The Bosphorus Strait is the 32-kilometre waterway separating European and Asian Istanbul — and the single best way to grasp the city's geography is to spend a couple of hours on it. A sunset cruise covers the headline waterfront sights, gives you a moving panorama of the seven hills of the historic peninsula, and ends with golden-hour photography of the Galata Tower, the Süleymaniye Mosque, and the dome cluster of the Topkapi/Hagia Sophia/Blue Mosque skyline.
Most cruises leave from Eminönü or Kabataş piers between 4:30 and 6 PM (timing shifts with the season's sunset). The standard 1.5-2 hour route runs north along the European bank past Dolmabahçe Palace (the sultans' 19th-century neoclassical residence), the Ortaköy Mosque framed against the Bosphorus Bridge, the medieval Rumeli Hisarı fortress at the strait's narrowest point, and the wooden waterfront mansions (yalıs) of Bebek and Anadolu Hisarı before turning at the second bridge and returning along the Asian shore.
Multiple cruise tiers are available. Public ferries (Şehir Hatları) run scenic loops for 80-150 TRY and are a local-feeling option without the patter or buffet — bring your own snacks and a coat in shoulder seasons. Private dinner cruises (200-800 TRY depending on operator) include a buffet, sometimes a Turkish music ensemble, and reserved seating; quality varies, read recent reviews. Yacht cruises for couples or small groups offer the most intimate experience at 600-1,500 TRY per person.
Dress in layers — even summer evenings on the water are cool with the wind. Window-side seating on the upper deck is the prize for photos; arrive 20-30 minutes early to claim it. Combine with a walk through Karaköy or Galata after the cruise; both districts are at their best after sundown when the bars and meyhanes (raki taverns) fill up.