The Bosphorus Strait connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara and separates Europe from Asia, with Istanbul built along both shores. A cruise along the water passes palaces, mosques, Ottoman fortresses, and waterfront neighborhoods that are hard to see any other way. You do not need an expensive tour, either: public ferries run the same water for a fraction of the cost, and the views are identical.

Ferries and rail tunnels here cross between two continents. The Bosphorus routes pass residential neighborhoods that most visitors skip, and the view from the water shows the city's layout better than any map.

This suits sightseers who want to cover ground quickly, and anyone who wants to see the city from the water.

First-time visitors and solo travelers both manage easily here. The area is walkable, and staff at most sites are used to tourists.

Nearby bazaars sell Turkish crafts and souvenirs. Tea houses in the side streets are a good place to rest between sights.