Istanbul attracts millions of tourists every year with its historical texture, cultural richness, and unique Bosphorus tours. Bosphorus tours are the most popular activity that visitors want to do.
To underline the popularity of Istanbul Bosphorus tours; You will not find any local or foreign tourists visiting Istanbul who does not participate in the Bosphorus cruise.
After this short information, let's try to give you tips and information about Istanbul Bosphorus tours. When you visit Istanbul, we definitely recommend you spare 1 day for Istanbul Bosphorus tours. The Bosphorus is a unique natural sea route in the world with its structure, historical texture, and natural beauties. It will be a great privilege to cruise between two continents, the continent of Europe on one side and the continent of Asia on the other.
Many historical palaces, mosques, waterside mansions, towers, and fortresses on the Asian and European sides of the Bosphorus have witnessed legends and wars from past to present. If you want to experience the history and legends of these historical textures, there are more than 20 tours of the Bosphorus tour that you can join. But the real question is which Bosphorus cruise is worth joining?
Which Bosphorus cruise?
The answer to this question, of course, varies according to the interests of the people. However, it is possible to find a tour that suits your personal interests and budget.
Local guided cultural tours in the Bosphorus during the daytime, half-day or full-day guided Bosphorus tours with lunch, evening tours with dinner and Turkish night shows, and sunset yacht tours are organized by many different companies.
The most popular Bosphorus tours in Istanbul;
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise (Dinner and Turkish night show)
Bosphorus Sunset Cruise (sunset yacht tour)
Bosphorus and the Black Sea Cruise with Lunch (Full day with guided and lunch)
Private Bosphorus Cruise (Personalized private yacht tour)
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise
Bosphorus dinner cruise with Turkish night show
If you want to watch shows such as Whirling Dervish, belly dance, and Turkish folk dances while having a romantic dinner and sipping your drinks this tour is for you.
The best way to have fun is with a delicious dinner from Turkish cuisine and various Turkish night shows while cruising the Bosphorus by boat among the glittering nights.
Do not have any hesitation about security on this tour, which starts late, because our professional teams will transfer you from the hotel to the boat and drop you back to your hotel safely at the end of the tour. For the safety of each of our customers, we are very sensitive about the transfer.
Dinner Menu
Welcome Cocktail - 10 kinds of Cold Mezes (Starters)
Fresh seasonal salad
ENTREE ( Main Dish with 4 options)
Grilled Fish served with arugula, onion and lemon
Grilled Chicken Steak served with rice and potatoes
Grilled Meat Ball with served with rice and potatoes
Vegetarian Meal (pasta with vegetables or vegetable plate)
Dessert ( Baklava & Fruit)
Unlimited drinks (With or W/O Alcohol)
Include a selection of local wine, beers, gin, vodka, raki, soft drinks and hot drinks (tea).
Imported drinks are available with an extra charge on the boat.
Turkish Night Show
Whirling Dervish
Turkish Gypsy Dance
Caucasian Dance
Belly Dancer Group Show
Turkish Folk Dance
Rhythm Show
Belly Dancer
Professional DJ Performance
Dinner cruises in Istanbul: All you need to know
Read more
Bosphorus Sunset Cruise
Sunsets all over the world are very special moments. If you haven't watched the sunset on the Bosphorus and taken pictures, you don't realize that you've lost a lot.
This magnificent yacht tour, which starts at 18:15, offers a magnificent atmosphere, especially for those who like to share pictures on social media. Guide service is also available on the sunset yacht tour, where snacks, fruit plates, and soft drinks are served.
You should definitely explore the Bosphorus at sunset.
BOSPHORUS SUNSET CRUISE: All you need to know
Read more
Bosphorus and the Black Sea Cruise with Lunch
Full-Day Bosphorus and Black Sea Cruise
While enjoying your lunch, if you want to listen to the history of the historical iconic structures on the Asian and European continents of the Bosphorus from a local guide, join this tour. With this full-day tour that starts from the European side of the Bosphorus, you will have the chance to go all the way to the Black Sea coast.
This tour, which starts early in the morning, is the most suitable tour to escape the crowds of the city and relax in the cool waters of the Bosphorus and get historical information. In summer, you can catch the chance to swim in a beautiful bay on the Black Sea coast.
Bosphorus and the Black Sea Cruise, which is a full-day or half-day option, the full day starts at 9:00 in the morning and the half-day starts around 12:30 in the afternoon.
Private Bosphorus Cruise
If you are looking for a yacht tour in the Bosphorus that is completely organized according to your wishes without any restrictions, Bosphorus yacht tour is the right option.
Private Bosphorus yacht tours are very different from stereotypical Bosphorus tours. You only need to let us know what you want in these tours, which are organized by pre-request. You have the freedom to tour for as long as you want with the yacht allocated to you according to the number of people in line with your wishes.
With Istanbul Yacht Charter
Historical Sites on the Bosphorus
The most important historical places worth seeing on the European and Asian coasts of the Bosphorus.
The Bosphorus, a very special location, is the natural waterway between two continents that is unique in the world. The Bosphorus, which has a magnificent view between the European and Asian continents, has been the favorite of many different empires throughout history, and there are many historical heritages on its shores.
