Bosphorus Sunset Cruise in Istanbul | Private Yacht Tours
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Istanbul Lunch Cruise & Two Continents Tour
Duration
8 Hours
Max People
50 People
Availability
All Year
Pick-up & Drop-Off
Include
Two continents in a day, with lunch on the water
This is a full day — about eight hours — combining a land tour of both sides of Istanbul with a Bosphorus lunch cruise in the middle. It solves a real problem travellers have: you want to stand on the Asian side, see the palaces, eat properly, and be back by evening, without hiring a private driver or stitching together separate tours.
Morning is on the European side. A guide meets your hotel (central districts covered), and you visit the Spice Market, the Süleymaniye Mosque viewpoint, and cross over the Galata Bridge. You board the boat around midday at Eminönü. Lunch is served during the sail — Turkish mezze spread, grilled main, salad, dessert — and the guide continues narrating what you’re passing.
The boat drops off on the Asian side at Üsküdar, where a minibus picks you up for the afternoon: Çamlıca Hill for the panoramic view of both continents at once, Beylerbeyi Palace from the outside, and a short walk through the Kuzguncuk neighbourhood — one of the oldest residential streets in Istanbul. Return to hotels by early evening.
Who this is for: travellers on tight schedules who want both continents covered, anyone curious about the less-touristed Asian side, repeat visitors who’ve done the main sites already. If you want just the cruise without the land portion, see the lunch cruise (€45). If you want only the Old City land tour, see the full day city tour.
Practical: comfortable walking shoes — roughly 3–4 km on foot total. Mosque visits require shoulders and knees covered; headscarves provided at entry for women. Hotel pickup/drop-off included within central Istanbul districts.
Included/Excluded
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off services from centrally located hotels (European side of Istanbul)
- Transport by air-conditioned coach
- Bosphorus Lunch Cruise
- Mentioned museum entrance tickets
- Guiding service
- Bosphorus Boat Tickets
- Drinks
- Tips
- Personal Expenses
Tour Plan
City Walls of Constantinople
See the legendary defensive walls that protected the Byzantine capital for centuries and witnessed the historic conquest of 1453.
Golden Horn
Enjoy views over Istanbul’s historic peninsula and the natural harbor that played a vital role in the city’s maritime history.
Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar)
Explore one of Istanbul’s most colorful markets, famous for spices, Turkish delights, and local delicacies.
Bosphorus Lunch Cruise
Cruise between Europe and Asia while viewing iconic landmarks such as Dolmabahce Palace, Ciragan Palace, Ortakoy, Yildiz Palace gardens, and Rumeli Fortress.
Beylerbeyi Palace
Visit the elegant Ottoman summer residence on the Asian side, known for its refined architecture and original furnishings.
Camlica Hill
Take in panoramic views from the highest point in Istanbul overlooking the Bosphorus.
Bedesten Shopping Stop
Discover traditional Turkish handicrafts including silk weaving, carpets, jewelry, and leather goods.
Full-day combined tour: morning walking tour of the European side (Spice Market, Süleymaniye viewpoint), Bosphorus lunch cruise at midday, afternoon on the Asian side (Çamlıca Hill panorama, Beylerbeyi, Kuzguncuk). From €116 per person — licensed guide, hotel pickup, lunch and transport included.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The tour combines a Bosphorus lunch cruise with visits to landmarks on both the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. You literally travel between two continents in one day.
Lunch is served on board the cruise boat as an open buffet. You dine while sailing past Istanbul best landmarks.
The full tour takes approximately 6 hours including the cruise and land visits.
Yes. After the Bosphorus cruise we stop at Anadolu Kavagi on the Asian side where you can explore a charming fishing village and hilltop castle ruins.
Yes, pickup and drop-off from central Istanbul hotels is included.
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Dorothy Hayes (verified owner) –
A perfect day in Istanbul. The tour is incredibly well-organized and covers the city’s highlights perfectly. The cruise is the star, but the visit to the Spice Bazaar and Camlica Hill are also fantastic. Our guide was lovely.
Bosphorus Sunset Team –
Thank you, Dorothy! A perfectly organized tour where the cruise is the star but the Asian side holds its own — so glad every stop impressed you!
— Bosphorus Sunset Team
Oliver Taylor (verified owner) –
A brilliant concept for a tour – two continents in one day! The Bosphorus cruise gives you the best seat in the house. Our guide was exceptional, very passionate about Istanbul. The lunch was good and the photo opportunities were endless. A 10/10 day.
