shore, and how to cross to the Asian side.
Last reviewed on 27 September 2026.
The Bosphorus (İstanbul Boğazı, or simply Boğaz, "the strait") is the narrow waterway that joins the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara and divides Istanbul between Europe and Asia. It is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes and, at the same time, the city's main street: ferries crisscross it all day, and its shores are lined with palaces, fortresses, mosques, fishing villages and the wooden waterside mansions called yalı. Seeing it from the water is one of the best things to do in Istanbul, and it can be done cheaply on public ferries. This page explains the options and what you pass. For the rest of the city, see the Istanbul sights hub and the Istanbul overview.
The Bosphorus runs roughly north–south for about 30 kilometres, winding between wooded hills. Its width varies from under a kilometre at its narrowest point, by the fortress of Rumeli Hisarı, to around three and a half kilometres near its northern mouth. It is a drowned river valley, flooded as sea levels rose after the last ice age.
Its currents are unusual. Fresher water from the Black Sea flows south at the surface towards the Marmara, while denser, saltier Mediterranean water flows north along the bottom. The surface current is strong and the channel twists sharply, which makes navigation difficult for large ships; the passage of merchant vessels through the strait is governed by the Montreux Convention of 1936. For more on the landscape, see geography and the Marmara region.
At its southern end the Golden Horn (Haliç), a long inlet, branches off to the west and separates the historic peninsula (Sultanahmet, Eminönü) from Beyoğlu (Karaköy, Galata, Taksim). The Bosphorus proper begins where the Golden Horn meets it, off Sarayburnu, below Topkapı Palace.
Short cross-strait routes such as Eminönü–Kadıköy, Karaköy–Kadıköy and Beşiktaş–Üsküdar. Paid with an İstanbulkart at local fares. Twenty minutes of Bosphorus views for the price of a bus ride.
The municipal ferry company's full-length Bosphorus tour from Eminönü to Anadolu Kavağı near the Black Sea and back, calling at piers on both shores. A day out at modest cost.
Round trips of roughly one and a half to two hours from Eminönü or Kabataş that turn round partway up the strait, run by Şehir Hatları and private operators.
Sunset, dinner and yacht cruises sold by agencies and hotels. More comfortable and pricier; quality varies, and dinner-show cruises focus on the show rather than the strait.
The classic way to see the whole strait is the long tour run by Şehir Hatları, the city's ferry operator. It departs from Eminönü in the morning and zigzags north, calling at a series of piers on both the European and Asian shores, before ending at Anadolu Kavağı, the last village on the Asian side before the Black Sea. The journey up takes around an hour and a half. The boat then waits for a few hours before returning, giving you time for lunch and a walk; in the afternoon it retraces the route back to Eminönü.
At Anadolu Kavağı, the main thing to do is climb the hill above the village — a steep walk of around half an hour — to Yoros Castle, a ruined Byzantine and later Genoese fortress with views up to the mouth of the Black Sea and the third bridge. The village waterfront is lined with fish restaurants; agree prices before ordering, as some are aimed at the tour crowd.
Timetables change with the season — there are usually fewer sailings in winter — and additional afternoon departures have operated in summer. Check the current Şehir Hatları timetable and fare before you go, and buy a ticket at the Eminönü pier. You can also take the long tour one way and return by bus, or get off at an intermediate pier such as Kanlıca or Sarıyer.
Heading north from the Golden Horn, the European side passes the most famous waterfront landmarks:
Even with little time, it is worth crossing to Asia — the Anatolian side of the city is where millions of Istanbullus live, and it feels different from the tourist centre.
Kadıköy, the site of ancient Chalcedon, is the Asian side's liveliest centre. Behind the pier, the market streets around Güneşlibahçe Sokak are full of fishmongers, greengrocers, delis, pickle shops and cheap, excellent restaurants — a good place to eat the local food without the tourist mark-up. The neighbourhood is also known for bars, bookshops and street life, and to the south the Moda district has a seafront promenade and park. Ferries run frequently from Eminönü, Karaköy and Beşiktaş.
Üsküdar is more traditional and devout, with several fine Ottoman mosques close to the pier: the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque (the İskele Mosque) by Sinan, built for Süleyman's daughter; the tiny Şemsi Pasha Mosque, also by Sinan, right on the water; and the Yeni Valide Mosque. The waterfront promenade south towards Salacak looks across to the historic peninsula and the Maiden's Tower. Ferries connect Üsküdar with Eminönü, Karaköy and Beşiktaş.
| Crossing | Opened | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Temmuz Şehitler Bridge (first Bosphorus Bridge) | 1973 | Between Ortaköy and Beylerbeyi; opened for the Republic's 50th anniversary; renamed after the attempted coup of July 2016 |
| Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge | 1988 | Near Rumeli Hisarı and Anadolu Hisarı, where the strait is narrowest |
| Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge | 2016 | Near the Black Sea entrance; carries a motorway and is designed for rail too |
| Marmaray | 2013 | Rail tunnel under the strait between Sirkeci and Üsküdar, part of a commuter line across the city |
| Eurasia Tunnel (Avrasya Tüneli) | 2016 | Road tunnel for cars and small vehicles, south of Marmaray; tolled |
For visitors, Marmaray is the most useful: it links Sirkeci (near Eminönü and Sultanahmet) with Üsküdar in a few minutes, and runs on across both sides of the city. The tunnel was a decades-old idea — Ottoman engineers sketched a crossing in the 19th century — and its excavation at Yenikapı uncovered the Byzantine Theodosian harbour with dozens of shipwrecks, one of the most important archaeological finds in the city's history. The bridges are not designed for pedestrians, so crossing on foot is not an option; the ferry is more pleasant anyway.
The cheapest good option is a public ferry. The Şehir Hatları long Bosphorus tour runs from Eminönü to Anadolu Kavağı near the Black Sea and back, and shorter round-trip tours and cross-strait commuter ferries also give excellent views. Private cruises cost more but can be worth it for a sunset or special occasion.
The trip up from Eminönü to Anadolu Kavağı takes around an hour and a half, followed by a stop of a few hours before the return, so it fills most of a day. Departures are few and vary by season, so check the current Şehir Hatları timetable.
The simplest ways are a commuter ferry, for example from Eminönü or Karaköy to Kadıköy, or from Beşiktaş to Üsküdar, or the Marmaray rail tunnel between Sirkeci and Üsküdar. All accept the İstanbulkart transport card.
The strait is about 30 kilometres long. Its width ranges from under a kilometre at its narrowest point, near Rumeli Hisarı, to around three and a half kilometres near the Black Sea end.
No. The three Bosphorus bridges carry motorway traffic and are not open to pedestrians. To cross on foot you would take a ferry or the Marmaray rail tunnel.
Yes. Kadıköy has lively market streets, good local restaurants and a busy street life, while Üsküdar has fine Ottoman mosques and a waterfront facing the historic peninsula. Both are a short ferry ride from Eminönü or Karaköy.