Istanbul Two Continents Tour with Bosphorus Cruise

Camlica HillLook over Istanbul from the Asian shore, with the strait and the hills of the European side spread below. The viewpoint gives you a sense of the distances covered during the day; clear weather brings the bridges and waterfront into sharper view.

Grand Camlica MosqueVisit the modern mosque above the Asian side, where a broad courtyard leads towards the domed prayer hall. Its scale is apparent in the long arcades and tall minarets. This is an active place of worship, and the visit follows the mosque’s prayer arrangements.

Beylerbeyi PalaceEnter the Ottoman summer palace beside the Bosphorus. Its rooms and reception halls were used to host visiting dignitaries, with carpets, chandeliers and furnishings illustrating the court’s taste in the nineteenth century. The palace entrance is included.

Golden HornSee the sheltered inlet that cuts into Istanbul’s European side. Its curving waterfront connects the older districts around the peninsula with Eyup further inland, adding a different stretch of water to the day’s Bosphorus views.

Lunch on boardLunch is served during the shared cruise. Take a seat for the meal as the boat follows the waterfront; drinks are paid for separately.

Bosphorus cruiseSail along the strait between Europe and Asia, watching the waterfront neighbourhoods and bridges from the water. The boat offers a changing view of the two shores after the morning’s visits on land.

Istanbul city wallsSee surviving sections of the old city walls along the route. Their towers and heavy masonry mark the edge of the historic city and help explain the defensive role of the European peninsula.

Eyup Sultan MosqueVisit the mosque beside the Golden Horn, where the courtyard leads into a place of daily prayer. The surrounding district developed around this religious complex, and the mosque remains a focus of local worship.

Abu Ayyub al-Ansari shrineThe shrine beside Eyup Sultan Mosque commemorates Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad known in Turkish as Eyup Sultan. See this part of the complex and learn why it draws pilgrims to the district.

Pierre Loti cable carRide the cable car between Eyup and the hillside above the Golden Horn. At the upper end, the view follows the inlet past the city’s roofs and waterfront. The cable car fare is included.