“Where is the Bosphorus?”, you may ask. Well, the strait is to be found between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. In fact, the strait provides the vital linkage between the two. The Bosphorus also acts as the natural divider of the Asian and European sides of the city. What’s more, it provides a natural harbor, spanning over 30 kilometers with a width of 730 meters at its narrowest and 3,300 meters at its widest. This strategic strait has made Istanbul a much-contested city and also helped in making Istanbul the premiere tourist destination it is right now.
The shores along the Bosphorus comprise the neighborhoods of Bebek, Emirgan, Besiktas, Arnavutkoy, Beylerbeyi, Anadoluhisar, Ortakoy, Tarabya and a lot more. Yes, The Bosphorus is one scenic waterway. Its shores are dotted with restaurants, parks, exclusive neighborhoods and Ottoman palaces. Bosphorus, after all, is a preferred residential area. This is where the rich and influential of the city prefer to relax and let their hair down, especially during the hot and humid summer months.
Here’s one thing to try – go on a Bosphorus cruise! There are a lot of ferries and private boats that ply this route and that cater to tourists raring to see the beauty of both sides of the Bosphorus. During the cruise, you will most probably get a view of the village of Ortakoy, as well as the Beylerbeyi Palace. Ortakoy is a cozy artist’s village that is also home to the Ortakoy mosque – the gorgeous baroque style structure that has the Bosphorus Bridge as its protective canopy. The village also houses a synagogue and a church. You can opt to stop by the village to fill your tummies with local cuisine in the cafes that line the shore. Going on with the tour, you will also get to view the Galatasaray Island, which is actually a man-made island named after the famous Turkish football team. Still on the European side, you can also see two of the creations of the Balyan Brothers – the Ciragan Palace and the Dolmabahce Palace.
On the other side of the strait – the Asian side, you will see the Kucuksu Palace, which was used as the sultans’ hunting lodge. Also, you will see signs of how the Ottoman Empire’s strategy of building one fortress after another succeeded in finally toppling the Byzantine Empire. There is the Rumeli Fortress, which was built in 1452 as part of the Ottoman Turks’ campaign to bring the city to its knees. The fortress ensured that no reinforcements coming by way of the Black Sea can provide much-needed supplies and assistance to the city under siege.
Also, along the banks of the Bosphorus are yalis (old wooden villas that are specially designed for living by the bay) and private residences of the city’s officials and rich citizens. You will surely appreciate the elaborate and colorful designs.
As you go along the Bosphorus, you will pass by two bridges. These connect the two sides of the city – the Asian side and the European side. The Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge connects the Rumeli Hisari and Anadolu Hisari areas, while the Bosphorus Bridge connects Ortakoy and Beylerbeyi.