True Discovery: Full Day Tour and Cruise of Istanbul

Go beyond Istanbul’s top attractions and discover more of the city on this multi-faceted full-day Istanbul bus and boat sightseeing tour. The full-day tour and cruise of Istanbul includes an exploration of Dolmabahce Palace and the Bosphorus. We first drive to Dolmabahce Palace, which is stuffed with lavish chandeliers, gold and marble, this ornate sultans’ residence will astound you with its opulence! Traveling between the sights by air-conditioned coach, visit Çamlıca Hill on the Asian side to witness the breathtaking panoramas over the Bosphorus. Then, drive across the Bosphorus Bridge, the vast suspension bridge that connects Europe and Asia over the Bosphorus Strait. Heading to Pierre Loti Hill to see the city from a different angle, flying over by cable car afterwards. Now time to enjoy the city by the sea, you will hop on board to have buffet lunch served on our boat. We will start cruising from Golden Horn and go all the way to the Black Sea throught Bosphorus.

1. 1

   Pierre Loti

   30 min

   Named after the well-known French novelist Pierre Loti, this hill offers perfect views of the Golden Horn. It’s also home to a famous café that bears the same name. Loti lived in Istanbul for many years and was a big fan of the city. The café is a meeting point for lovers and couples, and has featured in many Turkish romance films.

2. 2

   Eyup Sultan Mosque

   Pass by

   The Eyüp Sultan Mosque is situated in the Eyüp district of Istanbul, outside the city walls near the Golden Horn. The present building dates from the beginning of the 19th century

3. 3

   Dolmabahce Palace

   1 hour

   It stands on the European shore of the Bosphorus and the with its various dependencies forms almost a little town, its gardens extending for a mile or more along the water's edge. Though the exterior of the Dolmabahce Palace, built by Sultan Abdülmecit (1839-1861) exhibits a variety of architectural styles, mainly baroque, and is decorated with a profusion of ornament, the general effect is not unpleasing, and the site is remarkably well-chosen

4. 4

   Bosphorus Bridge

   Pass by

   Which was inaugurated on October 29, 1973 on the fiftieth anniversary of the Turkish Republic, has the longest span in Europe and the fourth in the world. This suspension bridge has a total length of 1560 metres (1706 yards) and a width of 33.4 metres (110ft). The span between pylons is 1074 metres (1175 yards) and the clearance above sea level is 64 metres (210ft). The constrnction of the steel box-girder suspension was carried out by a British-german consortium. The second bridge to link Europe and Asia over the Bosphorus will be completed in 1989 between Emirgan and Kanlica.

5. 5

   Camlica Hill

   45 min

   Çamlıca Hill, aka Big Çamlıca Hill to differentiate from the nearby Little Çamlıca Hill, is a hill in Üsküdar district of Istanbul, Turkey. Situated on the Asian part of the city at 268 m above sea level, Çamlıca Hill has a panoramic view of the southern part of Bosphorus and the mouth of Golden Horn

6. 6

   Halic

   Pass by

   The Golden Horn, also known by its modern Turkish name, Haliç, is a major urban waterway and the primary inlet of the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey.

7. 7

   Bosphorus Strait

   4 min

   The Bosporus or Bosphorus is a narrow, natural strait and an internationally significant waterway located in northwestern Turkey. It forms part of the continental boundary between Europe and Asia, and divides Turkey by separating Anatolia from Thrace.

8. 8

   Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge

   Pass by

   The Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, also known as the Second Bosphorus Bridge, is a bridge in Istanbul, Turkey spanning the Bosphorus strait. When completed in 1988, it was the 5th-longest suspension bridge span in the world; today it is the 24th.

9. 9

   Rumeli Fortress

   Pass by

   Rumelishisari Fortress - (Rumelihisari Castle) At the narrowest point of the Bosphorus stands the Rumelihisarr Fortress, built by Sultan Mehmet, the Conqueror on the European shore. The Sultan himself on the 26th day of March 1452 laid the foundation stone of the Fortress with a view to controlling the passage of the ships through the Bosphorus and using it as a base for his attack on the city.

10. 10

    Anadolu Kavagi

    Pass by

    Anadolukavağı, also known as Anadolu Kavağı, is a neighborhood of Beykoz district in İstanbul Province, Turkey. "Anadolu" is the Turkish name for Anatolia, and "Kavak" means "control post" in Ottoman Turkish referring to the strategical position of the location on the Bosporous.

11. 11

    Yavuz Sultan Selim Koprusu

    Pass by

    The Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge is a bridge for rail and motor vehicle transit over the Bosphorus strait, to the north of two existing suspension bridges in Istanbul, Turkey. It was initially named the Third Bosphorus Bridge.

12. 12

    Beykoy

    30 min

    Beykoz, also known as Beicos and Beikos, is a district in Istanbul, Turkey at the northern end of the Bosphorus on the Anatolian side. Beykoz includes everything from the streams of Küçüksu and Göksu up to the opening of the Bosphorus into the Black Sea, and the villages in the hinterland as far as the river of Riva.

13. 13

    Beylerbeyi Palace

    Pass by

    Situated on the Asiatic shore of the Bosphorus between the villages of Kuzguncuk and Cengelköy, the palace was built by Sultan Abdülaziz in 1865. Beylerbeyi Palace seen from the Bosphorus floats like a white vision in a fairy tale. It is the most extravagant royal house of the 19th Century on which millions were spent. It is built completely of marble, surpassing all the Palaces of European Kings. Empress Eugénie, during her visit of 1869 stayed in this palace as well as Czar Nicholas Il of Russia.

14. 14

    Kucuksu Pavilion

    Pass by

    The summer Palace of Kucuksu, sometimes called the Palace of Göksu, is situated between the villages of Anadoluhisan and Kandilli on the Asiatic shore of the Bosphorus. The Kucuksu Palace was first built by Mahmut I in 1749. Later it underwent a restoration during the reigns of Selim Ill and Ahmet Il. It was renovated by Sultan Abdülmecit in 1857. Sultan Abdülaziz gave the palace a new face-lift and had it refurbished and redecorated. It is a small but elegant edifice, stretching along the lip of the Bosphorus, surrounded by intricately cast iron railings. Waters and waves of the Bosphorus wash its terraces of glittering marble and sometimes penetrate their latticed and mysterious recesses.

15. 15

    KIz Kulesi

    Pass by

    About 180 metres away from the shores of Üsküdar stands this tower which bears two different names. Europeans who named it the Leander's Tower thought that it was here where Leander was drowned while attempting to swim the Bosphorus to reach his beloved Hero, the priestess of Aphrodite.

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.