Are you looking for the best way to experience Istanbul’s magnificent Bosphorus Strait? This handcrafted guide to the best Bosphorus cruise tours was tailor-made just for you!
Welcome to Istanbul, the heart of Turkey and a city full of history, culture, and breathtaking views. If you’re seeking to explore the magnificent city of Istanbul from a different perspective, then you’re in for a treat.
The Bosphorus Strait is the heart of Istanbul, dividing the city into two continents—Asia and Europe. With its stunning scenery, historical landmarks, and cultural richness, a Bosphorus cruise tour is a must-try experience for every traveler.
Lori and I are thrilled to introduce you to what we believe are the best choices for embarking on this journey of a lifetime in 2024, in our detailed guide covering tours to suit every budget.
Read on for the full scoop, including helpful first-hand tips for making your day trip truly unforgettable.
Can’t wait to dive in? Here’s a quick look at our top tour selections to jump-start your travel planning!
- Our Top Pick Bosphorus Sunset Cruise on Luxury Yacht (2.5 hrs)
- Full Day Bosphorus Strait + Black Sea Day Cruise (10 hrs)
- Food Tour Taste of Two Continents Tour + Bosphorus (6-7 hrs)
- City Tour Istanbul Must-See Tour + Bosphorus Cruise (8-9 hrs)
- Private Cruise Private Bosphorus Cruise on Luxury Yacht (2 hrs)
- Plus helpful tips for quicker tours and budget tours on the public ferry.
Still undecided? Keep reading for helpful information on our these top-rated tours, plus all sorts of travel tips for making the most of this bucket list experience.
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Why Cruise the Bosphorus?
Visitors come from across the globe to experience a bucket list cruise like none other, spanning continents and millennia.
The Bosphorus is a scenic and historic waterway separating Europe and Asia, as well as the historic heart of the ancient city of Istanbul.
The Strait stretches 17 nautical miles from the Sea of Marmara in the south, to the Black Sea in the north.
In addition to its natural beauty, the strait is acclaimed for its concentration of Byzantine and Ottoman historic sites, as well as the breathtaking views of the city of Istanbul.
There are now three enormous bridges spanning the Bosphorus strait connecting the continents of Europe and Asia – the 15 July Martyrs Bridge (1973), Fatih Sultan Mehmet (1988), and Yavuz Sultan Selim (2016).
Simply put, cruising the Bosphorus Strait is an unforgettable experience of a lifetime!
Top-Rated Bosphorus Cruise Tours to Book Online in 2024
From two-hour private luxury and sunset cruises to full day experiences for a range of budgets, Lori and I have included a range of options for every type of travel style and budget.
1. Luxury Sunset Cruise
Our Top Pick for 2024
Add a splash of style and romance to your Bosphorus cruise with this 2.5-hour Bosphorus Sunset Cruise on Luxury Yacht. Our #1 pick offers an unforgettable sunset tour with onboard guide and complimentary drinks and canapés.
Highlights
- 2.5-hour cruise on luxury yacht
- Drinks & canapés included
- Small group tour
- Onboard guide
- Tour by Bosphorus Cruise Tours Istanbul
- From US$67 per passenger
Book Now Viator | TripAdvisor
2. Bosphorus + Black Sea Cruise
Full Day Comprehensive Cruise
Looking for the ultimate Bosphorus day trip with time spent in the Black Sea as well? This 10-hour Bosphorus Strait AND Black Sea Day Cruise is our top pick for seeing it all!
Includes delicious Mediterranean lunch, onboard guide, and stops at Rumeli Fortress, Ortakoy, Kucuksu Pavilion, Buyuk Mecidiye Cami.
Highlights
- Full-day 10-hour tour of the Bosphorus Strait and Black Sea
- Lunch included
- Group tour (40 max)
- Onboard guide
- Tour by IBO Cruise
- From US$191 per passenger
Book Now Viator | TripAdvisor
3. Taste of Two Continents Tour
Best Tour for Foodies
Discover the flavors and delicacies of both the European and Asian sides of Istanbul in this one-of-a-kind 6.5-hour Istanbul Food Tour with Bosphorus cruise, a perfect day trip for foodies and those looking to venture beyond Istanbul’s most touristed areas.
Highlights
- 6 to 7-hour tour, crossing the Bosphorus twice by ferry
- Multiple tastings at 9 eateries
- Small group tour (10 max)
- Tour guide
- Tour by Yummy Istanbul
- From US$125 per traveler
Book Now Viator | TripAdvisor
Istanbul Must-See Tour
Best City + Bosphorus Combo Tour
Experience the best of Istanbul in this 8.5-hour Istanbul Must-See Tour and Bosphorus cruise. Join your expert guide on this small group tour to discover Istanbul’s top attractions. Explore Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, and Spice Market before topping it all off with a 90-minute guided tour of the Bosphorus Strait by public ferry.
