54 Days at Sea — Istanbul; More sights along the Bosporus and the Grand Bazaar

MS Prinsendam in Istanbul

The cruise tours are located just east of the Galata Bridge near the south end of the bridge, within just a few minutes walk.

Galata Bridge

We cruised northward up the Bosporus to the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, also called the Second Bosporus Bridge, as it is north of the First/Bosporus/15 July Martyrs Bridge. Farther north, beyond where our Bosporus cruise would go this day, is yet a third suspension bridge. Beyond that is the Black Sea, where MS Prinsendam would head after departing this night.

Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge

Between the Fatih district and the Fatish Sultan Mehmet Bridge we sailed past Beylerbeyi Palace:

Beylerbeyi Palace

We also passed various buildings of interest, including this traditional wooden Ottoman house:

Bosporus cruise

I’ve already shown you one image of this next fortress, but here is a view of the Rumelian Castle with colorful trees in the foreground:

Rumelihisarı (Rumelian Castle) Museum

There is one other stop in Istanbul one simply must make. That would be the Grand Bazaar. Here you’ll find everything from fabrics, to gold jewelry, to furnishings, to spices, although the spice markets:

Grand Bazaar

Grand Bazaar gold

Grand Bazaar fabrics

Grand Bazaar lamps

Spices, candies, and other foodstuffs