There are a few places to canoe in Istanbul. They do not all give you the same day. Some are calm, some have the view, one is free.
Here is an honest comparison.
Salacak, Üsküdar
A fishing harbour on the Asian side, straight across from the Maiden’s Tower.
The view is strongest here. A few minutes after you set off you are beside the tower. On the far shore you get the old city skyline.
The harbour is sheltered from the hard currents. That is why beginner sessions run from here.
Getting there is easy. Ferries, the metro and Marmaray all reach Üsküdar. From the pier it is a fifteen minute walk along the shore.
Göksu, Anadolu Hisarı
You start on the Göksu stream and come out into the Bosphorus. The mouth of the stream is very calm, so the first minutes are gentle.
The view is green and quiet. There is no old city skyline, but there is the Anadolu Hisarı fortress and the old wooden houses on the water.
It is far from the centre. Getting there takes more effort.
Haliç
The city’s water sports centre sits here. The water is flat and sheltered.
The big draw is the price. It is free, and you sign up through the council programme.
The catch is the places. They fill up, and you get little say over the date.
Other spots
There is paddling around Kadıköy, Maltepe, Beykoz and Büyükada too. Most of it runs on club membership or a regular course.
So which one suits you
If you want the view, Salacak. The tower and the old city sit in one frame.
If you want quiet and green, Göksu.
If the budget comes first, look at the council programme at Haliç. It is free, but it is not flexible.
If this is your first time, take a guided session. You get a short lesson on the shore, and you are not alone on the water.
Our session starts at Salacak. It runs about an hour, the kit is included, and no experience is needed.