2-Hour Luxury Private Yacht Cruise on the Bosphorus in Istanbul
by Bosphorus Tour Organisations
Choose from 2 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$400Overview
The 2-hour luxury private yacht cruise begins at Kabatas Pier in Istanbul. Guests board a decorated luxury yacht equipped with restroom facilities. The yacht sails north along the Bosphorus Strait from the European side toward the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, also known as the second Bosphorus Bridge. During the cruise, guests can enjoy complimentary drinks including homemade lemonade with fresh mint, water, tea, and coffee. Fresh seasonal fruits, cookies, and baklava are served on board. The yacht passes by several notable landmarks such as Dolmabahce Palace, Ortakoy Mosque, Rumeli Fortress, Ciragan Palace, Bebek Park, and the Bosphorus Bridge. Upon reaching the second bridge, the yacht turns and sails toward the Asian side of the Bosphorus. Along this route, guests see wooden houses lining the shore and receive information about the various sites from the guide. The cruise continues to the Maiden's Tower, located on a small island about 200 meters from the Uskudar shore in the Sea of Marmara. The yacht then returns to Kabatas Pier, completing the two-hour journey. Other landmarks visible during the cruise include Beylerbeyi Palace, Anadolu Hisari Fort, Kucuksu Pavilion, and Galata Bridge. Alcoholic beverages and transfer services are not included in the tour.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Bosphorus Strait
The Bosphorus Strait is an international waterway separating Asia and Europe, connecting the Sea of Marmara with the Black Sea. It runs about 30 kilometers and divides Istanbul into European and Anatolian sides. The strait ranges in depth from 60 to 120 meters and varies in width up to 3500 meters at its widest. The cruise passes notable waterside sites including Dolmabahce Palace, Rumeli Fortress, and Beylerbeyi Palace.
Dolmabahce Palace
Dolmabahce Palace is an Ottoman palace covering 250,000 square meters on the European shore of the Bosphorus in Beşiktaş. It lies between Dolmabahçe Street and the Bosphorus, opposite Uskudar and Kuzguncuk.
Ciragan Palace
Ciragan Palace was commissioned by Sultan Abdulaziz and designed by architect Sarkis Balyan. It replaced a wooden summer palace built in 1800 and the nearby Besiktas Mevlevihane, which were destroyed during its construction. Completed in 1871, the marble palace covers 80,000 square meters. After Abdulaziz was deposed, he and his family were imprisoned there, and later Murat V and his family were imprisoned for 29 years. The palace served as the House of Parliament after 1908 until damaged by fire in 1910. Its grounds were used as Seref Stadium before restoration and reopening as a hotel in the early 1990s.
Ortakoy
Ortakoy is a neighborhood in Beşiktaş district on the European side of the Bosphorus. It consists of Ortakoy and Mecidiye districts, situated on slopes leading to the coast and bordered by nearby districts including Kurucesme and Ulus.
Bosphorus Bridge
The Bosphorus Bridge is a suspension bridge connecting Ortaköy on the European side with Beylerbeyi on the Asian side. It was the first bridge built over the Bosphorus and facilitates road traffic between the city’s two sides alongside ferries and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge.
Bebek Park
Bebek is a historic neighborhood on Istanbul’s European shore of the Bosphorus, surrounded by Arnavutkoy, Etiler, and Rumeli Hisari. Known for its waterside mansions, historical buildings like Bogazici University, and views of the Bosphorus, Bebek was a popular residential area during the Ottoman era.
Rumeli Fortress
Rumeli Fortress in Sariyer was built in 1453 by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror at the narrowest point of the Bosphorus, opposite Anadolu Hisari. Completed in three months, it was used to defend against naval attacks and later as a maritime inspection point.
Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge
The Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, Istanbul’s second Bosphorus bridge, connects Kavacik and Hisarustu. Construction began in 1986 and it opened on July 3, 1988. It is the 14th largest steel suspension bridge worldwide.
Anadolu Hisari Fort
Anadolu Hisari is a fortress built in 1395 by Beyazit I on the Asian side at the narrowest part of the Bosphorus. It consists of a citadel and exterior walls. Converted into a military hospital after Istanbul's conquest, it was restored from 1991 to 1993 and serves as an open-air museum with only the outer walls accessible.
Kucuksu Pavilion
Kucuksu Pavilion is a small Ottoman summer palace located on the Bosphorus coast road between Uskudar and Beykoz. Ordered by Sultan Abdulmecit and designed by architect Nikogos Balyan, it features detailed furniture and decorations and is open as a museum.
Beylerbeyi Palace
Beylerbeyi Palace is an Ottoman summer palace built in the 1860s beneath the Bosphorus Bridge. Designed by Sarkis Balyan, it combines Renaissance and Baroque styles. The stone building covers about 2,500 square meters with six halls, 24 rooms, a hamam, and a bathroom across two floors.
KIz Kulesi
The Maiden's Tower (Kiz Kulesi) stands on a small island approximately 200 meters off the Uskudar shore. It is a well-known landmark with several legends associated with it.
TopkapI Palace
Topkapi Palace is the most iconic palace in Türkiye.
Galata Koprusu
Galata Bridge spans the Golden Horn and dates back to 1845, undergoing several iterations. After a fire in 1992, the current bridge replaced the original, which was moved to Halic. It is a cultural symbol of Istanbul featuring restaurants, cafes, and hookah lounges below, with tram and pedestrian traffic above.