Highlights
- 8 to 9-hour city tour with guided public ferry cruise on the Bosphorus
- Small group tour (15 max)
- Tour guide
- Tour by Lütfullah FINDIKOĞLU
- From US$55 per traveler
Book Now Viator | TripAdvisor
Looking for a Private Tour? Check out this 7-hour Istanbul Classics Private Tour with Bosphorus Cruise.
5. Private Luxury Yacht Cruise
Tour the Bosphorus in Style
Cruise the Bosphorus in style with this 2-hour Private Luxury Yacht Cruise on the Bosphorus. This this private luxury yacht tour has room for up to 10 passengers—perfect for families, couples, and groups celebrating a special occasion or travelers who simply want to enjoy their Istanbul experience in luxury and seclusion.
Highlights
- 2-hour Bosphorus cruise on private luxury yacht
- Private Tour
- Tour by Tour Book Turkey
- From US$506 per group (up to 10)
Book Online Viator | TripAdvisor
6. Turyol + Dentur Bosphorus Cruises
Best Quick Tours
Turyol and Dentur are two private companies that offer some of the most popular two-hour Bosphorus tours in Istanbul. If you’re not looking for a luxury or DIY option and want more flexibility in your travel plans, this might be the way to go.
Both companies offer regular departures throughout the day and cover the top attractions along the route.
Highlights
- 2-hour Bosphorus cruises
- Regular departures throughout the morning and afternoon
- Tours by Turyol and Dentur
- From 150 TL (US$5) per passenger
More Info Turyol.com | Denturavrasya.com
7. Sehir Hatlari Cruise
Best Budget / Shoestring Tours
There are numerous options for doing a Bosphorus cruise in Istanbul. But if you’re on a shoestring budget or just like to travel in a more independent fashion, the Sehir Hatlari Bosphorus Tour service is worth considering.
Sehir Hatlari offers three Bosphorus Tour services: Long Tour (Full Circle), Short Tour (Short Circle), and Moonlight Tour (seasonal).
Keep reading for our detailed guide on how to take the the Sehir Hatlari Bosphorus Cruise, plus tips and what to expect.
DIY Bosphorus Cruise: All You Need to Know
The Sehir Hatlari ferry line offers a Bosphorus tour at a very reasonable price. But taking the public ferry tour isn’t as straight forward as doing a Bosphorus cruise private tour.
Here, Lori and I tell you exactly how to take the Sehir Hatlari Bosphorus tour and offer first-hand tips for getting the most out of your time on the water.
Bosphorus Tour vs. Public Ferry
Sehir Hatlari runs two different types of services: Inner-city/domestic public ferry service mostly geared to commuters and locals getting around the region, and the Bosphorus Long Tour, Short Tour, and Moonlight Tour services aimed at tourists.
Unless you want to compete for space with Istanbul’s millions of commuters (and see very little in the process), you’re far better off taking the Sehir Hatlari service clearly marked as “Bosphorus Tours”.
For those who like to figure out the details themselves, aren’t fussy about seating, and are willing to devote the better part of a day to the experience, we think the Sehir Hatlari Bosphorus Tour can’t be beat for the price.
Services & Rates
There are three Bosphorus Tour ferry options: Long Bosphorus Tour (6 hours), Short Bosphorus Tour (2 hours), and seasonal Moonlight Tour, which operates during the summer months.
Up until recently the Long Bosphorus Tour was known as the “Full Circle”, and the Short Bosphorus Tour was known as the “Short Circle”. This guide will use the new terminology moving forward.
Current Sehir Hatlari ticket prices as of January 2024
| Tour | Ages 12+ | Ages 6-11 |
|---|---|---|
| Long Tour (round trip) | 65 TL (US$2.50) | 32,50 TL (US$1.25) |
| Long Tour (one-way) | 39 TL (US$1.50) | 16 TL (US$0.60) |
| Short Tour | 32 TL (US$1.25) | 16 TL (US$0.60) |
| Moonlight Tour (summer) | 52 TL (US$2.00) | 16 TL (US$0.60) |
Admission is free for children under the age of 6 for all cruises.
Where to Buy Tickets & Board
To take the Sehir Hatlari Bosphorus Tour service, head to the Galata bridge.
From the Eminonu (Old City) side, don’t cross the bridge, but walk to the right of it and follow the signs for Sehir Hatlari.
The office is adjacent to the Red Hop-on Hop-off Bus ticket office.
