The Bosphorus Bridge, also and officially known as the 15 July Martyrs Bridge is a suspension bridge in Istanbul, Turkey. It is one of the three bridges built over the Bosphorus Strait. It connects Europe and Asia as it extends from Ortakoy in Europe to Beylerbeyi in Asia.
The Bosphorus Bridge is 64m high and goes about 1560m and 39m in length and width, respectively. Having had the fourth-longest suspension bridge span in the world, The Bosphorus Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in Europe till 1981 when its competitors defeated it in that aspect.
History Of The Bosphorus Bridge
The idea to build a bridge to connect the two lands goes back centuries. It takes us back to 400 BC when Darius I wanted to expand the Persian Empire and had a floating bridge built for this purpose. It was not until 1957 when the Turkish Government decided to build a permanent bridge in its place. Sir Gilbert Roberts and William Brown, two very well known British civil engineers, were given the task to design this bridge for they had designed other work of arts such as The Humber bridge, The Auckland Harbor Bridge etc.
A British firm by the name of Freeman Fox & Partners signed the contract in 1968. Together with the help Turkish company Enka, the bridge took three years to complete with a team of 35 engineers and 400 workers in on the project.
What Time Is Best To Visit Bosphorus Bridge
If you really want to enjoy the amazing vistas of this beauty, visiting at night would be best for you, my friend. The bridge is all covered with LED and in case you you are someone who loves to take photos, this is indeed the best place you will find in entire Istanbul.
Also if you want to walk on Bosphorus Bridge, you can do that but it is possible once every year & that is in November. You can participate in Turkey’s biggest Marathon i.e., Istanbul Marathon which routes over this beautiful bridge.
How Can You Get To Bosphorus Bridge
You can either visit the bridge on Ortakoy side or the Asian Side & here I will help you with both the options.
For visiting Ortakoy side from Sultanahmet, you have three options:
- T1 Tram has to be taken to Kabatas. Once you reach Kabatas, you will get many connecting buses to Ortakoy.
- Another option is to travel by a ferry which you can take from Eminonu to Ortakoy. But these ferry services are not operational on Sundays.
For visiting Asian side, you have one option
- A ferry needs to be taken from Eminonu to Uskudar & you will reach the Beylerbeyi Palace. From here, you will have to take the buses which are Palace bound to reach Bosphorus Bridge.
Visit the bridge by Cruise
- This option is considered to be the best one. You can take the Bosphorus Cruise from many at Golden Horn & you will many other tourist spots on your way to Bosphorus Bridge.
Some Facts About Bosphorus Bridge
There are certain facts about Bosphorus Bridge which will amaze you:
- The bridge is very huge with a length of 1560 meters & due to this, there was a time when this was the fourth longest suspension bridge of the world.
- The bridge deck is approximately 33.5 meters.
- You cannot walk on the bridge except once a year and that too in November Istanbul Marathon.
- Today, the cost of the bridge is 300 million US dollars.
- This bridge is considered to be Country’s Emblem.
- Today, the number of vehicles that pass on Bosphorus Bridge are around 180,000
- When the bridge is loaded fully, it declines down temporarily for some 90cm in the midway.
- You need a toll transponder to pay the toll tax at a toll plaza here which cannot be paid by cash or card.
Places To Eat Around Bosphorus Bridge
If you visit Turkey, you will never get bored of the cuisines since there is a wide variety. Also if you are visiting Bosphorus Bridge Restaurant, you can enjoy your meals with a beautiful view.
There are two most famous Bosphorus Restaurants which are close to the bridge are
- Bosphorus Rooftop Restaurant: How about enjoying the bridge vistas sitting on rooftop & enjoying your meal, this restaurant provides one such perfect experience.
- Banyn – This restaurant is very famous and known for its authentic cuisine as they use fresh ingredients only. Also it is the nearest restaurant to the bridge.
Top 10 Things To Do Around Bosphorus Bridge
If you visit Istanbul, Turkey, your experience will not just be limited to Bosphorus Bridge. There are many wonderful places to visit around the bridge that will make your experience ten times better. The history lovers especially will not get enough of this place. Here are 10 places you can check out while visiting the Bosphorus Bridge.
1. Hazal Kilim
One of the best places to go to while on a shopping spree in Istanbul would have to be Hazal Kilim, which is a well known carpet store. Open all days of the week, it is a perfect place to buy a souvenir for your loved ones.
2. Beylerbeyi Palace
Built in 1861-1965, this palace is the epitome of the rich history of Istanbul. The Beylerbeyi Palace, the word Beylerbeyi meaning “Lord of Lords”, was the residence of Sultan Abdulhamid during his final days in 1918. Not only Sultan Abdulhamid, this palace has often opened its doors for people like Empress Eugenie of France and Naser al-Din Shah Qajar of Iran.
