Prices checked on Sep 12, 2026Things to do in Istanbul
Enjoy Istanbul from the water on your own private luxury yacht. This is a 2-hour private Bosphorus cruise. Only your group is on the yacht. You will see famous places from the sea: palaces, old mansions, and bridges. It is calm, easy, and great for photos. We contact you after booking and meet you there. Hotel pickup and drop-off is optional (extra fee). If it is canceled because of weather, you can choose a new date or get a full refund.
This beautiful strait, sometimes spelled Bosporus and sometimes Bosphorus, was so called from the earliest ages by the ancients; from the mythology of 10, the mistress of Jupiter, having passed over it in the shape of a cow. It resembles the Dardanelles, in length, breadth, and current, and like it, is a narrow separation that divides Europe from Asia; but it has many features familiar to itself. Instead of being a solitary stream running between deserted shores, it is a body of water full of life and animation, winding its way through banks covered with palaces and villages, shaded with magnificent forest trees, presenting to the eye, at every mile, a new scene of crowded existence.
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.
Dolmabahce Palace stands on the European shore of the Bosphorus and with its various dependencies forms almost a little town, its gardens extending for a mile or more along the water's edge.
Ortaköy Mosque, officially the Büyük Mecidiye Camii in Beşiktaş, Istanbul, Turkey, is situated at the waterside of the Ortaköy pier square, one of the most popular locations on the Bosphorus.
It was inaugurated on October 29, 1973, on the fiftieth anniversary of the Turkish Republic, and has the longest span in Europe and the fourth in the world. This suspension bridge has a total length of 1560 meters (1706 yards) and a width of 33.4 meters (110ft).
In the 19th century, Ottoman aristocrats picked Bebek's ideal location to build their summer houses and palaces. Today it is still a popular residential area.
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 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.
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 as "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.
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.
KIZKULESI (MAIDEN'S TOWER - LEANDER'S TOWER) About 180 metres 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.
Private Yacht Bosphorus Cruise (2 Hours) - Istanbul Luxury Yacht lasts about 2 hours. The itinerary has 11 stops.
Prices start at $355 per person for this Istanbul experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 2 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is We will contact guests who made reservations and meet them at the meeting point.. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 15 travellers can book together.
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 1 verified reviews; it is run by Turkey Tourism Center. Most-mentioned highlights: Yacht; Taxes.
We chose this special yacht tour to celebrate a very special day, and we found it to be much more than we expected. The quality of the yacht and the service were truly top-notch. Seeing both sides of the Bosphorus, those historic mansions and castles, so closely and comfortably was priceless.
We truly appreciate your kind words! I will gladly pass your compliments along to our entire team. Safe travels!
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Yacht Bosphorus Cruise (2 Hours) - Istanbul Luxury Yacht | 2 hours | 5.0 (1) | $355 | |
 WONDERS of ISTANBUL : Full Day Private Guided City Tour | 5–7 hours | 5.0 (445) | $75 | View |
 Best of Istanbul 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour | 7–21 hours | 5.0 (10,116) | $100 | View |
 Istanbul Taste of Two Continents Food Tour - Spice Market & Ferry | 5h 30min | 5.0 (3,592) | $135 | View |
 ISTANBUL BEST: Iconic Landmarks Full Day PRIVATE Guided City Tour | 6–8 hours | 5.0 (1,478) | $85 | View |
 Istanbul Bosphorus Sunset Luxury Yacht Cruise with Snacks | 2h 30min | 4.9 (2,384) | $47 | View |
 Istanbul Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern with Tickets | 3 hours | 4.9 (131) | $135 | View |