Planning a Bosphorus Day Cruise

Planning a Bosphorus Day Cruise

There are two ways to take a ferry tour of the Bosphorus: you can take a cruise ferry or a commuter ferry; both leave from Eminönü.

Cruise ferries depart daily from Quay 3 (look for the sign reading bogaz hatti) at 10:35 and 1:35 (times are subject to change, so check first). The round-trip should cost about $6. These boats zigzag up the Bosphorus with set stops -- including for a couple of hours at either Rumeli Kavagi or Anadolu Kavagi, two fishing villages near the Black Sea, for lunch -- then they zigzag back down to Eminönü. (Anadolu Kavagi is particularly fun; its sidewalk vendors sell deep-fried mussels and sweet waffles.)

Taking the commuter ferry allows you to fashion your own tour, hopping on and off wherever you fancy, and then continuing your journey on the next ferry going your way. (Buy a ferry timetable -- a vapur tarifesi -- to figure out your itinerary.) The disadvantage is that you will probably end up spending considerable extra time waiting for the next boat. Note, too, that not all commuter ferries stop at every quay along the Bosphorus, and during the middle of the day schedules can be erratic. When looking at ferry schedules, remember that Rumeli refers to the European side, Anadolu to the Asian.

Whether you take a Bosphorus cruise or make your own way by commuter ferry, you should allow a whole day. The cruises usually take about six hours. If you opt for the commuter ferry, add at least an extra hour (if not longer) for ferry-waiting time, in addition to the time spent at stops along the way. Beylerbeyi Sarayi is closed Monday and Thursday. Rumeli Hisari is closed Monday. Sadberk Hanim Müzesi is closed Wednesday.