Istanbul Guide

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operates one long and short tour each day from Kabataş; check website for details. ¨ Excursion Tours A number of companies offer short tours from Eminönü to Anadolu Hisarı and back without stopping. Turyol is probably the most reputable. Its boats leave from the dock on the western side of the Galata Bridge (hourly, 10am to 6pm). Boats operated by other companies leave from near the Boğaz İskelesi and from near the Haliç İskelesi. The entire trip takes about 90 minutes and tickets usually cost ₺ 12. Getting Around All bus tickets and commuter ferry trips cost ₺4 (₺2.30 with an İstanbulkart). ¨ From Sarıyer Buses 25E and 40 head south to Emirgan. ¨ From Emirgan Buses 22, 22RE and 25E head to Kabataş, and 40, 40T and 42T go to Taksim. All travel via Rumeli Hisarı, Bebek, Ortaköy, Yıldız and Beşiktaş. ¨ From Anadolu Kavağı Bus15A leaves from the square straight ahead from the ferry terminal en route to Kavacık. Get off at Kanlıca to visit Hıdiv Kasrı or transfer to bus 15 at Beykoz, which will take you south to Üsküdar via Çengelköy, the Küçüksu stop (for Küçüksu Kasrı) and the Beylerbeyi Sarayı stop (for Beylerbeyi Palace). Bus 15F and 15BK take the same route but continue to Kadıköy. Need to Know ¨ Area Code % 0212 (European shore), 0216 (Asian shore) 1 SIGHTS The tour below follows the route of the Long Bosphorus Ferry Tour. 1 Eminönü to Beşiktaş Board the boat at the Boğaz İskelesi (Bos phorus Ferry Dock) on the Eminönü quay near the Galata Bridge. It’s always a good idea to arrive 30 minutes or so before the scheduled departure time and manoeu vre your way to the front of the queue that builds near the doors leading to the dock. When these open and the boat can be boarded, you’ll need to move fast to score a good seat. The best spots are on the sides of the upper deck at the bow or stern.

The Best… ¨ Sight Beylerbeyi Palace (p 164) ¨ Place to Eat Kiyi (p170) ¨ Place to Drink On the ferry

Top Tip If you buy a return ticket on the Long Bos phorus Tour, you’ll be forced to spend three hours in the tourist-trap village of Anadolu Kavağı. It’s much better to buy a one-way ticket and alight there, at Sarıyer or at Kanlıca and make your way back to İstanbul by bus. Alternatively, take the Dentur Avray sa hop-on, hop-off tour from Kabataş. Getting There & Away ¨ Long Bosphorus Tour (Uzun Boğaz Turu) Most day-trippers take this ferry operated by İstanbul Şehir Hatları. It travels the entire length of the strait in a 95-minute one-way trip and departs from the iskele (ferry dock) at Eminönü daily at 10.35am, returning from Anadolu Kavağı at 3pm. A return ( çift ) ticket costs ₺ 25/free/12.50 per adult/child under six years/child six to 11 years; a one-way ( tek yön ) ticket costs ₺ 15/free/7.50. The ferry stops at Beşiktaş, Kanlıca, Sarıyer, Rumeli Kavağı and Anadolu Kavağı. It’s not possible to get on and off the ferry at stops along the way using the same ticket. ¨ Short Bosphorus Tour (Kısa Boğaz Turu) From early March to May and from mid-September to October, İstanbul Şehir Hatları offers a two-hour tour leaving Eminönü daily at 2.30pm, picking up passengers in Ortaköy 20 minutes later. It travels as far as the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge before returning to Eminönü. Tickets cost ₺ 12/free/6 per adult/child under six years/ child six to 11 years. From November to early March the service is limited to Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. ¨ Hop-on, Hop-off Palace Tour Departing from the iskele behind the petrol station at Kabataş, this tour operated by Dentur Avrasya costs ₺ 15, leaves four times daily at 12.45pm, 1.45pm, 2.45pm and 3.45pm, and allows passengers to alight at Emirgan, Küçüksu Kasrı and Beylerbeyi Palace and reboard on the same ticket. It would be very rushed to make three stops in one afternoon but two stops is achievable. Be aware that Küçüksu Kasrı and Beylerbeyi Palace close at 3.30pm in winter and 4.30pm in summer. Dentur Avrasya also

Day Trips THE BOSPHORUS