We heard that the ticket office opened at 10am. We arrived 30 minutes beforehand and there was already a line (midweek in August).
They opened a bit early and we managed to snag a window seat on the port-side since the ferry hugs the left-hand shore (Europe on the way out, and Asia for most of the return trip).
However, we quickly realized the outside benches at the stern (back) of the ferry might just be the best seats on the boat on a nice day, which is where we ultimately ended up.
🔥 HOT TIP 🔥
Be sure to grab an audio guide at the ticket booth when you buy your tickets.
It adds excellent context to the cruise and tells you a bit about the many highlights along the route.
Bosphorus Cruise Tour Itinerary
No matter which Bosphorus cruise you take, the idea is very much the same. The boat leaves Eminonu on the Golden Horn and travels north along the Bosphorus Strait hugging the left bank (Europe side).
At some point depending on which service you’ve chosen, the boat will then cross the Bosphorus, hugging the right bank (Asia side), before making its way back to Eminonu.
We opted for the Full Circle / Long Tour, which takes about six hours round trip including a couple of hours in the middle to enjoy the northernmost stop at Anadolu Kavagi village.
There are a number of good restaurants, shops, and other amenities in Anadolu Kavagi for those who are taking the Long Tour. Our boat had a small snack bar and restrooms, but a lot of passengers brought their own snacks.
Here’s a further breakdown of the Long Tour itinerary so you can get an idea of what to expect.
Most Bosphorus cruises leave Eminonu on the Golden Horn, right in the heart of the city. Leaving the Old City, the tour passes a number of historic sights and points of interest.
As mentioned above, Lori and I rented an audio guide that was available at the ticket booth, which offered information about various points of interest along the way. If you opt for a tour through a private company, you’ll like have a guide to narrate the cruise for you.
Here are just a few of the many highlights you’ll see along the way:
Dolmabahçe Palace (Sultan’s Palace), now a museum.
Ortaköy Mosque, built in 1856.
The First Bosphorus Bridge (15 July Martyrs Bridge) was completed in 1973, and as the name might imply, was the first bridge to connect Europe and Asia.
Rumeli Fortress, built by the Ottomans in 1452.
After about 90 minutes on the water (including a few stops along the way) the tour reaches its farthest stop north: the village of Anadolu Kavagi.
Our tour docked here for a few hours—more than enough time to grab lunch, do a little hike, and poke around the small village.
From the ferry pier, you can hike up to Yoros Kalesi (Yoros Castle), a small fortification with a commanding view of the Bosphorus and the shores of the Black Sea.
Getting around Anadolu Kavagi and finding the path to Yoros Fort can be a bit confusing. So, we’ve included a map to help you find your way around.
Looking north, we were also able to spot the Third Bosphorus Bridge spanning Europe and Asia, and the Black Sea, beyond.
There are a number of restaurants and cafes near the pier and throughout the village, but we opted for Yoros Cafe near the fort, which came highly recommended and offered a stunning view of our route (not to be confused with Yoros Kale Kafe).
We were not disappointed with the food or the scenery.
The village was interesting enough to take a walkabout, but we were glad we took the extra time to hike up to Yoros Castle and have lunch with a view. We were able to comfortably achieve all of this in the layover time.
On the cruise back to Emononu pier in Istanbul, we hugged the Asia side with a few quick stops to let local passengers on and off.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we were pretty impressed with the amenities offered by a public ferry company for the price. We found the Sehir Hatlari Bosphorus Cruise to be clean and well-organized, certainly for the cost of admission.
Lori and I particularly enjoyed riding along with a mix of people—locals and tourists—which was a fun part of the experience for us.
We also felt that the amount of time (six hours round trip with a few hours stop for lunch) was perfect for us as well, particularly since we had absolutely nothing else planned for today.
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Featured Image Credit: Alp Ancel / Unsplash
Thank you so much for this information. We will be doing Turkey round about 20th September and the Bosphorus is on our list. We will take advantage of the cheapest cruise.
Hi Carol, We took the public ferry tour in late Feb 2023. The boat is heated indoors with large, upholstered benches. Nothing fancy but quite comfortable. There was even an area with wooden toys for the children.
The windows are large, maybe not the clearest, but we certainly were happy with our views… plus the outdoor areas on the back of the boat were protected from the wind. Highly recommend.
Thanks for this, but I wish you had included a picture of the inside seating. Would it be warm enough in the winter and can you see well outside?
Hi Carol, wish we had a picture of inside seating to share. It was a gorgeous August day when these pics were taken and we felt quite fortunate to snag an outdoor seat. We did pass through the inside a few times and it seemed pretty well-protected from the wind (glass windows, etc.).
Great post guys ! Thank you for all that nice info !