Istanbul Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Audio Guide
Description
Step aboard a sightseeing cruise and immerse yourself in the stunning beauty of Istanbul's iconic Bosphorus. Admire the city's breathtaking skyline, historic landmarks. Experience the breathtaking beauty of Istanbul from a unique perspective with a Bosphorus day cruise. Departing from the heart of the city, set sail on the serene waters of the Bosphorus Strait, a magical waterway that divides Europe and Asia. Marvel at iconic landmarks such as the majestic Bosphorus Bridge, historic Ottoman palaces, and traditional neighborhoods lining the shores. Your journey will be enhanced by informative commentary detailing the rich history and culture of Istanbul. As you glide along the sparkling waters, soak in panoramic views of the city's skyline and enjoy a truly unforgettable experience that captures the essence of this vibrant and historic metropolis.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Built in an opulent European style, Dolmabahce Palace (Dolmabahce Sarayi) was the home of the Ottoman sultans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, before the fall of the empire. The giant crystal chandeliers, marble staircases, and lush carpets that adorn the interior reflect the shift toward Istanbul’s more European way of thinking.
Istanbul’s bustling waterside neighborhood of Ortaköy buzzes with the energy of bars, restaurants, cafés, and nightclubs. The main sight here is the Ortaköy Mosque (Ortaköy Cami), a 19th-century structure featuring a blend of baroque and neoclassical influences. Behind it, the Bosphorus Bridge looms, connecting the old Istanbul with the new.
The Bosphorus Bridge (Bogazici Koprusu) in Istanbul is one of three continent-spanning bridges over the Bosphorus Strait, connecting Europe and Asia. When it opened in 1973, the 5,118-foot (1,560-meter) bridge was the fourth-longest suspension bridge in the world. And though it has since slid down the rankings, it is still an impressive sight to behold.
Built over just four months, the 15th-century Rumeli Fortress played a key role in the fall of Byzantine Constantinople. Together with the Anatolian Fortress (Anadolu Hisarı) on the Bosphorus, Rumeli Fortress was used by the Ottomans to cut off aid and supplies to Constantinople. Today, it serves as both an open-air theater and site of historical interest.
Surprisingly for a city split between two continents, Istanbul existed without connecting bridges for most of its existence. After the construction of the Bosphorus Bridge in the 1970s, the second unifying bridge, Fatih Sultan Mehmet, came in 1988. It is part of Istanbul’s O-2 highway and connects the European and Asian sides of the city.
Located on the European shores of Istanbul, Emirgan Park (Emirgân Korusu) is one of the largest in Istanbul and serves as an oasis of nature in the urban sprawl. The park a popular weekend destination thanks to its jogging trails and picnic areas, and it is also the main venue for the annual Istanbul Tulip Festival, which blooms every April.
Anadolu Hisari
Commissioned in the mid-19th century by Sultan Abdulmecit, Küçüksu Palace (Küçüksu Kasri) Palace, aka Küçüksu Pavilion (Küçüksu Sarayı), was designed to be a summer palace for Ottoman sultans. The Istanbul palace’s design blends European and Ottoman styles, with an intricate carved exterior, sweeping staircases, and an interior with gilded accents and chandeliers.
Located in the shadow of Istanbul’s first bridge, Beylerbeyi Palace (Beylerbeyi Sarayi) was historically a summer residence for Ottoman sultans. The 24 rooms of the palace contain a mix of Ottoman and Western decoration, with 19th-century furniture from Europe and garden pavilions, and its ornate exterior is visible from the Bosphorus Strait.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(67)
The cruise was our first experience in Istanbul. We had a great time! The ship was spacious, clean, and on time. The views of Istanbul from the deck were breathtaking, especially at sunset.
