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Bosphorus Tour
The white cruise boat seen head-on on the Bosphorus, its upper deck open to the sky
Two guests at the rail filming the shore with a phone
The Maiden’s Tower on blue water, the Asian shore behind
Bosphorus Tour

Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise – An Unforgettable Journey Between Europe and Asia

A two-hour sightseeing cruise between Europe and Asia, from Ahırkapı Pier below Sultanahmet.

  • About 2 hours
  • Free cancellation up to 24 h
  • Confirmation by e-mail

About this cruise

Two hours on the water between Europe and Asia. The boat leaves Ahırkapı Pier below Topkapı Palace, runs up the European shore past Dolmabahçe and Ortaköy, under the 15 July Martyrs Bridge to the fortresses at the narrows, then turns for home along the Asian side and past the Maiden’s Tower.

Stand on the open upper deck for the photographs or sit in the covered lounge out of the wind — once you are on board, the seat is yours to choose.

Highlights

  • Topkapı Palace, Galata Tower and the old city skyline from the water
  • Dolmabahçe Palace and the Ottoman waterfront of the European shore
  • Under the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, between two continents
  • Rumeli and Anadolu Hisarı, the fortresses at the narrows
  • The Maiden’s Tower on the way home

Included

  • Bosphorus cruise on the date and departure you choose
  • Meeting point support in Sultanahmet, and the walk to the pier with our team
  • Departure from and return to Ahırkapı Pier
  • Seat on the open deck or in the covered lounge

Not included

  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off
  • Food and drinks from the bar on board

Cancellation policy

Cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before your departure for a full refund. The cancellation & refunds page has the details.

Cancellation policy

What to bring

  • Your confirmation e-mail, on your phone
  • A camera or phone for the photographs
  • A light layer for the evening departures
  • Sunglasses and sun cream on summer days

Good to know

  • Be at the meeting point at least 15 minutes before your departure; your confirmation e-mail says where it is.
  • Your e-mailed confirmation is all you need — on your phone is fine.
  • Weather and traffic on the strait can shift the route or the timing a little.
  • Bring a layer for the deck: it is cooler on the water, especially in the evening.

The route and what you pass

Out past the old city, up the European shore to Rumeli Hisarı, back along the Asian side and home past the Maiden’s Tower.

An illustrated map of the Bosphorus with the cruise route and its landmarks
  1. ⚓Ahırkapı PierDeparture and return
  2. 1Hagia SophiaEurope
  3. 2Blue MosqueEurope
  4. 3Topkapı PalaceEurope
  5. 4New MosqueEurope
  6. 5Galata BridgeEurope
  7. 6Galata TowerEurope
  8. 7Dolmabahçe PalaceEurope
  9. 8Çırağan PalaceEurope
  10. 9Ortaköy MosqueEurope
  11. 1015 July Martyrs BridgeEurope
  12. 11Beylerbeyi PalaceAsia
  13. 12Kuleli Military SchoolAsia
  14. 13Çamlıca MosqueAsia
  15. 14Çamlıca TowerAsia
  16. 15Küçüksu PavilionAsia
  17. 16Anadolu HisarıAsia
  18. 17Rumeli HisarıEurope
  19. 18Galatasaray IslandEurope
  20. 19Maiden’s TowerAsia
  21. 20Haydarpaşa StationAsia

From the deck

Passengers on the open deck looking up at the bridge
A passenger at the stern with seagulls following the boat
Galata Tower rising above the rooftops of Karaköy, seen from the boat
Ortaköy Mosque on the waterfront beneath the 15 July Martyrs Bridge
Guests taking photographs of the shoreline from the deck
The 15 July Martyrs Bridge against the low sun, seen from the boat
The Maiden’s Tower in the evening light
A guest photographing the old city from the deck