BOSPHORUSBOAT CRUISE —
Sightseeing cruise boat on the Bosphorus strait in front of Ortakoy Mosque and bridge
BOSPHORUS SIGHTSEEING CRUISE TOUR

Bosphorus
Sightseeing Cruise Tour

Day & Afternoon Tickets

Sail between Europe and Asia and discover Istanbul's most stunning views, historic landmarks and unforgettable moments.

Day Cruise Tickets→Afternoon Cruise Tickets→

Bosphorus Cruises & Tickets

Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise Tours & Tickets

Four clear options — a quick short circle cruise, a full-day cruise to Anadolu Kavağı, a lunch cruise, and a Two Continents combo. Every departure runs in daylight or the afternoon, never at night.

Ortakoy Mosque and Bosphorus Bridge on the Bosphorus strait in Istanbul during daytime sightseeing cruise
👑Recommended
4.3(18,420)

Bosphorus Short Circle Sightseeing Cruise

The classic first taste of Istanbul from the water — a relaxed 2-hour daytime cruise departing from Eminönü, gliding past Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy Mosque, and the Bosphorus Bridge with multilingual audio commentary.
✓Skip-the-line boarding
✓2-hour daytime scenic cruise
⏱2 hours
FROM
€29€24/person
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Best Price · Limited Availability

Sightseeing tour boat cruising along the lush green hills of the northern Bosphorus toward Anadolu Kavagi
👑Full Day Adventure
4.4(6,310)

Full Bosphorus Cruise to Anadolu Kavağı

The complete daytime Bosphorus experience — a 6-hour round trip all the way to Anadolu Kavağı, the fishing village at the Black Sea entrance, with free time ashore to explore or hike up to Yoros Castle before the return cruise.
✓6-hour full-day cruise
✓2–3 hours free time at Anadolu Kavağı
⏱6 hours
FROM
€46€39/person
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Passengers enjoying Turkish mezze and lunch on the open deck of a Bosphorus sightseeing cruise boat
👑Local Favorite
4.3(3,145)

Bosphorus Cruise with Onboard Lunch

Combine the sightseeing cruise with a relaxed Turkish lunch on board — a slower-paced afternoon way to enjoy the Bosphorus while sampling mezze and grilled fish as the city drifts by.
✓2-hour afternoon cruise
✓Onboard Turkish lunch
⏱2–2.5 hours
FROM
€68€58/person
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The Route

What You Actually See on a Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise

Two hours, one loop, and more of Istanbul's skyline than you could comfortably reach on foot in an afternoon. Here's the Short Circle Cruise route, landmark by landmark.

Sample cruise route

  1. 0:00

    Depart Eminönü pier, with the Golden Horn and Galata Bridge behind you

  2. 0:15

    Dolmabahçe Palace — the Ottoman Empire's last imperial palace, right on the water

  3. 0:30

    Ortaköy Mosque, framed under the first Bosphorus Bridge

  4. 0:50

    Wooden yalı mansions and waterfront villages along the Asian shore

  5. 1:10

    Rumeli Fortress, near the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge — the turnaround point

  6. 1:40

    Return past Beşiktaş and Kabataş, back to Eminönü

Good to know before boarding

  • ◆Boarding opens 20–30 minutes before departure; top-deck seating is first-come, first-served
  • ◆Audio guides are multilingual and accessible via your smartphone or onboard headsets
  • ◆Cruises run rain or shine — the lower deck is fully enclosed and heated in cooler months
  • ◆Every cruise on this site departs in morning or afternoon daylight

Route order may vary slightly depending on weather and harbor traffic, but all listed landmarks are covered.

Where you can board

Eminönü Pier

The main departure point for most sightseeing cruises, in the historic peninsula

Kabataş Pier

Reachable by the T1 tram and funicular — used by several afternoon departures

Beşiktaş Pier

On the European shore, a short walk from Dolmabahçe Palace

Convinced? The Short Circle Sightseeing Cruise starts at €24/person and departs several times a day.

