Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Istanbul: Turkish Night Show

Watch belly dance and folk performances while the Bosphorus palaces light up around you.

A dinner cruise on the Bosphorus in Istanbul pairs a three-hour evening with traditional Turkish performances (belly dance, folk dancing, and dervish) served alongside a meal and soft drinks. You sail past Dolmabahçe Palace, the Maiden's Tower, and both Bosphorus bridges, with an open deck for photos and an indoor option when weather turns. Live violin accompanies dinner, and Wi-Fi stays on throughout.

Options for this experience

6 options

From US$ 64.75 to US$ 141 per person, depending on the option and date you choose. See options & prices

Soft drinks and meal, no transfer 20:30 Private tables. Duration: 3 hours. Departure at 20:30 from Kabataş until 23:30. Dinner: traditional Turkish cold appetizers, seasonal salad, and a choice of grilled chicken breast, grilled fish or grilled meatball. Dinner: dessert or fruit, unlimited soft drinks, plus tea.

Soft drinks, meal and transfer 20:30 Private table. Duration: 3 hours. Departure at 20:30 from Kabataş until 23:30. Dinner: traditional Turkish cold appetizers, seasonal salad, and a choice of grilled chicken breast, grilled fish or grilled meatball. Dinner: dessert or fruit, unlimited local alcoholic drinks (if you choose the alcoholic option) and soft drinks, plus tea.

Maximum two alcoholic drinks, meal, no transfer 20:30 Private tables: two glasses of local alcoholic drinks, including beer, wine, raki, vodka or gin. Duration: 3 hours. Duration: 3 hours. Departure at 20:30 from Kabataş until 23:30. Alcoholic beverages: two glasses of local alcoholic drinks, including beer, wine, raki, vodka or gin. Dinner: traditional Turkish cold appetizers, seasonal salad, and a choice of grilled chicken breast, grilled fish or grilled meatball.

See 3 more options

Two local alcoholic drinks, meal, shuttle 20:30 Private table. Duration: 3 hours. Duration: 3 hours. Departure at 20:30 from Kabataş until 23:30. Alcoholic beverages: two glasses of local alcoholic drinks, including beer, wine, raki, vodka or gin. Dinner: traditional Turkish cold appetizers, seasonal salad, and a choice of grilled chicken breast or grilled fish.

Gold: Rich non-alcoholic feast 20:00 and 20:30 GOLD: Without alcohol. Private table, a wider choice of à la carte meals, and a DJ performance. Duration: 3 hours. À la carte meal options include grilled chicken, grilled meatballs, falafel, grilled salmon and pasta. Held on a 600-capacity cruise ship. Pickup is included.

Gold: Unlimited Imported 20:30 GOLD: With alcohol. Private table, unlimited imported drinks, and a wider choice of à la carte meals. Duration: 3 hours. À la carte meal options include grilled salmon, beef steak, chicken with curry, chicken with mushroom, grilled chicken, grilled fish, falafel and pasta. Held on a 600-capacity cruise ship on the Bosphorus line. Pickup is included.

None of these options right for you? See 12 alternatives ›

Step-by-step itinerary

Dinner cruise with Turkish night show

• Board the Bosphorus dinner cruise
• Enjoy traditional Turkish dances
• Watch belly dance performance
• Dine on local Turkish flavors
• Admire Istanbul Bosphorus views
• Optional: Enjoy alcoholic drinks
• Optional: Use hotel transfers
• Optional: Purchase professional photos onboard

What’s included

• Dinner with cold starters, salad and main course.
• unlimited soft drinks and tea served all evening.
• live violin performance during the meal.
• traditional Turkish night show with belly dance, folk performers and dervish.
• Bosphorus views from the open upper deck.
• complimentary Wi-Fi onboard.
• round-trip hotel transfer with select packages.

Times

Looking for another day or time? ›

• Every day 20:00 20:30

Information

Dinner cruise on the Bosphorus with traditional Turkish night show, live violin, and views of palaces and bridges from the deck.

Group Up to 250

Audio guide English Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. When you book, you choose your hotel from 1,143 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you arrange it with the operator after booking. Pickup is about 60 minutes before departure. See the exact addressSee the pickup points

Ages Adult (8 and older) · Child (3 to 7 years) · Infant (under 3): free

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Stroller-friendly Infant seats available Public transport nearby

More information The exact meeting point address, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

Traveler reviews

4.31 ★★★★★ Very good 784 verified traveler reviews 66% rated it 5 stars

5 ★ 520

4 ★ 132

3 ★ 45

2 ★ 31

1 ★ 56

Read all the reviews ›

The experience

The boat departs in the evening and stays on the water for three hours, moving slowly enough that you see the palaces and fortresses as they're lit up: Dolmabahçe Palace on the European shore, Beylerbeyi Palace across on the Asian side, the Maiden's Tower on its own small island, and the two suspension bridges that span the strait. The upper open deck is where most people stand for photos. In winter or rough weather, the show moves indoors but the route and the meal stay the same.

Dinner arrives in courses: cold starters, salad, a main dish, and bottled water. The menu changes depending on which option you book: some include soft drinks and tea all evening, some add local wine or imported spirits (two drinks included, extras available at the bar). A live violinist plays during the meal, then the traditional night show takes over: belly dancers, folk performers in regional costume, and a whirling dervish, with a DJ keeping the energy going. The show runs on the open deck in summer. In winter it moves inside but the performances stay the same.

Hotel transfers come with some packages but not all. Check which option you're choosing. The boat has Wi-Fi throughout, so you can upload photos as you go. Infants and small children can come. Specialized seats are available if you need one, and the cruise suits all fitness levels since you're seated for most of it.

Top questions

Can I be picked up at my hotel?

You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. When you book, you choose your hotel from 1,143 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you arrange it with the operator after booking. Pickup is about 60 minutes before departure.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 7 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What palaces and landmarks do you actually see on the Bosphorus cruise?

The boat passes Dolmabahçe Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, Küçüksu Palace, and the Maiden's Tower, plus both the Bosphorus Bridge and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge. Rumeli Fortress sits on the European shore and Ortaköy Mosque is visible from the water. All are lit up in the evening, which is when the cruise runs.

Does the dinner cruise run year-round, and does weather change what you see?

The cruise runs year-round. In summer the traditional night show happens on the open upper deck, where you have the best views and photo angles. In winter or rough weather, the show moves indoors, but you still sail the same route and see the same landmarks from the windows and the lower deck areas.

Can you choose what meal you get, and are alcoholic drinks included?

You pick your package at checkout: some come with soft drinks and tea only, others include two local wine or beer options, and the Gold packages add imported spirits. All packages include a three-course dinner with cold starters, salad, and a main course. Extra drinks can be bought at the bar.

Operated by TURNATOUR DINNER CRUISE ON THE BOSPHORUS. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago