Private Bosphorus Tour Half Day

Begin the day surrounded by the sensuous smells and assorted aromas of the Spice Bazaar before embarking on a voyage of discovery along the Bosphorus separating Europe and Asia.

At the Spice Bazaar you will experience every gamut of emotions as you navigate through the stalls selling both fresh and dried fruits, vegetables, flowers and, of course, spices. From aniseed to zedoary, you will find every imaginable spice under the sun. Naturally, vast amounts of Turkish delight, coffee and tea are also on sale. A big part of the fun is haggling with the garrulous stallholders, who will either amuse you or convince into purchasing something.

After this sensory feast, it’s time to sit back and relax with a pleasant cruise along the Bosphorus. You’ll pass the elegant waterfront villas that were the weekend and summer retreats of the Ottoman elites and the imposing Rumeli Fortress.

Some of these waterfront residences, yal? in Turkish, are centuries old and made of wood. Others are veritable marble palaces of a less distant vintage. The range of colours and architectural styles is truly vast, ranging from the intrinsically Ottoman to Western neo-classical. Make sure to have your camera at the ready because along the Bosphorus there are more than 600 of these homes dotted about.

From the boat you’ll also see the hulking Rumeli Fortress, which was built more than 560 years ago by the Ottomans to prepare their attack on Constantinople and to control the Bosphorus.



Meeting/ Pick up point: Hotel Lobby.
Start or opening time: 8am.
End or closing time: 1pm.
Languages: Includes services of an English-speaking guide.

Assistance or guided tour

Admissions

Meal

Drinks

In German