The Bosphorus: the best value hour in Istanbul
A public ferry costs less than a coffee and shows you more of the city than any tour bus.
Public ferry versus tourist cruise
The municipal ferry from Eminönü to Anadolu Kavağı takes 90 minutes each way and costs a few euros. Tourist cruises charge ten times more for a shorter route with a commentary. Take the public one and sit on the upper deck.
What you pass
Dolmabahçe Palace, the wooden yalı mansions of Bebek and Yeniköy, both continental bridges, Rumeli Fortress and, on the Asian side, the villages that look nothing like the postcard image of Istanbul.
Best time of day
Late afternoon, so the return leg catches the sunset behind the old city skyline. Bring a jacket, the wind on the water is cool even in August.
Why it suits patients
No walking, no queues, no stairs beyond boarding, and 90 minutes of sitting in fresh air. It is the activity we recommend most often to patients in their first days after a procedure.
The Ones People Actually Ask.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
The main ferries are, with level boarding at major piers. Smaller private boats often are not.
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What Stands Behind The Plan.
