Luxury Yacht Bosphorus Cruise with Live Guide & Asian Side Stop





Description
Discover the magic of Istanbul from the water on a captivating Bosphorus cruise between Europe and Asia. Led by a knowledgeable multilingual guide, this journey reveals the city’s rich history, architectural beauty, and vibrant character from a truly unique perspective. This is a small-group cruise on a luxury yacht, designed for travelers seeking comfort, space, and a more exclusive experience away from crowded ferries. Enjoy a relaxing stop on the Asian side in Beylerbeyi or Kanlıca, where you can explore a peaceful coastal neighborhood and experience the authentic rhythm of local life. Sail past world-famous landmarks such as Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, and Maiden’s Tower, along with the elegant districts of Ortakoy and Bebek. Pass beneath the Bosphorus bridges and admire the historic Rumeli Fortress. During this 2.5-hour cruise, unwind, take in panoramic views, and enjoy insightful commentary—an unforgettable way to experience Istanbul.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Dolmabahçe Mosque, also called the Bezm-i Alem Valide Sultan Mosque was built along with the Dolmabahce Palace in neo-classical and imperial style and located in the south of Dolmabahce Palace.
Until the 17th century, the area where t the palace is today was one of the bays along the Bosphorus the legendary sailing vessel, ARGOS on which the Argonauts set off to find the Golden Fleece, anchored here.
Ortaköy, once literally "the village in the middle" (orta) of the European Bosphorus shore 8 km (5 miles) northeast of Sultanahmet, is now among Istanbul's coolest, chic-est, most artsy neighborhoods, with trendy boutiques, atmospheric cafés, and bistros, and crowds of young, sophisticated residents and visitors.
Arnavutköy (meaning "Albanian village" in Turkish) is a historic neighborhood in Istanbul, Turkey renowned for its wooden Ottoman mansions and seafood restaurants, as well as the campus of the prestigious Robert College with its historic buildings.
The Galatasaray Islet is a small island on the Bosphorus strait off Kuruçeşme neighborhood in Istanbul, Turkey, which is owned by Galatasaray Sports Club.
Bosphorus Bridge Which was inaugurated on October 29, 1973, on the fiftieth anniversary of the Turkish Republic, has the longest span in Europe and the fourth in the world. This suspension bridge has a total length of 1560 metres (1706 yards) and a width of 33.4 metres (110ft). The span between pylons is 1074 metres (1175 yards) and the clearance above sea level is 64 metres (210ft). The construction of the steel box-girder suspension was carried out by a British-german consortium. The second bridge to link Europe and Asia over the Bosphorus will be completed in 1989 between Emirgan and Kanlica.
Bebek is one of the best neighborhoods in Istanbul. It is by the Bosporus. There are plenty of eateries along the way, most of them are good and reasonably priced. Fish restaurants are great.
Rumelishisari Fortress - (Rumelihisari Castle) At the narrowest point of the Bosphorus stands the Rumelihisarr Fortress, built by Sultan Mehmet, the Conqueror on the European shore. The Sultan himself on the 26th day of March 1452 laid the foundation stone of the Fortress with a view to controlling the passage of the ships through the Bosphorus and using it as a base for his attack on the city. The fortress or castle was built upon the ancient site of Hermaion. It was completed in five months on August 28th 1452. The cannon on the towers could command this narrowest part of the Bosphorus opposite the older fortress of Anadoluhisarr. Darius in 500 BC had thrown a pontoon bridge across the Strait at this point and passed over 700,000 men. To Sultan Mehmet, the Conqueror, it was the key to Constantinople. The design of the walls and the towers display the Prophet's and the Conqueror's name - Muhammet - Mehmet.
The Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, also known as the Second Bosphorus Bridge, is a bridge in Istanbul, Turkey spanning the Bosphorus strait. When completed in 1988, it was the 5th-longest suspension bridge span in the world; today it is the 24th.
Enjoy a relaxing stop in either Beylerbeyi or Kanlıca, where you can step ashore on the Asian side, stroll along the waterfront, explore charming streets, and soak in the peaceful, authentic atmosphere of Istanbul away from the crowds. You can also visit the beautiful gardens of Beylerbeyi Palace.