Book the Sightseeing Cruise →
🕌 Waterfront Palaces & Mansions

See Istanbul's Ottoman Palaces From the Water — By Day

The best view of Istanbul's waterfront palaces isn't from the street — it's from the Bosphorus itself, in daylight. Dolmabahçe Palace, Çırağan Palace, and dozens of centuries-old wooden yalı mansions sit directly on the water, visible only from a passing boat. The Full-Day Cruise to Anadolu Kavağı and the Two Continents Afternoon Tour both spend the most time along this stretch.
  • ✓Dolmabahçe Palace and Çırağan Palace are both visible only from the water side, not the road
  • ✓Wooden yalı mansions along the Asian shore date back to the Ottoman era
  • ✓Morning departures get the clearest light for photos of the waterfront palaces
  • ✓Every cruise on this site runs in daylight or the afternoon — no night departures
See Full-Day & Combo Cruises →
Dolmabahce Palace on the Bosphorus shoreline in Istanbul during the day
Dolmabahçe Palace
Maiden's Tower in the Bosphorus strait in Istanbul during daytime
Maiden's Tower
Ortakoy Mosque on the Bosphorus strait in Istanbul during daytime sightseeing cruise
Ortaköy Mosque
Historic Ottoman wooden waterfront mansions along the Bosphorus
Yalı Mansions
⏱

Cruise Schedule (2026)

Short Circle Cruise9:30 AM – 5:00 PM, departures every 45–60 min (April – October)
Full-Day Cruise to Anadolu Kavağı10:30 AM departure, approx. 4:30 PM return, year-round
Lunch Cruise12:30 PM – 2:00 PM departures
Two Continents Afternoon Tour1:00 PM – 2:30 PM departures

Exact departure times vary by operator and season — your confirmation email has the exact time.

📍

Boarding Points

Eminönü Pier — Fatih, the main dock for most sightseeing and full-day cruises. Reachable by T1 tram (Eminönü stop). Kabataş Pier — reachable by T1 tram and the Kabataş–Taksim funicular, used by several afternoon departures. Beşiktaş Pier — on the European shore, a short walk from Dolmabahçe Palace.

Arrive 15–20 minutes early — your confirmation email lists the exact pier and dock number.

💡

Best Time for a Cruise

Morning departures get the clearest light for photos and the shortest boarding lines — book a 9:30–10:30 AM slot if you can. June through August is peak season, so weekday mornings book out fastest.
Compare & Choose

Compare & Choose Your Cruise

All four options side by side — pick the one that fits your trip, then book straight from the table.
Cruise TypePriceDurationMeal IncludedBest For
Bosphorus Short Circle Sightseeing Cruise€24 / person2 hoursNoFirst-time visitors who want the classic view in under half a dayBook
Full Bosphorus Cruise to Anadolu Kavağı€39 / person6 hoursNoTravelers with a full day who want to see the whole strait, end to endBook
Bosphorus Cruise with Onboard Lunch€58 / person2–2.5 hoursNoTravelers who want sightseeing plus a real meal on the waterBook

Children typically get reduced rates on most cruises — check each ticket's booking page for exact age tiers.

From the Blog

Bosphorus Cruise Guides & Tips

Expert advice on picking the right daytime cruise and insider tips to help you plan your Istanbul trip.

View All Articles→
View All Articles→

Frequently Asked Questions

Bosphorus Cruise FAQs

The Short Circle sightseeing cruise starts around $24–29 per person. The full-day cruise to Anadolu Kavağı runs roughly $39–46, and combo options with lunch or the Two Continents afternoon tour run $52–68. Prices shift with season, time slot, and how far ahead you book — see the comparison above for the current breakdown across all four options.

Ready to Cruise the Bosphorus?

Book your sightseeing cruise today and see Istanbul's skyline the way it's meant to be seen — from the water.

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