The vast tunnels and bridges that connect Asia and Europe are monumental feats of engineering.

The Bosphorus, with its gently sloping shores lined with stately mansions, royal gardens, and ancient woodlands, truly captures the essence of Istanbul.

This 19-mile (30-kilometer) waterway stretches from the Black Sea in the north to the Sea of Marmara in the south.

Istanbul’s urban expanse spreads across both Europe to the west and Asia to the east, earning it the poetic, though somewhat exaggerated, title of a city that spans two continents.

While the Bosphorus is the most famous waterway, Istanbul also features the Golden Horn – or Haliç – which diverges northwest before disappearing inland, unlike the Sea of Marmara, which leads to the Aegean through the narrow Dardanelles Strait.

Day and night, tankers and cargo ships can be seen on the horizon near the Princess Islands, waiting their turn to navigate through the busy shipping lanes.

Istanbul's residents also wait, whether in cars, buses, trains, or ferries. With a population of nearly 16 million as of 2021, many people live on one side of the city and work on the other, meaning large numbers are always on the move at any given time.

Navigating Istanbul's chaotic streets can be a challenge at any hour, and it often seems like a miracle that anyone makes it to their destination, but they do – using roads, railways, ferries, bridges, and tunnels to cross between continents.

Here’s how it’s done:

15 July Martyrs Bridge (15 Temmuz Şehitler Köprüsü)

Originally called Boğaziçi Köprüsü, or the Bosphorus Bridge, this graceful structure was renamed the 15 July Martyrs Bridge after the failed coup attempt in 2016, though locals still affectionately call it Boğaziçi Köprüsü, or the First Bridge.

Before it was completed on October 29, 1973, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Turkish Republic, ferries were the only way to travel between Europe and Asia in Istanbul.

The impressive 1,560-meter (5,118 feet) steel suspension bridge allowed cars to glide over the swiftly flowing waters of the Bosphorus, offering panoramic views of Topkapi Palace and the distant Sea of Marmara.

In the early days, the bridge became a popular spot for pedestrians seeking a perfect view of the grand 19th-century Büyük Mecediye Mosque in Ortaköy, shining in brilliant white along the waterfront.

Nowadays, the bridge is only accessible to walkers once a year, during the Istanbul Marathon, when thousands take part in the event.

Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge

The second bridge connecting the two continents opened on July 3, 1988, and was named after Fatih Sultan Mehmet, also known as Mehmet the Conqueror. He famously entered Constantinople in 1453 and established Ottoman rule over the once Byzantine capital.

Often referred to as FSM Köprüsü, this bridge is another steel suspension structure, similar in length and toll cost to the First Bridge, anchored by gravity.

It spans the narrowest section of the Bosphorus Strait, a location where Persian King Darius I is believed to have constructed a floating bridge back in 512 B.C.E.

The modern bridge’s traffic deck hangs approximately 200 feet above the water, linking Hısarüstü on the western side to Kavacık on the eastern side.

Offering incredible views of the Bosphorus, the bridge does not allow pedestrians, so only drivers can enjoy the scenery – a welcome diversion during weekend midnight traffic jams.

Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge

In 2016, a third suspension bridge was completed across the Bosphorus, near the Black Sea. Named after Yavuz Sultan Selim, the grandson of Mehmet the Conqueror, the bridge is a fitting tribute to the sultan’s passion for transportation. Yavuz Sultan Selim was responsible for rebuilding the Ottoman fleet and the Golden Horn shipyards in the 16th century.

Upon its completion, the bridge set multiple records. With a 58.8-meter-wide deck, it is the world’s widest suspension bridge, accommodating eight lanes of traffic and a dual-track railway. It is also the fifth tallest suspension bridge globally, rising over 322 meters above the Bosphorus.

Built to accommodate trucks and long-distance traffic heading toward central Anatolia and beyond, the bridge provides drivers with sweeping views of the Black Sea on clear days.

Çanakkale 1915 Bridge

The latest addition to the network of bridges connecting the two continents is the striking Çanakkale 1915 Köprüsü, which spans the Dardanelles, linking Gelibolu on the European side to Lapseki on the Asian side.

Stretching just under 2.3 miles, the bridge now holds the record for the longest suspension span in the world.

The bridge towers over the Straits, replacing a one-hour ferry journey (which can often take up to five hours due to waiting times) with a quick six-minute drive at a speed limit of 50 miles per hour.

