Life on the Bosphorus

Istanbul is very much a city on the water. The Golden Horn, the Sea of Marmara, and the Bosphorus Strait complete surround every part of the city and one or more of these bodies of water can be seen from almost any high ground that you find yourself on. During our four days in Istanbul, we found ourselves on or near the water all the time, whether it was taking a ferry from one borough to another, crossing the Galata Bridge, or just enjoying the breeze in one of the trendy waterside neighborhoods such as Beyoglu, Ortakoy, or Kadikoy on the Asian side. Looking to cement this connection to the water, we made our very last stop in the city the hilltop Sulemaniye Mosque, enjoying both the tranquility inside the place of worship as well as its incredible Bosphorus views. This has been an incredible repeat visit to a city we love.