Istanbul is one of the most amazingly situated cities in the world.
The Bosphorus Strait is the body of water connecting the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, and it's been the center of the city for literally millennia.
As such, it's no surprise that a tour of the Bosphorus is essentially a tour of Istanbul.
One of the easiest ways to take a Bosphorus tour is simply to take the commuter ferries that cross the Bosphorus using your "Istanbul Card," which is valid for all forms of public transportation in the city.
The primary ferry stops are Eminönü and Beşiktaş on the European side, and Üsküdar and Kadıköy on the Asian side, though there are ferry stops that leave less frequently all over the city.
Long Bosphorus Tours
These tours tend to leave from the Historic Peninsula in Eminönü and pass through many different stops along the Bosphorus on their way up to the point where you can see the point where the Bosphorus opens up to the Black Sea.
The final stop on these tours is often Anadolu kavağı, a little fishing village on the Asian side of the city which now caters to people looking to get away from the hustle and bustle and sit at a nice café or restaurant and look out over the stunning views of the Bosphorus and Black Sea.
Short Bosphorus Tours
These tend to take off from Eminönü, Üsküdar, and Ortaköy and last only an hour or two.
They more or less go between the first two bridges across the Bosphorus, and are a great way to get a sense of the grandeur of the Bosphorus without taking all day to do it.
Night Tours
Especially in the summer, night tours go from major ports and are often full of music, fun and merriment.
You will see some of the most iconic structures on your tour such as Maiden's Tower, the bridges of Istanbul, Ottoman palaces, and homes along the Bosphorus.
Maiden's Tower
This lovely little tower is set on an islet right in the middle of the Bosphorus. It can be seen from quite a lot of vantage points and is the scene of many different legends.
The Bridges of Istanbul
There are 3 cross-continental bridges in Istanbul, typically referred to as the first, second and third bridges (as you go from the Marmara Sea to the Black Sea). The three bridges are all large suspension bridges that light up at night and are truly marvels of architecture each and every one of them.
The Ottoman Palaces
As you go you'll certainly see Dolmabahçe, Yıldız, Çırağan, and Beylerbeyi Palaces as you approach the first bridge.
The homes, the sights, the city
Along the tour you'll see lots of stately homes along the Bosphorus, called "Yalı"s, as well as get a sense of the city's life.
