Istanbul is joined across the Bosphorus by three great suspension bridges, the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge and the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, along with two tunnels that run beneath the water. Each bridge links Europe to Asia at a different point along the strait, and from a boat you sail right under them as their lights come on at dusk. This guide explains what each one is, when it was built and which you actually see on a cruise.
How Many Bridges Cross the Bosphorus?
Three road bridges span the Bosphorus, all of them suspension bridges, spaced out along the strait from the city centre up toward the Black Sea. Two tunnels also run beneath the water, the Marmaray rail line and the Eurasia road tunnel, so the crossing between the continents happens both over and under the strait. On a standard cruise, though, it is the bridges you notice, since you sail directly beneath them.
The 15 July Martyrs Bridge, the First Bosphorus Bridge
The first and most famous is the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, opened in 1973 as simply the Bosphorus Bridge. It links Ortaköy on the European side to Beylerbeyi on the Asian side, with a main span of 1,074 metres and towers rising about 165 metres above the water. It was renamed in 2016 to honour those who died resisting the coup attempt of that July. This is the bridge nearly every cruise passes under, and its coloured lights after dark are one of the highlights of an evening sailing.
The Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, the Second Bridge
A little further north stands the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, opened in 1988 and named after the sultan who conquered Constantinople in 1453. Its main span of 1,090 metres makes it fractionally longer than the first, and it crosses the strait near the old Rumeli Fortress, which sits right on the European bank below it. Many sightseeing and sunset cruises turn back around here, so the second bridge often marks the far point of the trip.
The Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, the Third Bridge
The newest is the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, opened in 2016 far to the north, near where the Bosphorus meets the Black Sea. It is a giant, with a main span of 1,408 metres and towers of 322 metres, among the tallest of any bridge in the world, and it carries both a motorway and a railway. Because it sits so far up the strait, standard city cruises do not reach it, though longer northern tours toward the Black Sea pass beneath it.
The Bridges at a Glance
| Bridge | Opened | Main span | Connects |
| 15 July Martyrs Bridge, first | 1973 | 1,074 m | Ortaköy, Europe and Beylerbeyi, Asia |
| Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, second | 1988 | 1,090 m | Rumeli Hisarı, Europe and Anadolu Hisarı, Asia |
| Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, third | 2016 | 1,408 m | Garipçe, Europe and Poyrazköy, Asia |
Which Bridges Do You See on a Bosphorus Cruise?
On a typical Bosphorus cruise you always sail under the first bridge, the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, and most trips reach the second, the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, before turning back. The third bridge lies well beyond the usual route, so you only see it on a long sailing toward the Black Sea. The bridges look their best at dusk, when their lights switch on and reflect across the dark water, which is why sunset and evening cruises are the most popular way to see them.
Tips for Seeing the Bridges From the Water
- Take a sunset or evening sailing to catch the lights coming on
- Sit on the open deck for a clear view straight up as you pass beneath
- The Ortaköy Mosque sits just beside the first bridge, a classic photo pairing
- Keep your camera ready, the pass under a bridge goes by quickly
How to Book a Cruise Under the Bridges
Sailing beneath the bridges is part of almost every trip on the strait. A sunset cruise times you to pass under the first bridge as its lights come on, while a dining cruise keeps you on the water into the evening for the full light show. Book online ahead of your date, pick your sailing, and arrive about twenty minutes before departure. You can reserve your spot now on bosporuscruise.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bridges cross the Bosphorus?
Three suspension road bridges, plus the Marmaray rail tunnel and the Eurasia road tunnel that run beneath the water.
What is the oldest Bosphorus bridge?
The 15 July Martyrs Bridge, opened in 1973 and first known simply as the Bosphorus Bridge.
Can you walk across a Bosphorus bridge?
Not normally. The bridges carry motorway traffic and are closed to pedestrians, apart from the Istanbul Marathon, which crosses the first bridge once a year.
Which bridge do you pass under on a cruise?
Always the first, the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, and usually the second, the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, before the boat turns back.
What is the tallest Bosphorus bridge?
The Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, whose towers of about 322 metres are among the tallest of any bridge in the world.
Why was the first bridge renamed?
It was renamed in 2016 to honour those who died resisting the coup attempt of 15 July that year.
Are there tunnels under the Bosphorus?
Yes, the Marmaray railway and the Eurasia road tunnel both run beneath the strait between the two continents.