Dear Guest, Thank you very much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that your first Istanbul experience on our Bosphorus Cruise was enjoyable. It’s fantastic that you appreciated the spacious and clean ship, punctuality, and especially the breathtaking views at sunset. We hope to welcome you again for another memorable experience soon! Warm regards, The Tourmania Team
Price of the tour was right and the ship leaves on time, but don’t expect a stay of the art services in fact, some of the window glasses were crack. It is nicely and hop on hop off boat so ideally can visit multiple destinations on one trip. His come what day mobile phone app that provides audio guy in multiple languages so that was nice. we didn’t have time so we just took the entire boat trip in one shot. Also, who look for a short convenience boat trip in Istanbul this may work for you but again don’t expect too much how to go to.
Thank you for sharing your detailed feedback with us. We’re glad to hear that you found the cruise convenient, timely, and enjoyed the flexibility of the hop-on hop-off system along with the multilingual audio guide. We also appreciate your comments regarding areas for improvement, as this helps us enhance the overall experience for our guests. We hope to welcome you again in the future for more memorable moments in Istanbul. Sincerely, The Tourmania Team
Crew informative and responsive. Place is easy to find. The boat was nice. The dock was beautiful. Nice view of Bosphorus and surroundings. We had photo taken and printed. There was English information during the trip.
Thank you for your lovely review! We’re glad to hear that you found the crew informative and responsive, and that the boat and dock added to your enjoyable experience. It’s great that you appreciated the beautiful views of the Bosphorus and the English audio guide. We hope your photos bring back wonderful memories, and we’d love to welcome you back for another cruise soon!
I booked last minute and they were very accomadating and communicative. They made it easy to find. The trip itself was relaxed and enjoyable
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re delighted to hear that you had a relaxed and enjoyable experience on the Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise. It's great to know that our team was able to accommodate your last-minute booking and assist you with clear communication and directions — we always aim to make the process as smooth as possible for our guests. We hope to welcome you aboard again soon for another memorable experience in Istanbul! Warm regards,
The cruise is not crowded and we can take great shots all the way without people blocking. Ship is clean and have seats in all directions, so you can sit and take photos at ease. Highly recommended!
Thank you for your fantastic review! We're glad to hear you enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere on the Bosphorus cruise and had plenty of space to capture beautiful photos. It's great that the ship was clean and comfortable for you. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again for another relaxing and scenic journey soon!
Easy to book and find with clear directions. Super responsive, on time, great value—highly recommended for a sunset cruise!
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that you found the booking process easy and our team responsive and punctual. It means a lot to us that you enjoyed the sunset cruise and found it to be a great value. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you on board again soon!
The experience was quite nice, though the audio guide could be expanded in terms of languages available. There's no snacks or beverages included in price, but they can be purchased on board for 100-700 TLR depending on item. We couldn't visit at sunset, but the scenery is probably even better then. Overall, it is a good activity while in Istanbul, would recommend for the price/quality ratio and to quickly catch on all main attractions without walking a lot.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback! We're glad to hear you enjoyed the overall experience and found it to be a good way to explore Istanbul. We appreciate your suggestions regarding the audio guide languages and will definitely take them into consideration as we work to improve. While snacks and drinks are available for purchase on board, we’ll continue to review our offerings to ensure they meet our guests’ expectations. Hopefully, you’ll have the chance to catch the sunset on your next visit—it truly is a breathtaking sight. Thanks again for recommending us!
Many buildings can be viewed, the overall environment is comfortable, and the boat is large, there are many places to take pictures, it is very recommended that couples or families feel a little.
多謝您的好評！我們很高興聽到您對這次體驗感到滿意，並且喜歡船上的環境和設施。我們也非常高興您認為這是情侶或家庭的理想選擇。希望未來能再次為您提供更多美好的回憶！
What an amazing cruise! Spectacular view, beautiful boat, and great service. Highly recommend this boat tour.
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us amazing review - it's much appreciated!
Everything from booking to the actual tour was seamless. The staff was friendly, the views were stunning, and the whole experience felt well-organized and truly memorable. Highly recommended to anyone visiting!
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us amazing review - it's much appreciated!