Designed more for speed than for scenic views, it has not been embraced as much by locals due to its toll fees.

Opened on March 18, 2022, the bridge commemorates the victory of Turkey over the Allies in 1915, when they successfully defended control of this strategic waterway.

Eurasia Tunnel

The 5.3-kilometer (3.3-mile) underwater stretch of the Eurasia Tunnel (Avrasya Tüneli) is a major attraction for engineering enthusiasts. However, its main advantage is being the quickest way to travel between the two sides of Istanbul.

More practical than picturesque, the tunnel has a speed limit of 70 kilometers per hour. Part of a longer nine-mile route connecting Kazlıçeşme in Europe with Göztepe in Asia, it slashed travel time from 100 minutes to just 15 upon completion in December 2016.

The tunnel also became the most efficient connection between Istanbul's two airports, Atatürk and Sabiha Gökçen, until commercial flights were moved from Atatürk to the new Istanbul Airport, located more than 27 miles northwest of Taksim Square.

Like the bridge tolls, payments are processed through the Hızlı Geçiş Sistemi (HGS), which uses special windscreen stickers that are automatically scanned as vehicles pass through the toll booths.

It’s essential to ensure your HGS account has enough credit, particularly if you plan to drive across borders. Unpaid fines? They’ll stop you in your tracks! Thankfully, there’s an app available to help you track your balance and usage.

Marmaray

This underground train service linking two continents was a vision that took over a century to realize. In 1860, Sultan Abdülmecid I conceived the idea of an undersea tunnel across the Bosphorus, but he passed away before it could be pursued.

Another sultan, Abdul Hamid II, showed interest when French engineers presented the idea to him in 1892, but little progress was made.

Over a century later, the project was revived, and construction of the 13.6-kilometer tunnel began in 2004.

Despite initial plans, the rail service didn’t open until October 29, 2013. Delays were caused by the discovery of numerous archaeological artifacts, some dating back 8,000 years, at almost every excavation site.

It took another six years before all the stations along the line were completed and ready for public use.

The Marmaray tunnel connects Kazlıçeşme on the European side with Ayrılık Çeşmesi on the Asian side, descending as deep as 200 feet below sea level at its lowest point, making it the world’s deepest immersed tunnel.

To travel on the Marmaray, all you need is an Istanbul Card (Istanbul Kart). These cards are available at major public transport stations and small kiosks across the city, granting access to all public transport options for easy hop-on, hop-off travel.

Ferries

Ferries may not be the fastest way to travel between continents, but few experiences can rival the joy of a ferry ride across the Bosphorus.

With your feet resting on the railing and the wind in your hair, you can watch Istanbul's minaret-studded skyline glide by while sipping hot Turkish tea and enjoying a bite of simit, the beloved sesame-coated sourdough ring.

It’s pure bliss.

The Şehir Hatlar Vapuları (City Lines’ Ferries) were founded in 1844 during the Ottoman era. In addition to crisscrossing the Bosphorus, they sail across the Sea of Marmara, the Golden Horn, and all the way to the Princes’ Islands.

These ferries also transport both cars and passengers on the short trip between Sirkeci and Harem, as well as on longer journeys to Bursa, Yalova, and Mudanya.

When it comes to public transport in Istanbul, ferries stand out as the pinnacle of style and atmosphere – a stark contrast to the city's buses.

Buses, while covering every corner of the city, including a route that stretches 63 miles across 78 stops, can often be overcrowded and mired in traffic.

However, both buses and ferries share a common trait – neither operates through the night. If you need to cross the Bosphorus in the early hours, late-night minibuses are your best option for a quick and affordable ride.

Late-night shared minibuses

Shared minibuses in Istanbul are similar to dolmuşes, small privately-operated buses that follow set routes like public buses, but with the flexibility to pick up and drop off passengers upon request.

Both dolmuş and yellow minibuses operate on a cash-only basis. The term 'dolmuş' comes from the Turkish word for 'stuffed,' referring to the number of passengers they cram in (which can be quite a lot). Yellow minibuses, on the other hand, are more organized and only carry as many passengers as there are seats.

After a night out in the European part of the city, partygoers make their way to the minibus stop at Taksim Square. The drivers, often with dreams of Formula One glory, waste no time getting the vehicles packed and then it's full speed ahead for a fast ride home.