Beylerbeyi Palace Situated on the Asiatic shore of the Bosphorus between the villages of Kuzguncuk and Cengelköy, the palace was built by Sultan Abdülaziz in 1865. Beylerbeyi Palace seen from the Bosphorus floats like a white vision in a fairy tale. It is the most extravagant royal house of the 19th Century on which millions were spent. It is built completely of marble, surpassing all the Palaces of European Kings. Empress Eugénie, during her visit of 1869 stayed in this palace as well as Czar Nicholas Il of Russia. Edward VIII was a guest in 1936. Stone lionesses recline on marble carpets set in lawns, and swans float and fish swim in the unobtrusive pool where pigeons fly to catch the spray of the fountain upon their wings.
Anadoluhısarı Fortress (Anadoluhisari Castle) On the opposite bank stands the Anadoluhisari Fortress by the Göksu stream. This romantic castle which adorns the Asiatic shore of the Bosphorus was built in 1395 by Sultan Bayazit, the Thunderbolt, and named "Güzelcehisar". Later it was extended by Mehmet, the Conqueror. Today, as the first possession of Turks on the Bosphorus, it serves as the landmark of Turkish rule.
Kucuksu Palace The Summer Palace of Kucuksu, sometimes called the Palace of Göksu, is situated between the villages of Anadoluhisan and Kandilli on the Asiatic shore of the Bosphorus. The Kucuksu Palace was first built by Mahmut I in 1749. Later it underwent restoration during the reigns of Selim Ill and Ahmet Il. It was renovated by Sultan Abdülmecit in 1857. Sultan Abdülaziz gave the palace a new face-lift and had it refurbished and redecorated. It is a small but elegant edifice, stretching along the lip of the Bosphorus, surrounded by intricately cast-iron railings. Waters and waves of the Bosphorus wash its terraces of glittering marble and sometimes penetrate their latticed and mysterious recesses.
Kızkulesı (Maıden's Tower - Leander's Tower) About 180 meters away from the shores of Üsküdar stands this tower which bears two different names. Europeans who named it the Leander's Tower thought that it was here where Leander was drowned while attempting to swim the Bosphorus to reach his beloved Hero, the priestess of Aphrodite. But, in fact, Leander never crossed here even in the legend which refers to the Hellespont, Dardanelles. The Turkish name is KIZ kulesi ( Maiden's Tower ). It is now a modern lighthouse. In the past, it served as a fort to tax ships up to one-tenth of their cargo, similar to Pfalz Castle on the Rhine.
Haydarpaşa station is a railway station in Istanbul. Until 2012 the station was a major intercity, regional and commuter rail hub as well as the busiest railway station in Turkey. Haydarpaşa, along with Sirkeci station, are Istanbul's two intercity and commuter railway terminals.
Hagia Sophia Typical examples of the unique qualities of Byzantine architecture arc found in Istanbul, the capital of ancient Byzantium. Architects created a new style inspired by ancient monuments.
Topkapi Palace After the conquest of Istanbul in 1453 Faith (the Conqueror) Sultan Ahmet moved the throne of the Ottoman Empire to this city. Me first palace he set up was in the middle of the city. The second was built in 1470 and has been called Topkapi Palace since recent history. Topkapi is a classical palace as all historical Turkish palaces are.
Blue Mosque One of the most famous monuments of the Turkish and Islamic world is the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, which enchants visitors of Istanbul. An example of classical Turkish art and architecture is the only mosque with six minarets. It is surrounded by two thousand-year-old historical monuments.
Suleymaniye Mosque The most impressive of the mosques which form the famous Istanbul silhouette is the mosque of Sfileymaniye. The well-proportioned and neat esthetics of its exterior and Only the three walls of the fountain's courtyard, the fountain, the crown doors, the mihrab, up to the first balcony of the minarets, and a part of the surrounding wall remain from the original construction.
Sirkeci railway station, listed on maps as İstanbul railway station, is a railway terminal in İstanbul. The terminal is located on the tip of İstanbul's historic peninsula right next to the Golden Horn and just northwest of Gülhane Park and the Topkapı Palace.
The Galata Bridge is a bridge that spans the Golden Horn in Istanbul, Turkey. From the end of the 19th century, in particular, the bridge has featured in Turkish literature, theater, poetry, and novels.
Golden Horn The Golden Horn is a major urban waterway and the primary inlet of the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey.
