Visitor Info

General Characteristics

  1. Length: Approximately 31 kilometers (19 miles).

  2. Highest Point: Yuşa Tepesi (Joshua's Hill) on the Anatolian side, at about 201 meters (659 feet) above sea level.

  3. Width:

    • Narrowest Point: 700 meters (2,297 feet) at Rumeli Hisarı and Anadolu Hisarı.

    • Widest Point: 3.7 kilometers (2.3 miles) at the entrance near the Black Sea.

Narrowest point of the Bosphorus

Narrowest point of the Bosphorus      

         4. Depth:

    • Shallowest Point: Around 13 meters (43 feet).

    • Deepest Point: Up to 110 meters (360 feet).

Bridges and Tunnels

Bridges:

    • 15 July Martyrs Bridge (Boğaziçi Bridge): Opened in 1973, spans 1,560 meters (5,118 feet).

    • Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge (Second Bridge): Opened in 1988, spans 1,510 meters (4,954 feet).

    • Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge (Third Bridge): Opened in 2016, spans 2,164 meters (7,100 feet), and is one of the longest suspension bridges in the world.

Boğaziçi (Bosphorus) Bridge

15 July Martyrs Bridge (Boğaziçi Bridge)

Tunnels:

    • Marmaray Tunnel: A rail tunnel 13.6 kilometers (8.5 miles) long, opened in 2013.

    • Eurasia Tunnel: A road tunnel 5.4 kilometers (3.4 miles) long, opened in 2016.

Currents and Navigation

  1. Currents:

    • The Bosphorus has two-layered currents: a surface current flowing from the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara and a countercurrent beneath flowing in the opposite direction.

  2. Traffic: It is one of the busiest waterways in the world, with approximately 48,000 vessels passing through annually.

Top 10 Sights: From Villages to Fancy Neighborhoods in the Bosphorus

Ortaköy 

  • The iconic Ortaköy Mosque from 19th century with cosy boutique stores 

Ortaköy Mosque

Ortaköy Mosque

Bebek

  • Known for its boutiques, high-end cafes, and trendy restaurants perfect for fine-dining

Arnavutköy

  • Famous for iconic Ottoman-era wooden mansions and charming streets 

Kuzguncuk

  • A picturesque village on the Asian side with colorful wooden houses, boutique shops, and cozy cafes. 

Kanlıca

  • Famous for its Kanlıca yogurt, cozy vibe, and panoramic Bosphorus views.

Emirgan 

  • Historic tea gardens, authentic Turkish breakfasts, and a calming atmosphere with views of the Bosphorus

Yellow Pavilion Emirgan Bosphorus

Yellow Pavilion - Emirgan Garden

Çengelköy 

  • A village known for waterfront sea gardens and its traditional bakeries. Çengelköy cucumber is quite famous among locals!

Bosphorus view from Çengelköy

View of the Bosphorus from Çengelköy

Yeniköy

  • One of the most luxurious and cosmopolitan neighborhoods home to many consulate generals with traditional waterfront mansions known as Yalı in Turkish

Anadolu Kavağı 

  • A fishing village of the Bosphorus,Yoros Castle with stunning Black Sea views and delicious seafood

Rumelifeneri

  • A calm neighborhood on the northern side of the European Bosphorus, is renowned for its historic lighthouse with a small fishing village.

Rumeli Feneri, Bosphorus

Rumeli Feneri neighbourhood with its lighthouse