3. The Hagia Sophia
The Hagia Sophia, which was originally built as a Christian Cathedral was converted into a mosque in 1453. The Cathedral was built by the Roman Emperor Justanian I. It has now been a museum since 1934 and open to all tourists. It is symbol of religion, art and politics.
4. Suleymaniye Mosque
Situated on the Third Hill of Istanbul, this is an Ottoman Imperial mosque. The construction of this breathtaking mosque back to the year 1557 and was made by Suleiman the Magnificent. This mosque is truly a sight to behold. The inside art will make you fall in love on the first sight. Though the mosque was definitely test by the trials of time, in the sense that it was damaged first in the great fire of 1660 and then later destroyed in the earthquake of 1766. It was fully restored in 1956 and today it is one of the most popular tourist spots in Istanbul, Turkey.
5. Topkapi Palace
If you are even thinking about visiting Bosphorus Bridge, do not forget to put this palace on your list as it is as interesting as it is beautiful. Built in the Fatih district of Istanbul, this was the main residence of the Ottoman sultans. Earlier called the New Palace, its construction was ordered by the Sultan Mehmed. The palace did lose its value after the 17th century, but gained it back after the government made it into a museum attracting tourists from all around the world.
6. Fountain of Ahmed III
Talk about killing two birds with one stone. This is a beautiful structure in front of the Topkapi Palace. Built by Ottoman sultan Ahmed, this was the centre of social gatherings and activities during the Constantinople period. The fountain is like no other, the architecture will leave you in awe. This place is a must, preferably in the night time.
7. Dolmabahce Palace
This palace that was once the main administrative centre of the Ottoman Empire was built on the coast of the Bosphorus strait in a district of Istanbul by the name of Besiktas. When the Topkapi Palace lost its importance, it had been stolen by this palace as it had the luxury and the modernity that the Topkapi Palace had lacked. This Palace attracts tourists because of its loctaion near the Bosphorus Bridge and its dainty art and architecture.
8. Grand Bazaar
If you want a break from all the mosques and the palaces then shopping is the way to go. The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is spread over 61 streets, having more than 4000 shops, making it one of the largest covered markets in the world and is located in the Walled city of Istanbul. Your feet will say no by the end of the day but your heart would want to stay just a little more.
9. Basilica Cistern
This cistern built in 532 is the largest Byzantine cistern to survive. Known for its beautiful built, this cistern has an interesting history and is linked to the emptying out of the Great Palace. The cistern was built under the Stoa Basilica and serve the Great Palace. But it was closed and forgotten when the Great Palace was vacated. It was not until 1545 when the cistern was re-discovered and renovation finally began in 1985 and is now of the most popular tourist spots of Istanbul.
10. Miniaturk
Last but definitely not the least would be the Miniaturk, a way to see the whole of Istanbul at once. Opened in 2003, it is one of the largest miniature parks in the world. The park contains various structures of different places ranging from Istanbul (62), Anatolia (60) and Ottoman (13) with more to come.
What Difference This Bridge Has Made
As this bridge has created link between two countries, the movement of people and goods has become very convenient and international trade lot which has eventually surged the local economies of two countries.
Operations Associated With The Bridge
The highway located on the bridge has total of eight lanes out of which three are standard lanes, one is emergency lane & the remaining one is pedestrian lane where traffic could commute earlier. Also for first three years it was allowed for pedestrians to walk on the bridge. But now both commercial vehicles and pedestrians are strictly prohibited. Only once a year, it is allowed to walk on the bridge.
Also this bridge is a toll bridge & there are total of 13 toll booths present on the bridge which is on the Asian side & hence toll has to be given in Europe to Asia direction but not in the reverse one.
Conclusion
This bridge which once remained the longest suspension bridge in Istanbul is a great attraction for tourists and locals known both for its beauty & historical reasons. It not only connects the two countries but is lot more when it comes to how photo worthy this bridge is and how it is surrounded with places which are loved by visitors.
All the beautiful places around, good places to eat and beautiful vistas that we discussed in this article make this a perfect place to visit and enjoy with your loved ones. Also, it is not very difficult to reach the bridge as you can easily get a tram or ferry which gets you to the nearest station to bridge.
Even walking on bridge is one of its experience which you should not miss if you are in Istanbul in the month of November. All you have to do is participate in the Istanbul Marathon to get this opportunity.
Also, the restaurants around provide you a very authentic cuisine that you can enjoy watching this beauty with your family or friends. The cruise tours make it an even better trip. So next time when you visit Istanbul, make sure this bridge is definitely in your check list.
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