Another cool little ferry terminal on the Istanbul system. This one again is a gorgeous old…read morebuilding that's well-maintained, prime waterfront real estate duh. Search three main lines that are well marked and as always they have several Istanbul Kart station, which are essential if you want to use a public transportation system here.

Great way to get around Istanbul, especially if you need to travel to sight see. So interesting to…read morebe able to take a ferry from Europe to Asia and back and not need to go through passport control as Istanbul is the only city that straddles two continents. Tip: Sit inside. There are less people so you will get an unobstructed view through oversized windows. Plus you can have a tea or Turkish coffee that they bring around during your journey.

We took a ferry from Kadikoy to Eminonu and it was just easy as pie. First of all, you need to…read morefind the terminal to go to, since there are many destinations across the Bosphorous. We found the one for Eminonu and using our IstanbulKart, we got into the area for the specific ferry we wanted...between the two towns there are ferries like every 5-10 minutes...so it's easy to get on at a convenient time. The ferries are huge and most have an upper deck and a lower deck. Some have a triple open deck. We sat on the second deck and admired the sights as we went from one side of Istanbul to the other. It took about 30 minutes and the cost was less than a $1. All these ferries have lavatories and a coffee shop. Once they arrive to port, it takes them like 2-3 min to empty the passengers and they are ready to load the next group to go back....Amazing...

The TurYol bosphorous "cruise" is 12 TL, and leaves every half hour. Be there a half hour…read morebeforehand for boarding, and if you can, snag a seat on the port (left side) of the boat for the best views. The announcer only discusses the sights you're passing in Turkish, and the PA is very difficult to decipher so if you're not Turkish-fluent, don't expect a lot of guidance. Tour guides can get on for free, though, so if you have a guide with you you're golden! Great opportunity for some nice photos of all the riverside palaces in Istanbul, and to get a sense of just how permeated this landscape is with history. You will be packed in, though, with tons and tons of families and plenty of rowdy children... So if crowds aren't your thing, spend the extra cash and go on a more private Bosphorous excursion.

Need to cross the Bosphorus from Europe to Asia. Hop on a Dentur commuter ferry for an easy and…read morescenic boat ride. Use your metro pass for the journey.

The Istanbul Metro is a rapid transit railway network that serves the city of Istanbul. I have…read moretaken it several times and I love how efficient, clean and inexpensive it is. To use it, you must have to buy an Istanbulkart, which is the gold standard in Istanbul for most all modes of transportation like buses, ferries, subways, even public restrooms !!! Apart from the M11 line, which is operated by TCDD Taşımacılık, the system is operated by Metro Istanbul. The oldest section of the metro is the M1 line, which opened in 1989. As I write this review, the system includes 158 stations, with 36 more under construction. Istanbul is the city with the 22nd longest metro line in the world and the 4th in Europe. Wait between trains could be only 3-5 minutes in the traditional metro network, the M11 line runs every 13-17 minutes depending on the time of day.

This is a cruise company located at the Eminonu ferry terminal that does cruises along the…read moreBosphorus River. Some tour companies will try to sell you some package that includes this or will be a guided bus to the terminal, but you can show up here yourself and get it for much cheaper. There is a metro stop right near the terminal. Even the full cruise is only 25 lira (less than 4 US dollars!). Speaking of which, they offer a full 6 hour cruise which goes farther north along the river up to the Black Sea, but I do not recommend it unless you really have a lot of free time. The short 2 hour cruise was enough to see the city views of both the European and Asian sides of Istanbul and passes under many magnificent bridges. There are also some loudspeakers that give some history of what you are seeing, but I found the commentary fairly boring.

We couldn't leave Istanbul without a cruise on the Bosphorus, but were hestitant to take the full 7…read morehour cruise. Our hotel suggested a short 2 1/2 hour Bosphorus cruise operated by Sehir Hatlari. We took the tram to Eminonu stop and headed to the Bosphorus Pier, next to the Galata Bridge, and bought our Short Bosphorus Tour tickets for 10 TL. The boat has two interior levels, but join the crowd for a seat on the top outside deck for an open view as you cruise down the Bosphorus. The boat makes a stop at Ortakoy on both legs of the cruise. The tour takes you past the Bosphorus Bridge and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge and as far as Istinye before making a U-turn and return trip. You have a great view of the European and Asian side of Istanbul, as well of palaces, the Ortakoy Mosque, Rumeli Fortress, Anatolian Fortress, and the ritzy residences and yachts lining the Bosphorus. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/%C5%9Fehir-hatlar%C4%B1-istanbul?select=bxGT4_AHtwpU3Lj7CJ9kDQ#enf7GhPkxMJNAImICkh1kQ)( http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/%C5%9Fehir-hatlar%C4%B1-istanbul?select=bxGT4_AHtwpU3Lj7CJ9kDQ#3gpMJypNwdvLk0DUzhRfzA)( http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/%C5%9Fehir-hatlar%C4%B1-istanbul?select=bxGT4_AHtwpU3Lj7CJ9kDQ#dbrGdO7vCoj1gCdCSHhc8w)( http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/%C5%9Fehir-hatlar%C4%B1-istanbul?select=bxGT4_AHtwpU3Lj7CJ9kDQ#C887uP3yOsSxvbhu4cdz8A) We were so happy that we were able to take on this short Bosphorus cruise to take in more of the sites of Istanbul. At 10 TL or $5, what a bargain!