Galataport
Galataport is a new pier for cruise ships that is also used as an open-air shopping mall.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
2-Hour Luxury Private Yacht Cruise on the Bosphorus in Istanbul
by Bosphorus Tour Organisations
Choose from 2 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$400Overview
The 2-hour luxury private yacht cruise begins at Kabatas Pier in Istanbul. Guests board a decorated luxury yacht equipped with restroom facilities. The yacht sails north along the Bosphorus Strait from the European side toward the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, also known as the second Bosphorus Bridge. During the cruise, guests can enjoy complimentary drinks including homemade lemonade with fresh mint, water, tea, and coffee. Fresh seasonal fruits, cookies, and baklava are served on board. The yacht passes by several notable landmarks such as Dolmabahce Palace, Ortakoy Mosque, Rumeli Fortress, Ciragan Palace, Bebek Park, and the Bosphorus Bridge. Upon reaching the second bridge, the yacht turns and sails toward the Asian side of the Bosphorus. Along this route, guests see wooden houses lining the shore and receive information about the various sites from the guide. The cruise continues to the Maiden's Tower, located on a small island about 200 meters from the Uskudar shore in the Sea of Marmara. The yacht then returns to Kabatas Pier, completing the two-hour journey. Other landmarks visible during the cruise include Beylerbeyi Palace, Anadolu Hisari Fort, Kucuksu Pavilion, and Galata Bridge. Alcoholic beverages and transfer services are not included in the tour.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Bosphorus Strait
The Bosphorus Strait is an international waterway separating Asia and Europe, connecting the Sea of Marmara with the Black Sea. It runs about 30 kilometers and divides Istanbul into European and Anatolian sides. The strait ranges in depth from 60 to 120 meters and varies in width up to 3500 meters at its widest. The cruise passes notable waterside sites including Dolmabahce Palace, Rumeli Fortress, and Beylerbeyi Palace.
Dolmabahce Palace
Dolmabahce Palace is an Ottoman palace covering 250,000 square meters on the European shore of the Bosphorus in Beşiktaş. It lies between Dolmabahçe Street and the Bosphorus, opposite Uskudar and Kuzguncuk.
Ciragan Palace
Ciragan Palace was commissioned by Sultan Abdulaziz and designed by architect Sarkis Balyan. It replaced a wooden summer palace built in 1800 and the nearby Besiktas Mevlevihane, which were destroyed during its construction. Completed in 1871, the marble palace covers 80,000 square meters. After Abdulaziz was deposed, he and his family were imprisoned there, and later Murat V and his family were imprisoned for 29 years. The palace served as the House of Parliament after 1908 until damaged by fire in 1910. Its grounds were used as Seref Stadium before restoration and reopening as a hotel in the early 1990s.
Ortakoy
Ortakoy is a neighborhood in Beşiktaş district on the European side of the Bosphorus. It consists of Ortakoy and Mecidiye districts, situated on slopes leading to the coast and bordered by nearby districts including Kurucesme and Ulus.
Bosphorus Bridge
The Bosphorus Bridge is a suspension bridge connecting Ortaköy on the European side with Beylerbeyi on the Asian side. It was the first bridge built over the Bosphorus and facilitates road traffic between the city’s two sides alongside ferries and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge.
Bebek Park
Bebek is a historic neighborhood on Istanbul’s European shore of the Bosphorus, surrounded by Arnavutkoy, Etiler, and Rumeli Hisari. Known for its waterside mansions, historical buildings like Bogazici University, and views of the Bosphorus, Bebek was a popular residential area during the Ottoman era.
Rumeli Fortress
Rumeli Fortress in Sariyer was built in 1453 by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror at the narrowest point of the Bosphorus, opposite Anadolu Hisari. Completed in three months, it was used to defend against naval attacks and later as a maritime inspection point.
Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge
The Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, Istanbul’s second Bosphorus bridge, connects Kavacik and Hisarustu. Construction began in 1986 and it opened on July 3, 1988. It is the 14th largest steel suspension bridge worldwide.
Anadolu Hisari Fort
Anadolu Hisari is a fortress built in 1395 by Beyazit I on the Asian side at the narrowest part of the Bosphorus. It consists of a citadel and exterior walls. Converted into a military hospital after Istanbul's conquest, it was restored from 1991 to 1993 and serves as an open-air museum with only the outer walls accessible.
Kucuksu Pavilion
Kucuksu Pavilion is a small Ottoman summer palace located on the Bosphorus coast road between Uskudar and Beykoz. Ordered by Sultan Abdulmecit and designed by architect Nikogos Balyan, it features detailed furniture and decorations and is open as a museum.
Beylerbeyi Palace
Beylerbeyi Palace is an Ottoman summer palace built in the 1860s beneath the Bosphorus Bridge. Designed by Sarkis Balyan, it combines Renaissance and Baroque styles. The stone building covers about 2,500 square meters with six halls, 24 rooms, a hamam, and a bathroom across two floors.
KIz Kulesi
The Maiden's Tower (Kiz Kulesi) stands on a small island approximately 200 meters off the Uskudar shore. It is a well-known landmark with several legends associated with it.
TopkapI Palace
Topkapi Palace is the most iconic palace in Türkiye.
Galata Koprusu
Galata Bridge spans the Golden Horn and dates back to 1845, undergoing several iterations. After a fire in 1992, the current bridge replaced the original, which was moved to Halic. It is a cultural symbol of Istanbul featuring restaurants, cafes, and hookah lounges below, with tram and pedestrian traffic above.
Galataport
Galataport is a new pier for cruise ships that is also used as an open-air shopping mall.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.