Historical buildings on the Bosphorus;
Anadolu Fortress
Beylerbeyi Palace
Maiden's Tower
Ortakoy
Dolmabahce Palace
Ciragan Palace
Kucuksu Pavilion
Rumeli Fortress
Topkapi Palace
Kuleli Military High School
Anadolu Fortress
Anatolian Fortress; It is located in the Anadoluhisarı district of Istanbul, where the Göksu Stream empties into the Bosphorus. It was built by Yıldırım Bayezid in 1395 as part of Istanbul's preparation for the Second Ottoman Siege.
Beylerbeyi Palace
Beylerbeyi Palace, which was built at the request of Sultan Abdülaziz, was conceived as a summer resort for the Ottoman sultans and a state guesthouse for the hosting of foreign heads of state or rulers.
Maiden's Tower
The Maiden's Tower, as one of the symbols of Istanbul, always finds its place in the enchanting photographs of the Bosphorus. This tower, which was known by names such as Damalis and Leandros at the time, is a symbol of love and elegance in Istanbul, and also inspires those who want to have a romantic activity in the city.
Ortakoy
Ortaköy is a district of Beşiktaş district on the shore of the Bosphorus. Ortakoy Mosque is the symbol of the district. It is a settlement center that has attracted attention since the Ottoman Period. It was once a summer residence for sultans. It has crowned magnificent palaces with its hidden natural treasures.
Dolmabahce Palace
Dolmabahçe Palace was built by the thirty-first Ottoman sultan, Sultan Abdülmecid. Dolmabahçe Palace, which was designed with a Western understanding in accordance with the modernization goal of the Ottoman Empire, was opened for use on 7 June 1856. The construction of this magnificent palace, which started on 13 June 1843, took 13 years.
Ciragan Palace
The most beautiful places of the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus were reserved for sultans and important people for their palaces and mansions. Many of them have disappeared over time. Çırağan, a large palace, was burnt down in 1910. It was built by the Palace Architect Serkis Balyan by Sultan Abdulaziz in 1871 on the site of a previous wooden palace. The partition and ceiling of the building, which cost 4 million gold in 4 years, were wooden and the walls were covered with marble. Outstanding examples of stonework, the columns are richly furnished.
Kucuksu Pavilion
In this charming region of the Bosphorus, where the Küçüksu Pavilion is located, the history of settlement dates back to the Byzantine Period. Kucuksu and its surroundings, which attracted attention during the Ottoman period and was used as one of the sultan's private gardens under the name of "Kandil Garden", IV. It is known that Murad (1623-1640) loved it very much and called it "Silver Cypress".
Rumeli Fortress
Rumeli Fortress The fortress that gives its name to the district on the Bosphorus in the Sarıyer district of Istanbul. It was built by Fatih Sultan Mehmet before the conquest of Istanbul in order to prevent attacks from the north of the Bosphorus, directly opposite the Anadolu Hisarı on the Anatolian side.
Topkapi Palace
Topkapi Palace is the oldest and largest of the palaces that have survived to the present day in the world. The palace, which was the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire for about 400 years, on the ridge of Sarayburnu in Istanbul.
Kuleli Military High School
Kuleli Military High School is a military school located on the shores of the Bosphorus. In the Byzantine period, there was a grove where Kuleli Military High School was located, and a monastery and a tower in it.
Best time to visit Bosphorus
I would like to say that the Bosphorus is beautiful in 4 seasons, but it is not very nice to take a boat tour on the Bosphorus in winter and autumn.
We recommend that you do not tour during these months as it is very windy in autumn and winter.
In fact, Istanbul Bosphorus yacht or boat tours start towards the middle of March. However, we recommend you to visit in the spring and summer months when the weather is nice. Especially in May, mimosa flowers bloom on both sides of the Bosphorus and the Bosphorus becomes another beautiful one.
Things to Do in Istanbul Bosphorus
At the beginning of the activities to be done on the Bosphorus is the Istanbul Bosphorus cruise. However, there are many palaces, waterfront mansions, and forts to visit on the European and Asian shores of the Bosphorus. Now, let's try to give you information about the places you can visit on the Bosphorus.
Ortakoy; Ortaköy, on the European shore of the Bosphorus, is a region most visited by locals. You can have tea and coffee at many nice cafes on the coast and take a walk on the beautiful coast. Ortakoy is especially famous for its wafel and kumari.
Küçüksu Pavilion; This palace, which is right on the shore of the Bosphorus, was the summer palace of the Ottoman sultans in the old period. Today, you can have breakfast in the garden or have a delicious meal in the restaurant in the afternoon. You can visit inside the palace.
Maiden's Tower; It is a tower built on a small island in the middle of the sea, which has been the subject of many legends and love stories in history. A heavily used location for locals for a romantic day out or marriage proposal. The atmosphere of drinking a coffee in the Maiden's Tower, which is used as a restaurant and cafe, is really different.
Rumeli Fortress; which plays a very important role in the conqueror of Istanbul. It has the best panoramic view of the Bosphorus from above. It's a heavily used location, especially for taking beautiful selfies.
