Best time to go to Istanbul

Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swim 2023

Swimming from one continent to another—sounds challenging but it's a totally real accomplishment

Dates: August 20, 2023

Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swim
Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swim
Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swim

Over two thousands of swimmers from up to 50 countries start the competition at Kanlica pier in the Asian part of Istanbul. Their goal is to cross six and a half kilometres as quickly as possible, and land at Kurucesme Cemil Topuzlu Park—on the European shore. The winners cover this distance in less than an hour— the record is around 50 minutes. Imagine the adrenaline one feels while swimming ahead of fellow competitors and how sweet are the final swallowed splashes of cold Bosphorus.

Bosphorus swim officially named Samsung Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swimming Race is an annual event held on Sunday in late July. On that single day Bosphorus Strait is closed for the vehicles. The race has been organized since 1989 by the Turkish Olympic Committee in Istanbul. Over years, the water race has become a true international brand. In 2016, the World Open Water Swimming Association declared it to be the World Open Water Swimming Offering of the Year.

Owing to the great popularity, the registration for the next swim is normally open far beforehand around January. If you want to partake, you shouldn't linger with the registration.

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Last updated: by Eleonora Provozin