15 July Martyrs Bridge: Crossing the Bosphorus Between Two Continents

Updated on October 8, 2026

META: The 15 July Martyrs Bridge (formerly the Bosphorus Bridge), opened in 1973, links Europe and Asia between Ortaköy and Beylerbeyi. History, access, toll and best viewpoints. The 15 July Martyrs Bridge (15 Temmuz Şehitler Köprüsü), long called the Bosphorus Bridge, is the first bridge linking Europe and Asia in Istanbul. Opened on 30 October 1973, it is 1,560 metres long, with a main span of 1,074 metres and towers 165 metres high. It connects Ortaköy, on the European side, to Beylerbeyi, on the Asian side. It took its current name on 25 July 2016, in memory of the civilians and soldiers killed during the attempted coup of 15 July 2016. It is a motorway bridge: pedestrians cannot use it, but you can admire it from the shores and from the Bosphorus.

Highlights

The bridge seen from the Bosphorus

The suspended deck rises above the strait, and a boat passing underneath gives the best sense of scale. The Bosphorus cruise goes under the bridge.

Ortaköy and its bridge

The Ortaköy Mosque and the bridge form the classic frame of Istanbul photos, especially at nightfall when the lights of the deck come on.

Passing under by boat

You cross the bridge by car or bus, but the most pleasant experience is to pass under it on a ferry: see the most beautiful ferry rides in Istanbul.

Practical info

Tips

Pedestrians cannot cross the bridge except during official events: once a year, the Istanbul marathon crosses it on foot, in October; see the Istanbul Marathon. The bridge has been tolled in both directions since 1 January 2023; most vehicles pass with an HGS or OGS device, without stopping. With a rental vehicle, check that the rental company handles the toll, otherwise you risk a fine. By bus or taxi, the toll is generally included or passed on in the fare. The two other bridges over the Bosphorus are the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, further north, and the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, at the far north of the strait. For views over the strait, see the best sunset viewpoints.

How to get there

15 July Martyrs Bridge, between Ortaköy and Beylerbeyi, Istanbul. To see it up close on the European side, reach Ortaköy from Kabataş or Beşiktaş by bus or taxi (the Beşiktaş district is next door); on the Asian side, the Beylerbeyi Palace is at the foot of the bridge. Ferries between the two shores also pass nearby.