Who needs a pricy Bosphorus tour by a tour company when there are local Bosphorus lines of “Şehir Hatları” (public sea transportation run by Istanbul Metropolitan)? Anadolu Kavağı – Üsküdar line is a perfect trip to see the whole shore on the Anatolian side. You can also get off at one of the piers and catch the next boat after visiting the popular neighbourhoods on the coastline.
Anadolu Kavağı- Üsküdar line stops at 9 piers: Anadolu Kavağı, Beykoz, Paşabahçe, Çubuklu, Kanlıca, Anadolu Hisarı, Çengelköy, Beylerbeyi, Üsküdar. Beware that some of the trips do not stop by Anadolu Kavağı, they start at the previous pier in Beykoz. The advantage of the tour is that throughout the Anatolian shore, you can see gorgeous historical mansions from 17th-18th century. A few of the famous mansions are Çubuklu Yedi Sekiz Hasan Paşa Mansion, Kandilli Count Ostrorog Mansion, Anadolu Hisarı Hekimbaşı Salih Efendi Yalısı.
I generally start my trip from Üsküdar, and if I go all the way to Anadolu Kavağı, I get off there, stroll along the streets, eat fresh fish at the fish restaurants near the pier and then come back through the same route, but it is also possible to cross to the European side by the Anadolu Kavağı- Rumeli Kavağı line.
The only problem with the Anadolu Kavağı-Üsküdar line is that they do not offer too many trips a day. There are 4 trips in the morning and 4 trips in the afternoon. You can check the up-to-date timetable at Şehirhatları website or the piers.
