Istanbul, Turkey, is a great city that spans two continents, Europe and Asia. Istanbul is very popular with tourists from around the world because of its historic past. There are many famous landmarks in this city, some dating to Roman and Byzantine times, others to the Ottoman period. If you have already visited Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and wandered through the gigantic covered market Kapali Carsi, consider taking the Istanbul ferry and exploring the Bosphorus.
Istanbul ferries are near the Golden Horn (Galata) bridge, only a short walk down the hill from the Hagia Sophia tourist district. Taking a ferry is a great way to explore this city and enjoy the sea. A ferry trip will allow you to take a break from the fast pace and noise of the streets and get some fresh air. The ships run to both the Asian and European sides of the strait. If you are pressed for time, take a short trip to the Asian side to the Uskudar district. This short ferry crossing offers a great view of Istanbul from the water and a closer look at Maiden’s Tower, a famous landmark.
Anadolu Kavagi is as far as you can go by ferry from Istanbul on the Bosphorus. This is a small fishing village that is very close to the Black Sea. The return trip will take approximately 5 hours. There are fishermen selling their catch of the day near the wharf and several seafood restaurants always cook something delicious.
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The Bosphorus has always been, and continues to be, a strategically important strait, and the village of Anadolu Kavagi has always held a very important location. The ruins of the ancient Byzantine castle testify to that.
Yoros Fortress is perched atop the cliffs overlooking the Black Sea and guards the entrances to the Bosphorus. To get to the ruins, you have to follow the streets up the hill and try to keep to the left. The walk is a bit of a climb but the ruins are not far. There is a small park nearby where you can spend some time enjoying the views. Make sure to ask for the departure time for your trip back; it is easy to forget about time here.
A ferry day trip along the Bosphorus shore is very relaxing and scenic. The vistas are magnificent. The nice part about that trip is that the ferry will follow the Asian shore on the way to Anadolu Kavagi and the European shore on the way back. That means you can see both sides. The ferry will pass under two very large suspension bridges. There will be a large fortress on the European side called Rumeli Hisari just before the second bridge.
If you like being on the water and have a spare day in Istanbul, take a day trip to Anadolu Kavagi.
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Tags: Istanbul / seascapes / ship pictures / Turkey