The Galata Tower, called Christea Turris by the Genoese, is a medieval stone tower in the Galata/Karaköy quarter of Istanbul, Turkey, just to the north of the Golden Horn's junction with the Bosphorus.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
The operator company contacts guests on the day before to confirm the pick up point and time.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(608)
This is a relaxing activity on a beautiful yacht. It was peaceful to sail along listening to the commentary about what we were passing. The guide was informative, interesting and responsive to questions. The boat was not crowded, had a variety of seating options, and offered lovely little snacks. (Not a big meal, just nuts and tea. Simple but elegant little munchies). The stop on the Asian side was brief, but that was expected. We had the option to visit a mosque (very briefly) on the Asian side, but without the proper headscarf and clothing, my family was unable to enter. No biggie. We strolled through shops, watched some fishermen and returned to the boat. All in all, it was a great way to spend the morning and get a better awareness of the layout of Istanbul.
Dear guest, Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a detailed and thoughtful review! We are delighted to hear that you and your family had a relaxing morning on our luxury yacht and that the cruise helped you get a better awareness of Istanbul's unique layout.It is wonderful to know that you enjoyed our guide's commentary and that our team made you feel comfortable with the variety of seating and our elegant snacks. Regarding the brief stop on the Asian side, we appreciate your understanding; we love giving our guests a quick glimpse of local life there, whether it's strolling by the shops or watching the local fishermen.We hope to welcome you and your family back on board for another peaceful sail along the Bosphorus in the future! Best regards, Şenol Eroğlu
It was easy to book and meeting point was easy to find with guides holding signs. The cruise was worth the trip as got to see Istanbul from a different perspective. Water and nuts and tea was provided during trip to enhance the experience. Guide was informative about what we were seeing which added to the experience. So glad we decided to do the trip.
Thank you very much for your kind review. We are delighted to hear that the booking process was easy, the meeting point was simple to find, and that you enjoyed seeing Istanbul from a different perspective. It is also wonderful to know that the refreshments and informative guidance added to your experience. We truly appreciate your feedback and are happy you decided to join the cruise.
It was an unforgettable experience!!! The crew were incredibly kind and helpful, and the snacks were amazing! I would definitely choose Bosphorus Tours again anytime. In fact, I feel like coming back tomorrow! 😅
Thank you very much for your wonderful review. We are delighted to hear that the cruise was an unforgettable experience and that you enjoyed the kindness of the crew and the snacks on board. It makes us very happy to know that you would choose us again — and we would be pleased to welcome you back anytime, even tomorrow!
Perfect half-day trip on the water seeing the strait of Bosporus and Istanbul areas .
Thank you very much for your kind review. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the half-day trip on the water and the beautiful views of the Bosphorus and Istanbul. We truly appreciate your feedback.
A fantastic tour. It was fun. The tour was excellent, and the service was superb. We can only recommend it further.
Vielen Dank für Ihre wunderbare Bewertung. Es freut uns sehr zu hören, dass Ihnen die Tour Spaß gemacht hat und Sie sowohl die Führung als auch den Service genossen haben. Wir wissen Ihre Weiterempfehlung sehr zu schätzen.
Amazing experience beautiful views
Thank you very much for your kind review. We are delighted to hear that you had an amazing experience and enjoyed the beautiful views of Istanbul from the Bosphorus.
Beautiful cruise on the Bosporus. Boat was clean and the staff were amazing. I am disabled and they were incredibly caring helping me get on and off the boat. We also got to the dolphins which is an absolute bonus.
Thank you very much for your wonderful review. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the Bosphorus cruise, the clean boat, and the service from our team. It is especially important to us that you felt cared for and supported while boarding and leaving the boat. Seeing dolphins must have made the experience even more special. We truly appreciate your kind feedback.
Great experience, very friendly stuff, nice And clean boat…. Wonderfull Views. Id go Once again
Thank you very much for your kind review. We are delighted to hear that you had a great experience, enjoyed the friendly staff, the clean boat, and the wonderful views. We would be very happy to welcome you again anytime.
Sagar was very knowledgeable and entertaining. He shared interesting stories about Istanbul and engaged the participants.
Thank you very much for your kind review. We are delighted to hear that Sagar made the experience both informative and entertaining with his knowledge, stories, and engaging style. We truly appreciate your feedback.
Wonderful yacht tour. Comfortable and well kept boat, friendly hosts and great, clearly spoken commentary. Enjoyed special touches like tea, coffee, snacks. Tour is a highlight you should not miss.
Thank you very much for your wonderful review. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the yacht tour, the comfortable and well-kept boat, the friendly hosts, and the clear commentary. It is also lovely to know that the tea, coffee, and snacks added a special touch to your experience. We truly appreciate your kind recommendation.



