A vintage motorcycle with a sidecar is an odd sight among Istanbul's tour buses, but that's exactly the point. Since 2024, local entrepreneurs Cem Akkuş and Semih Aydoğan have been running retro sidecar tours out of Sultanahmet, giving visitors a wind-in-your-face way to cover both the European and Asian sides of the city in a single outing.
The idea came from travel of their own kind: the pair had spotted similar sidecar operations in cities like Lisbon and Paris and figured Istanbul — with its layered architecture, coastal roads and dramatic Bosporus views — was a natural fit. Their classic-style bikes were chosen deliberately, partly because the retro look suits the city's historic character, and partly because each one seats two passengers next to a driver.
The route is the real selling point. Tours kick off from Sarayburnu at the tip of the historic peninsula, sometimes as early as sunrise when the streets are still quiet. From there riders trace the coastline, cross Galata Bridge and roll past Dolmabahçe Palace before continuing to Ortaköy and Yıldız Park. Then comes the big moment: crossing the Bosporus Bridge into Asia, heading down to the leafy, photogenic neighbourhood of Kuzguncuk and along to the area around the Maiden's Tower. The trip wraps up with a ferry ride back to Sultanahmet — a full loop of two continents, terraces, gardens and skyline in roughly three to four hours.
Because the bikes are compact, they slip down narrow historic streets and stop at viewpoints that a 50-seat coach simply can't reach. Stops are planned with cameras in mind, so you're never far from a good shot of the water or the old-city silhouette. The operators say demand is strongest among foreign visitors who want something beyond the standard bus-and-walking formula, especially travellers short on time who still want to see more than the headline sights.
The feedback so far has been enthusiastic. One recent guest, visiting from Bosnia and Herzegovina with his wife, described feeling "like a bird" and said the tour was the kind of memory worth telling friends about back home — which is precisely what Akkuş says he set out to create.
For anyone staying around the Historic Peninsula who has already ticked off Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar, this is an easy way to add Kuzguncuk, Üsküdar and the Asian shoreline to the itinerary without renting a car or wrestling with buses. It's also a surprisingly efficient use of a morning: sunrise departures beat both the crowds and the traffic. Open-air riding means dressing for the weather — a windproof layer helps even in summer, and mornings on the water can be cool — and anyone with mobility concerns should check seating arrangements when booking. If you'd rather stay on the European side, shorter routes covering Karaköy, Beşiktaş and the historic peninsula are also on offer.
Story via Daily Sabah Travel.
