Bosporus - Our Boat Trip Along the Metropolis of Istanbul

Friday, 20 June 2025 00:00
Written by Portal Editor

Bosporus - Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and, due to its location, probably the most famous, bordered to the south by the island-studded Sea of Marmara and to the north by the Black Sea.

Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and, due to its location, probably the most famous, bordered to the south by the island-studded Sea of Marmara and to the north by the Black Sea.

Bosporus - good friends in Istanbul

The western part of the city is geographically part of Europe, while the eastern part lies in Asia, divided by the Bosporus, which is spanned by three imposing bridges.

We stayed at the house of a good friend on Barbaros Boulevard in the Beşiktaş district. It was a great starting point, especially if you have some of the sights on your itinerary. To get a general impression of this enormous city, we decided to first take a boat tour on the Bosporus.

First and foremost, we should mention the beautiful 19th-century Dolmabahçe Palace, built by Sultan Abdulmecid, located directly on the banks of the Bosporus. This palace reflects a very modern image of Ottoman culture. The sultans of the time moved in immediately after the palace's completion and never returned to their Topkapi Palace. The word Dolmabahce means something like "filled garden," in this case referring to the land reclaimed from the Bosporus by "diking" and filling it with earth. The palace was then built on an embankment on the newly reclaimed area. This palace is open to visitors every day except Monday and Tuesday; special permission is required for photography.

Bridges that cross the strait imposingly and slenderly

We passed under the first Bosporus bridge and were amazed by the countless, mostly wooden villas lining the shore. Towers, sometimes entire buildings, stand out everywhere in the skyline, testifying to the age of this city. Rarely does one find such a diverse contour, reflecting 2,000 years of architectural history and the associated cultures of such diverse populations: Constantinople, Byzantium, and Istanbul. Once directly connected to Rome via the Via Egnatia across Bosporus.