Rides in Istanbul

Riding around Istanbul means moving through the city rather than off-road: here the city itself is the terrain. The segway runs in the evening past lit mosques and along the waterfront, the bicycle tour covers the old town, where five hundred metres and one slope separate the landmarks. Water counts as transport too: an hour of canoeing on the Bosphorus and a water bike along the shore, from where bridges and palaces are seen from below. Horses work right at the waterline, with rides of thirty or sixty minutes.

The second tier is air and the long road. Helicopter flights over the city run on Sundays and privately: fifteen minutes above the Bosphorus show what takes a week to assemble in pieces from the ground. Bus routes go further — the two continents tour with a crossing to the Asian side and a cruise, and the run to Cappadocia overnight or over two days. Standing apart is the self-guided scavenger route through the centre: the same sightseeing, at your own pace and without a guide.

Practical notes. Segways and bicycles cross cobblestones and gradients, so wear closed shoes and leave heels behind. Helicopters carry a weight limit and require registration in advance, and flights are cancelled for weather. Canoes and water bikes go out in calm water, which in summer usually means morning. Bus tours to Cappadocia involve an overnight drive, so do not plan much for the following day.