Golden Horn - The shores of the Golden Horn, a renowned area of the historical peninsula, are essential to visit during your trip to Istanbul. This long and narrow inlet has a horn-like shape, hence its name. Historically, the Golden Horn was a significant trade hub in old Istanbul. Below, you’ll find details about popular spots, attractions, activities, and transportation along the Golden Horn’s shores.

Bosphorus Strait - The Bosphorus, historically known as the Bosporus, is a strait and international waterway that divides Asia and Europe, linking the Sea of Marmara with the Black Sea. Running in a northeast-southwest direction, it splits Istanbul into the European and Anatolian sides. The Bosphorus, a 30-kilometer-long passage, connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It has an average depth of 60 meters, reaching up to 120 meters at its deepest point. The strait’s width varies, with its broadest point being 3500 meters. Surface currents flow from the Black Sea to the Marmara, while underwater currents move in the opposite direction, with occasional counter currents on the surface.

Galata Tower - Constructed by the Genoese in 1348, this nine-story tower stands at 66.90 meters and was the tallest structure in the city at the time. During the Ottoman Era, it served various purposes, including as a fire observatory and a prison. The tower has witnessed many events, the most notable being in 1632 when Hezarfen Ahmet Celebi flew from its top across the Bosphorus to Uskudar using self-made wings. A storm in 1875 destroyed its conical roof, which wasn’t restored until the 1960s when the wooden interior was replaced with concrete. Now open to the public, the tower houses a restaurant and cafe on its upper floor, offering a panoramic view of Istanbul.

Kiz Kulesi - The Maiden’s Tower (Kiz Kulesi) is a prominent feature of the Bosphorus skyline, situated on a small island about 200 meters from Uskudar’s shore. It is the subject of many legends, the most famous involving a sultan and his daughter. An oracle predicted the sultan’s daughter would die from a snake bite on her 18th birthday. To protect her, the sultan built the tower in the Bosphorus, where she lived in secrecy. On her 18th birthday, a snake hidden in a fruit basket bit her, fulfilling the prophecy. This legend gives the tower its name.

Dolmabahce Palace - Dolmabahçe Palace, an Ottoman palace, spans 250,000 m² in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district, between Dolmabahçe Street and the Bosphorus. Located on the left bank at the Bosphorus entrance from the Sea of Marmara, opposite Uskudar and Kuzguncuk, Dolmabahçe was once a cove for anchoring ships. It later became a favored residence of the sultanate, embodying centuries of history and the Bosphorus’s clear splendor.

Ciragan Palace Kempinski - Commissioned by Sultan Abdulaziz and designed by architect Sarkis Balyan, the Cıragan Palace replaced a wooden summer palace built by Selim III in 1800. The construction, completed in 1871, involved demolishing the wooden structure and the nearby Besiktas Mevlevihane. Made of marble, the palace covers 80,000 square meters. After Abdulaziz’s deposition, he and his family were imprisoned here, as was Murat V for 29 years. Post-1908, the palace served as the House of Parliament until a fire in 1910. The grounds were later used by the Besiktas Sports Club as the Seref Stadium. Restored in the early 1990s, the palace reopened as a luxury hotel.

Ortakoy - Ortakoy, a neighborhood in Beşiktaş on the European side of the Bosphorus, comprises Ortakoy and Mecidiye districts. It is situated on slopes along a valley leading to the coast. Surrounded by Kurucesme, Ulus, Levazım, Balmumcu, and Yildiz districts, its northern border is Defterdarburnu. Ortakoy Bazaar is vibrant throughout the day with its

• Luxury yacht decorated with passengers’ comfort in mind
• WiFi on board
• Coffee and/or Tea
• Bottled water
• All fees and/or taxes

• Alcoholic Beverages(travelers can bring their own alcoholic beverage)
• Hotel Transfers