Bosphorus, Istanbul

Bosphorus (or Bosporus) is known as the Strait of Istanbul. Tourists can join tours, sightseeing tours and cruise. The Bosphorus is the strait that connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara, and divides Istanbul into two parts, the European and Asian sides. The total length of the stretch is 32 kilometres long, and the width varies between 700 metres and almost four kilometres. Its depth instead varies between 30 – 120 metres.

The ideal time for a cruise on the Bosphorus or to visit its shores is late spring (especially in early May), when the siliquaster trees, which are a sort of symbol of the Bosphorus and which dot the hills along the Bosphorus, are in full bloom with their flowers, a deep pink, engulfing both banks of the strait. However, all seasons are interesting on the Bosphorus Strait, apart from winter which often brings cold winds from the north.

Today on the Bosphorus there are three suspension bridges that connect Europe and Asia. There are two tunnels under the Bosphorus.

What is the Bosphorus?

It is a natural strait and an internationally significant waterway in northwestern Turkey. It is part of the continental boundary between Asia and Europe, and divides Turkey by separating Anatolia from Thrace. It is the world’s narrowest strait used for international navigation. The Bosporus Strait and the Dardanelles Strait are known as the Turkish Straits.

What can be seen along the left side of the Straits?

To the north, along the left bank of the Straits, is the most exclusive coast of the city, where for centuries the most distinguished residences and the yalis, the traditional and splendid wooden chalets built on the water’s edge, have been found. Once destined to host the refined pleasures of pasha and court dignitaries, today they are an extraordinary succession of coloured facades and the most varied shapes.

What are the three suspension bridges over the Bosphorus?

To cross the strait there are three bridges: the Boğaziçi (today called “Bridge of the Martyrs of July 15” dedicated to the victims who died during the coup attempt of July b15, 2016), to the south, the Fatih Sultan Mehmed (to the north) and the Sultan Yavuz Selim.

General informations

Useful information for your visit to the Bosphorus.