On this tour, you will have the opportunity to admire the beauty of the Bosphorus and see how the Anatolian and the European sides of Istanbul complement each other from across the Bosphorus. This tour allows you to witness the modern beauties as well as the antique beauties of Istanbul at the same moment. On the tour, you will see the beautiful old buildings that crown the Bosphorus, such as the Dolmabahçe Palace.
Tour Route
Bosphorus Boat Tour – Galata Tower – St. Anthony Church – Grand Bazaar – The Flower Passage
This tour is available every Tuesday and Friday.
History of the Places We Will Visit
Dolmabahçe Palace is one of the national palaces of Turkey and holds a great significance as one of the most beautiful buildings built during the reign of the Ottoman Empire. Surrounded by the blueish-green water of the Bosphorus and other important and beautiful buildings such as Dolmabahçe Palace, Çırağan Palace, the Rumelian Castle, Kuleli Millitary High School and Bosphorus Bridge, these are a visual feast for tourists as well as for locals. Apart from the old buildings, you can also see homes of famous people such as the Sabancı and Koç families. The Boat Tour provides you with a breathtaking view, as well as the excellent beauty of the blue waters of the Bosphorus.
After the Boat Tour, there will be separate tours to various important places in Istanbul. The tour starts at Taksim and stretches out until Dolmabahçe Palace. On this tour, you will get to visit certain places that are of great significance to Istanbul’s historical wealth. These include Galata Tower, St. Anthony Church, the Flower Passage and the Grand Bazaar. In Istanbul, traditional old buildings and modern, new buildings are intertwined with each other, creating breathtaking scenery.
Galata Tower is, without doubt, one of the most famous buildings in Turkey. The beauty of the tower, the location and the accessibility are all contributors to this fame. During the Ottoman Empire reign, Galata Tower was a part of the Galata Wall and served as a watchtower. Now, it stands alone in the middle of Beyoğlu, surrounded by various cafes and marketplaces that allow you to buy unique souveniers.
St. Anthony Church is also located in Beyoğlu. It is one of the most important churches in Istanbul. The church can be appreciated because of its religious value, as well as its architectural beauty. The Church of St. Anthony was constructed in the Victorian style in 1912 by Giulio Mongeri.
At the Grand Bazaar, you get to appreciate the wonderful architecture of the world’s oldest covered market while also being able to shop there. In the Grand Bazaar you can find all kinds of different markets that offer local goods and food. The Grand Bazaar is a great attraction for tourists, mainly due to the fact that it is both very antique and still serves as a great mall.
The Flower Passage is a place every tourist should visit on their tour in Istanbul. It is a famous historic passage that hosts many different wineries, restourants and cafes. You can take a break after visiting the previous places and relax in a cafe. The view of the passage is breathtaking, especially when the flowers bloom and provide a colorful scenery to its visitors.
This tour is perfect for tourists who want to sit back and relax whilst admiring the beautiful view of the Bosphorus, sipping on their black tea and feding seagulls with simit – a local bagel-like pastry –, but also like to admire the buildings closely.