Famous Bosphorus Bridges of Istanbul

Istanbul is a dual continental city, therefore it makes sense that so many Istanbul Bridges cross the city's vast waterways.

Istanbul is encircled by water on all sides (except the west), with the Bosporus and Golden Horn dividing the city and the Black Sea and Sea of Marmara forming the city's extreme northern and southern borders.

Because of this, numerous bridges in the wider Istanbul area have distinct histories, timelines, and features.

This post will look at the most significant of the Istanbul Bridges, discuss which ones we love and why, and explain the history of these wonders of contemporary engineering.

The Galata Bridge 

One of the most well-known bridges in Istanbul is the Galata Bridge, which crosses the Golden Horn in the city's heart, and is the location of all the main tourist attractions.

It is the fifth Galata Bridge to be constructed at this location, and it was first constructed in the 19th century to link the communities of Galata and Eminönü.

The lines of fishermen on either side of this steel bascule bridge have become iconic pictures of Istanbul, and the bridge has frequently appeared in Turkish theater and literature.

The Galata Bridge is not the most aesthetically pleasing of all the bridges in Istanbul, yet it is particularly dear to the city's writers, songbirds, and poets.

The most well-known bridge in Istanbul is the Galata Bridge, which was built as the first, spanning across the city's waterways to connect Eminönü, which is close to the Spice Bazaar and the Yeni Camii, or New Mosque, to the Karaköy neighborhood.

2. The Bosphorus Bridge

Among the most significant bridges in Istanbul across the Bosphorus is the July 15 Martyrs Bridge, commonly known as the Bosphorus Bridge.

There are many more names for it, including Boğaziçi Köprüsü, First Bosphorus Bridge, and Turkey Bridge.

Istanbul's primary thoroughfare connecting the Asian and European regions of the city is the Bosphorus Bridge. 

This is Istanbul's highest bridge rising 210 feet (64m) above the water level and at night, the uniquely designed lights of this bridge always give a beautiful effect to Istanbul.

In July 2016, the bridge was renamed the July 15 Martys Bridge in remembrance of the failed coup attempt in Turkey, in which President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his AKP Party were the targets of an effort to overthrow them. 

3. The Golden Horn Bridge

The Haliç Bridge is a road bridge in western Istanbul spanning the Golden Horn. It carries the O-1 motorway, the Istanbul Inner Beltway, and connects the neighborhoods of Halıcıoğlu in the northwest with Ayvansaray in the southwest. 

As Istanbul Bridges go this is by far the least interesting bridge but it gets a mention thanks to the fact that it was built in the 1970’s.

Built by Julius Berger-Bauboag AG of Germany and IHI Corporation of Japan in 1971–1974, it is 22 meters above sea level and has dimensions of 995 meters by 32 meters. 

Due to massive traffic volumes two new steel bridges of two lanes each were added onto both sides of the existing bridge between 1994 and 1998.

4.The Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge

This is the second bridge in Istanbul that crosses the Bosphorus to link the European Hısarüstü district and the Asian Kavacık area.

The bridge was named for the well-known Ottoman Sultan Mehmet, the Conqueror of Constantinople, and work on it started in 1986. It opened for traffic on July 3, 1988.

The Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, which spans the narrowest section of the Bosphorus where the straights are 2165 feet (660 meters) across, is the fourteenth largest steel suspension bridge in the world.

Because this bridge is a traffic-only route, pedestrians are not permitted to utilize it.

5. The Golden Horn Metro Bridge

The Golden Horn Metro Bridge links Istanbul's Beyoğlu and Fatih neighborhoods.

It is a cable-stayed bridge with a harp design and two 65-meter towers. The M2 metro line's Haliç station, which provides views of the Golden Horn, ship ports, Suleymaniye mosque, and other tourist attractions, is located on the bridge.

The pathways for pedestrians are an excellent place to take in the scenery and see people, bikers, seabirds, and harbor traffic.

French engineer Michel Virlogeux, an expert in bridge design, oversaw the bridge's conceptual design even though he was not the bridge's architect. The Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge was also designed by him.

Of all the Istanbul Bridges, this one is arguably the greatest for spending an evening watching the sunset because of the amazing perspective it offers of both sides of the city.

6.The Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge

The Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge spans from Garipçe on the European side to Poyrazköy on the Asian side, and it is situated close to the mouth of the Black Sea at the northern end of the Bosphorus.

The Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge is a veritable monster among suspension bridges, at 322 meters tall and 59 meters wide. It holds a distinguished position among the biggest suspension bridges in the world for both automotive and rail traffic.

It differs from its siblings across the Bosphorus in that it can hold people in addition to cars and rail traffic. The Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, named for the renowned Ottoman Sultan Selim I, is an engineering masterpiece that spans the Bosphorus and links Europe and Asia.

When it was finished in 2016, this hybrid cable-stayed suspension bridge was made to accommodate long-distance drivers who would rather avoid the major cities and instead make a broad arc around them.

What 4.5 billion Turkish Lira can purchase is incredible. Okay, might repurchase in 2016.

Views on Bridges in Istanbul

As we have learned, Istanbul is home to a large number of bridges, each with its distinct history and features.

These Istanbul Bridges offer a stunning view of the city and its rivers while connecting the city's many neighborhoods.

We love to spend hours here taking in the views, sounds, and tastes of the neighborhood, and we especially like watching the fishermen on the Galata Bridge. If you share our love for seafood, you will especially enjoy the delights of the balık ekmek (fish sandwich) vendors.

Breakfast by the banks of the Bosphorus, close to the expansive stretches of the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, is another highly recommended activity. There are several restaurants situated along the shoreline.