Istanbul/Bosphorus

The Bosphorus is the area of Istanbul along the banks of the channel of the same name that connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, and separates Europe from Asia.

''This article only describes the European bank of the Bosphorus, and nearby sections of its Black Sea coast. For the Asian bank of the Bosphorus (and the more extensive eastern Black Sea coast) see Istanbul/Asian Side.''

Understand
In Turkish Boğaz means the Bosphorus channel, while Boğaziçi is the word for the neighbourhoods strung along it. These began as separate fishing villages, and even today have not completely grown into each other. So they each have a different character, with late Ottoman palaces, parks, and lush woodlands. This is one of the most scenic districts of Istanbul, especially in May when the Judas trees (Turkish: Erguvan, Latin: Cercis siliquastrum) swathe the shoreline and the hills with their deep-pink flowers.

By metro
Both the M2 and M7 metro routes serves the district, with the latter servering mostly the southern part around Beşiktaş. M2 runs in a north-south direction but takes a more inland route, away from most sights.

By bus
Buses depart at the Kabataş tram station, Taksim Square, and Beşiktaş among others. Most buses hug the waterfront, one especially useful being line #25E, from Kabataş to the northern district of Sarıyer—change buses there for villages on the Black Sea coast.

By dolmuş
They run to Beşiktaş from Taksim and Nişantaşı on the European Side, and Kadıköy and Bostancı on the Asian Side.

By boat
Ferries from Üsküdar and Kadıköy on the Asian Side dock at Beşiktaş quay and several others along the coast.



See



 * Along the European Black Sea coast, and  are two village resorts, close to the city so they're popular for weekend getaways.
 * Along the European Black Sea coast, and  are two village resorts, close to the city so they're popular for weekend getaways.
 * Along the European Black Sea coast, and  are two village resorts, close to the city so they're popular for weekend getaways.
 * Along the European Black Sea coast, and  are two village resorts, close to the city so they're popular for weekend getaways.
 * Along the European Black Sea coast, and  are two village resorts, close to the city so they're popular for weekend getaways.
 * Along the European Black Sea coast, and  are two village resorts, close to the city so they're popular for weekend getaways.
 * Along the European Black Sea coast, and  are two village resorts, close to the city so they're popular for weekend getaways.
 * Along the European Black Sea coast, and  are two village resorts, close to the city so they're popular for weekend getaways.
 * Along the European Black Sea coast, and  are two village resorts, close to the city so they're popular for weekend getaways.
 * Along the European Black Sea coast, and  are two village resorts, close to the city so they're popular for weekend getaways.
 * Along the European Black Sea coast, and  are two village resorts, close to the city so they're popular for weekend getaways.
 * Along the European Black Sea coast, and  are two village resorts, close to the city so they're popular for weekend getaways.
 * Along the European Black Sea coast, and  are two village resorts, close to the city so they're popular for weekend getaways.
 * Along the European Black Sea coast, and  are two village resorts, close to the city so they're popular for weekend getaways.

Do



 * Bosphorus Cruise – The best way to see the Bosphorus in all its beauty is to take a boat trip. This is the strategic waterway connecting the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, and dividing Istanbul into two continents. As the boat zigzags between Asia and Europe, you can admire the old Ottoman wooden houses, 6 Ottoman palaces, 2 suspended bridges, and 2 medieval castles.
 * It is somewhat of a tourist trap. One-way is 13 TL, return 26 TL. The standard price for one hop for locals is 1.5 TL. On Sundays there are fewer boats.
 * If you are not so lucky/fast to get one of the few deckseats it gets very hot inside, even hotter than in the city.


 * There are also daily trips from Eminönü, by 10:30 in the morning and come back by 16:30 in the evening. It costs 20 TL per trip per person. There is an additional boat at 13:30 in summer.
 * For travellers that don't want to bother with getting off the boat/taking the bus to take a deeper look into some of the Bosphorus neighbourhoods, there are also boats departing from Ortaköy which allow you to see waterfront from a distance up to the Second Bosphorus Bridge in the north, though they don't allow you to get off at any neighbourhood quay you like (in fact they don't stop anywhere until they get back to Ortaköy).

Sleep
Accommodation close to the Bosphorus is mostly upmarket. There is more mid-range & budget choice a little further south, around Taksim Square—see Galata page.



Connect
A number of standard internet cafés (i.e. which offer broadband connection, printer, and CD burner, and most likely a meager selection of canned soft drinks) can be found on the side alleys—especially on those to your left when Beşiktaş is behind you—of Barbaros Bulvarı, the large avenue going uphill from main square of Beşiktaş.

Stay safe
There are not many safety issues in this part of the city really, at least not as much as you'd expect from a city of this size.

There are some issues to keep in mind, though:
 * Some parts of the Bosphorus esplanade in the northern sections of the district, particularly from Yeniköy to Kireçburnu lack waterside guardrails, so watch your steps if you decide to take a stroll around there.
 * While you will see some people swimming in the strait (mostly poor children, who cannot afford to swim in pools), it is discouraged and is dangerous due to strong currents and depth. (There are red colored warning signs in Turkish dotting the shores of the Bosphorus, warning swimmers that swimming is dangerous due to strong currents, even though there is no ban.) Nor are there any real beaches, facilities and designated swimming areas on the Bosphorus for swimmers as a result. There is indeed a cape named Akıntıburnu (literally, "the cape of the current") just east of Arnavutköy, where the current is at its strongest, and is easily visible even from outside, like the strong flow of a river. Besides, the water is not that clean either, however blue it may look. So, if you can't wait for hitting a Mediterranean beach, better head for beaches on the Marmara coast, outside Istanbul instead.
 * You may want to steer clear of the dimly illuminated parks on the northern sections of the Bosphorus, especially around Kireçburnu, late at night to avoid harassment from homeless people likely abusing inhalants — there have been some cases of stabbings for the sake of whatever amount of money, no matter how little. Day hours and evenings are perfectly safe, though.

Go next

 * Frequent buses and minibuses run from Sarıyer into the countryside north of the city.


 * Anadolu Kavağı: take a ferry from Sarıyer to this pleasant village across the strait on the Asian coast, crowned by Yoros Castle on the hilltop, with views north over the Black Sea.