Where to Watch the Sunset

In Istanbul the direction of the sunset is fixed; the sun drops west, behind the historic peninsula. That decides which points are good: places looking from east to west win. The list below is ordered on that logic. Camlica Hill The highest point on the Anatolian side, facing west. The whole city, the Golden Horn and the bridges are visible at once. The wind is always strong, so take a layer even in summer. There is parking and a bus connection. Piyer Loti Hill A hill looking down on the Golden Horn, from which the water appears narrow and long. You go up by cable car, passing over the cemetery. From the late afternoon the light strikes the water. The cable car queue lengthens at weekends. Galata Tower It gives three directions at once, but the balcony is narrow and crowded. Without booking online there is a queue. The sunset hour is the most sought-after and prices can differ. The Suleymaniye terrace Free, and one of the most balanced views in the city, with both shores of the Golden Horn and Galata opposite. You can sit in the tea garden behind the mosque courtyard. Prayer times can affect visits. The point at Fenerbahce Park Looking west from the Anatolian side, with the historic peninsula turning to silhouette. There are lawns and benches and it does not get crowded. The advantage of looking from sea level is that the whole skyline reads as a horizontal line. The Moda shore At sea level, with the tea garden tables close to the water and the historic peninsula opposite. People sit on the grass on summer evenings. Ortakoy square The bridge and the mosque in one frame; it does not face west, but the sunset light strikes the bridge. It offers a different composition for photographs. Rumeli Feneri Far from the city, where the Black Sea opens. You watch from the rocks. It needs a car and the drive back takes a long time in the dark, but it is the quietest option. A ferry deck Not a fixed point, but among the best. Taking the Eminonu-Kadikoy or a Bosphorus line in the late afternoon sets the view in motion. The fare is on the Istanbulkart, with nothing extra to pay.