Bosporus - European Side Attractions
By boat through the Bosporus
The best way of seeing the Bosporus in all its beauty is to take a trip from Istanbul on one of the coastal boats which ply along its length, calling in alternately at landing-stages on each side and thus affording a constantly changing panorama. The point of departure is just southeast of the Galata Bridge; the ports of call can be seen on the timetables displayed in the waiting room. Not all boats go as far as Rumeli Kavagi, the last station on the European side (1.75-2 hours). At each station there is a ferry to the other side.
Suspension bridge.
Past the little promontory of Defterdar Burun and the Duimi Bank (navigational light) to the village of Kuruçesme and the Albanian fishing village of Arnavutköy on Akinti Point, where there is always a strong current.
Bebek, in a beautiful bay, with villas and waterside houses (yalis).
On a low promontory beyond Boyaciköyü Emirgan are the palaces built by the Egyptian Khedive Ismail (d. 1895).
Istinye, with a shipyard.
The best way of seeing the Bosporus in all its beauty is to take a trip from Istanbul on one of the coastal boats which ply along its length, calling in alternately at landing-stages on each side and thus affording a constantly changing panorama. The point of departure is just southeast of the Galata Bridge; the ports of call can be seen on the timetables displayed in the waiting room. Not all boats go as far as Rumeli Kavagi, the last station on the European side (1.75-2 hours). At each station there is a ferry to the other side.
Suspension bridge.
Past the little promontory of Defterdar Burun and the Duimi Bank (navigational light) to the village of Kuruçesme and the Albanian fishing village of Arnavutköy on Akinti Point, where there is always a strong current.
Bebek, in a beautiful bay, with villas and waterside houses (yalis).
On a low promontory beyond Boyaciköyü Emirgan are the palaces built by the Egyptian Khedive Ismail (d. 1895).
Istinye, with a shipyard.
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Besiktas - Ciragan Sarayi
Besiktas; opposite the landing-stage, the Türbe of Kheireddin Barbarossa. Beyond this the massive ruins of the Ciragan Sarayi, a luxurious palace in the same style as the Dolmabahçe Palace (façade 950m/1,040yds long), built by Abdul Aziz in 1874 and burned down in 1910. On the hill above it is the Yildiz Köskü (Yildiz Sarayi), residence of the retiring Sultan Abdul Hamid II.
The palace has been restored and is now a luxury hotel.
The palace has been restored and is now a luxury hotel.
Büyükdere
Büyükdere is a popular summer resort, with a large park. The bay of Büyüdere (large valley) forms the widest part of the Bosporus (3.3km/2mi).
10km/6mi northwest is the Belgrade Forest (Belgrat Ormani), with a number of reservoirs.
10km/6mi northwest is the Belgrade Forest (Belgrat Ormani), with a number of reservoirs.
Ortakoy, Turkey
Suburb of Ortaköy, with beautiful gardens; handsome mosque (1870); last view of Istanbul to rear.
Rumeli Feneri, Turkey
Rumeli Feneri (European Lighthouse), at the northern entrance to the Bosporus, with the village of the same name and an old fortress on the cliffs at the north end of the bay. The dark basalt cliffs to the east are the Cyanaean Islands or Symplegades, the "clashing rocks" of the Argonaut legend.
Sariyer, Turkey
Sariyer, at the mouth of the wooded and well-watered Valley of Roses. There is an interesting museum, Sadberk Koç Hanim Müzesi (tiles, porcelain, glass, crystal, silver, costumes, jewelry; documents belonging to the Sadberk Koç family), in the old Azaryan Yali. From here a bus or dolmus (communal taxi) can be taken to Kilyos (10km/6mi north), a popular little resort on the Black Sea with a good sandy beach. Then on past the Dikili cliffs.
Tarabya (Therapia), Turkey
Tarabya (Therapia), a sizable township in a little bay, known in antiquity as Pharmakeios (Poisoner, after the poison strewn here by Medea in her pursuit of Jason). Pleasantly cool in summer owing to the wind blowing in from the Black Sea Tarabya has numerous houses, where some of the European diplomatic missions have their summer quarters.
From the little promontory of Cape Kireç the Black Sea can be seen in the distance.
From the little promontory of Cape Kireç the Black Sea can be seen in the distance.
