Istanbul After Dark

Landmarks along the strait

These photos show landmarks along the strait. Which sights are visible during the cruise depends on the route and conditions on the water.

1. Balat

   The evening begins along the Golden Horn, with Balat’s historic waterfront setting the scene.

2. Karaköy

   Karaköy was once Galata’s port. Today, cafés and galleries line the streets around the waterfront.

3. Dolmabahçe Palace

   Sultan Abdülmecid’s palace opened in 1856 and served as a seat of government in the late Ottoman period.

4. Çırağan Palace

   Built for Sultan Abdülaziz, the former imperial palace now houses a waterfront hotel.

5. Ortaköy Mosque

   Ortaköy’s ornate waterfront mosque is a familiar sight beneath the Bosphorus Bridge.

6. Bosphorus Bridge (15 July Martyrs Bridge)

   Opened in 1973, it was the first bridge to span the Bosphorus and link Istanbul’s European and Asian shores.

7. Bebek

   Bebek Bay is known for its waterfront mansions, cafés and promenade.

8. Rumeli Fortress

   Mehmed II built this fortress in 1452 in preparation for the conquest of Constantinople.

9. Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge

   The second bridge across the Bosphorus opened in 1988 and is named for Mehmed the Conqueror.

10. Beylerbeyi Palace

    Completed in 1865, the palace served as an Ottoman summer residence and hosted royal guests on the Asian shore.

11. Üsküdar

    The waterfront of historic Üsküdar is home to the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque.

12. Maiden’s Tower

    From a distance, look for the tower’s silhouette on its small island near Üsküdar.

13. Eminönü

    The route concludes on the waterfront of the historic peninsula.

European and Asian shores

The open deck gives you a wider view of the city on both sides.