My mother and I will be in Istanbul mid September and would like to see the Bosphorus. We are trying to decide if we should plan something ourselves or do the cruise tour. I like the idea of going all the way up the Bosphorus; however, I do not like the idea of a 3 hour stop. We would like input as to what stops are "musts" and what we can skip or just see from the boat if we decide to do it ourselves.

Has anyone taken the boat up the river and a bus back? This interests me, but I am not sure if it is reasonable. If so, how long would it take and can anyone recommend an itinerary? Thanks!

Hi Cosmos,
Have a look at the following link for several posibilities. http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/g...rus/ferry.html
Taking the traditional public transport ferry is an excellent and economic option.
Have a nice trip.

There are at least a dozen tour operators offering tours which vary in duration, route, schedule, stops, boat type and price. Most start in the Golden Horn close to the Galata Bridge.

I personally prefer small private boats. A Bosphorus boat tour can be very relaxing.

Another good tour is the Princes Island, especially with a horse carriage tour on the island.

Thanks for you replies. The Turkey Trip Planner website has great information! I am hoping to get some personal feedback from someone that has taken the bus back.

If you take the public ferry to the last village before the Black Sea, you might want to climb halfway up to the fortress and eat at the restaurant there, which has a nice view over the Bosphorus. That would take up a considerable amount of your 3 hour layover.

You might want to check out Rick Steves Istanbul - he has alot of info on the various cruise / cruise and bus options as well as much more info on what to do in Istanbul.