What is Istanbul famous for?

Istanbul, also known as the city of seven hills, is famous for being a bridge between East and West. Its location in both Europe and Asia makes it a cradle of civilizations and a fascinating city to explore. The knowledgable tour guides will give you lots of interesting facts about the big city.

Bosphorus Dinner Cruise (evening)

Istanbul by night is not to be missed. Drift along the Bosphorus watching the stars and twinkling lights of the decorated bridges, the beautiful Ottoman buildings and the mosques with their elegant minarets silhouetted against the evening sky. Relaxing in the comfortable lounge, you can have a taste of Turkish cuisine and its culture, in the form of traditional Turkish folk dances and belly dancing, then dance at the disco until midnight.

Bosphorus Lunch Cruise (half-day)

Alternatively, you can cruise along the Bosphorus and see the famous sights by the light of day. You will enjoy a delicious, healthy lunch on board. The Golden Horn is a fjord on the European side of Istanbul that has the shape of a horn and reflects the golden evening sunlight. During the Byzantine era it was a residential area and a trading harbour, crossed by boat until the Galata Bridge was built in 1836. Pretty Ottoman style villas built alongside the strait are punctuated by well-known buildings such as the elegant, white Dolmabahçe Palace, where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk spent his final hours, and the impressive Çırağan Palace, built for the royal family during the Ottoman empire, now a luxury hotel.

On the journey you will also see wooden houses in the charming little fishing town of Anadolu Kavağı. Leander’s Tower, or Maiden’s Tower, was a control point for ships from the 5th century, later used as a lighthouse. During the Ottoman Empire, Beylerbeyi Palace was a guest house for important foreign visitors such as the Prince of Serbia and the sultans ruled from here during the summer. You will see the Old Pasha Villas during the boat trip, finally reaching the Rumeli Fortress which was designed to defend the Bosphorus from incoming ships.

Bosphorus Cruise and Discover Two Continents

In addition to the tourist attractions mentioned above, this includes a visit to the Egyptian Bazaar where you can buy spices and souvenirs, a bus ride over the Bosphorus Bridge with spectacular views and a stop at Çamlıca Hill with a view of two continents.

Istanbul City Tours

These also include Topkapı Palace, inhabited by Ottoman sultans for 500 years, which you can walk around and see how the sultans lived and how they dressed, the Hippodrome, where sports events were held during the Byzantine era and the Blue Mosque, beautifully decorated with blue tiles.

Princes’ Islands

If you want to get away from the traffic and crowds, a boat trip to one of the peaceful islands in the archipelago is ideal. You won’t see any vehicles, the only transport here is bicycle or horse a