Cruising the Bosphorus

A 1.5–2 hour public ferry round-trip with Şehir Hatları costs about €2. A 2-hour guided group boat tour is €25–€40 per person. The 3-hour sunset dinner cruise with show is from €69 per person including dinner, drinks and entertainment. A fully private yacht charter for small groups runs €350–€800 depending on duration.

Public ferries are scheduled commuter boats that stop at multiple piers, take 1.5–6 hours depending on the route, and cost a few euros — great for a budget sightseeing run. Private cruises depart on a fixed schedule, focus on the scenic central Bosphorus only, include commentary, refreshments and onboard seating, and last 1.5–3 hours.

The main cruise piers are Eminönü, Karaköy (Galata Port) and Kabataş on the European side, and Üsküdar and Kadıköy on the Asian side. Most tourist cruises depart from Eminönü or Galata Port; the sunset dinner cruise boards at Kabataş.

Tourist sightseeing cruises are 1.5–2 hours. The sunset dinner cruise runs about 3 hours, typically 19:00–22:00. The classic full-length public ferry round-trip is 6 hours, with a 3-hour stopover at Anadolu Kavağı. Private charters can be customised to 2–8 hours.

The dinner cruise (from €69) includes the yacht cruise, a multi-course Turkish dinner with vegetarian option, unlimited standard drinks, and live entertainment — whirling dervish, belly dance and a Turkish folklore band. Hotel pickup is an optional add-on (€15 round-trip from central Istanbul hotels).

Yes — standard local beer, wine and rakı are unlimited during the dinner cruise. Premium spirits are paid separately on board.

Yes — private yacht charters are available year-round for 2–12 guests. Half-day charters (4 hours) start at about €350 with skipper. Full-day private hire with catering and hostess service runs €600–€1500. We can arrange the charter, transfers to the marina, and a custom route.

Cruises run in most weather conditions — the boats have covered indoor seating, and the Bosphorus is a strait rather than open sea, so the water stays calm. In case of extreme weather (rare in Istanbul), dinner cruises reschedule to the next available date at no charge.

Yes — the water is calm and children love spotting the dolphins commonly seen in the strait. On the dinner cruise, children under 6 travel free and ages 6–12 receive a 50% discount.