Ortakoy Bosphorus Cruise at Noon From Istanbul

A great afternoon tour is a bus ride tour till the First Bosphorus Bridge from ashore by our guide, join the cruise ferry leaves from Ortakoy dock then continues its 60 minute non-stop tour to the Second Bosphorus Bridge and back. Having free time in the colorful town of Ortakoy before getting on the bus to drive back to your accommodation is a plus advantage to discover the Bosphorus waterfront. A great choice for short cruise lovers.

Cruising the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul, you can see how the city and the Ottoman world gradually changed. By the 18th century, the old centre and the palace began to extend beyond the boundaries of the city. The Sultan and his entourage started to build new residences in a sophisticated western style on the banks of the Strait. These mansions were built in a way that enabled one to admire the beauty of the Bosphorus. Behind the house, there was usually a huge garden in which a harem could be built. The houses faced the water and it was this characteristic that had not previously existed. This new style pleased not only the Turkish aristocracy: more and more European diplomats moved into gorgeous embassies on the waterfront. If we compare Istanbul to Venice, the Bosphorus became similar to the Grand Canal, being a place where people could demonstrate their power and wealth.