Bosphorus Sunset Team –
Thank you, Oliver! Two continents in one day with the best seat in the house — that’s the magic of this tour. Thrilled our exceptional guide lived up to the billing!
— Bosphorus Sunset Team
Francisco Lopez (verified owner) –
Excelente recorrido. El guía fue muy amable y nos explicó todo con mucho detalle. El crucero por el Bósforo es imperdible, las vistas de los palacios son de ensueño. La visita al Palacio de Beylerbeyi fue muy interesante. Lo recomiendo 100%.
Bosphorus Sunset Team –
Muchas gracias, Francisco! Nos alegra que el guia fuera amable y detallado. Las vistas de los palacios desde el Bosforo son realmente imperdibles. Esperamos verte de nuevo!
Gary Foster (verified owner) –
Buen tour. El paseo en barco y las vistas desde la colina son espectaculares. El guía era amable. Le doy 4 estrellas porque el grupo era muy grande y la visita al bazar de las especias fue demasiado rápida. Un poco más de tiempo allí hubiera sido genial.
Bosphorus Sunset Team –
Gracias, Gary! Las vistas desde el barco y la colina son realmente espectaculares. Tomamos nota sobre el tamaño del grupo — siempre buscamos mejorar la experiencia.
— Bosphorus Sunset Team
Giacomo Ricci (verified owner) –
Tour eccellente! La crociera sul Bosforo con pranzo è stata rilassante e panoramica. Il Palazzo di Beylerbeyi è stupendo, con arredi originali che raccontano la vita degli ultimi sultani. Consiglio vivamente questo tour per chi viene a Istanbul per la prima volta.
Bosphorus Sunset Team –
Grazie, Giacomo! La crociera sul Bosforo con pranzo è un momento di puro relax e panorama. Il Palazzo di Beylerbeyi con i suoi arredi originali è davvero un gioiello nascosto!
— Bosphorus Sunset Team
Victoria Allen (verified owner) –
Una experiencia maravillosa. El tour está muy bien organizado y el guía era un encanto. La vista desde la Colina de Camlica es simplemente espectacular. El crucero por el Bósforo relajante y con unas vistas de los palacios increíbles.
Bosphorus Sunset Team –
Muchas gracias, Victoria! Nos alegra que el tour estuviera bien organizado y que la vista desde la Colina de Camlica fuera espectacular. Nuestro guia encantador es siempre un orgullo para nosotros!
Ralph Gray (verified owner) –
Un tour completo. La crociera è stata la parte migliore. La guida era preparata. 4 stelle perché il pranzo incluso non era eccezionale e la sosta per lo shopping è stata un po’ troppo insistita. Per il resto, tutto bene.
Bosphorus Sunset Team –
Grazie per il feedback, Ralph! Capiamo che il pranzo e la sosta per lo shopping possano migliorare. La crociera resta il momento forte — speriamo di rivedervi!
— Bosphorus Sunset Team
Margaret Wood (verified owner) –
Absolutely wonderful. The tour is very well-paced and covers so much. The views from the Bosphorus cruise are postcard-perfect. The stop at the silk weaving demonstration was a nice cultural addition. A truly memorable day.
Bosphorus Sunset Team –
Thank you, Margaret! Postcard-perfect Bosphorus views and a well-paced tour — that’s what we strive for. We appreciate your note about the silk workshop and take all feedback on board!
— Bosphorus Sunset Team
Joseph Green (verified owner) –
Excellent tour! Very well organized with a great guide. The highlight for me was standing on Camlica Hill and seeing both continents and the bridges. The Bosphorus cruise was also fantastic. Highly recommended.
Bosphorus Sunset Team –
Thank you, Joseph! Standing on Camlica Hill and seeing both continents and the bridges is truly one of Istanbul’s most impressive moments. We are glad the guide was great!
Isabella Fernandez (verified owner) –
Muy buen tour para conocer lo esencial de Estambul. El guía era muy amable y la excursión en barco por el Bósforo espectacular. Le pongo 4 estrellas porque la parada en la tienda de alfombras al final se sintió un poco larga y comercial, aunque las artesanías eran bonitas.
Bosphorus Sunset Team –
Gracias, Isabella! El Bosforo es realmente espectacular desde el barco. Tomamos nota de tu sugerencia — siempre buscamos mejorar. ¡Esperamos verte de nuevo en Estambul!
— Bosphorus Sunset Team