Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise: Turkish Meze and Live Music
Glide between Europe and Asia with folk dances and local drinks aboard
A 3-hour evening cruise on the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul where you dine on Turkish meze, watch the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia from the water, and enjoy live folk and belly dancing performances. The boat sails between the European and Asian shores, passing the Bosphorus Bridge, Dolmabahce Palace and Ortaköy as the sun sets. Hotel pickup and two glasses of local alcohol are included.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Entertainment
- Board the Bosphorus dinner cruise
- Cruise along the Bosphorus Strait
- Pass by Bosphorus Bridge
- Pass by Ortaköy district
- Pass by Dolmabahçe Palace
- Pass by Üsküdar district
- Pass by Blue Mosque
- Pass by Hagia Sophia
- Enjoy Turkish meze dinner onboard
- Watch live folk and belly dancing performances
- Disembark from the cruise
What’s included
- Turkish meze throughout the evening.
- soft drinks and two glasses of local alcohol.
- live folk and belly dancing performances.
- air-conditioned boat.
- hotel pickup and drop-off from central Istanbul hotels.
- Every day 20:00
Information
Dine on Turkish meze while cruising the Bosphorus for 3 hours between Europe and Asia, with folk dancing, belly dancing and live performances.
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The experience
The Bosphorus Strait is 30 kilometers long and separates two continents. Half of Istanbul sits in Europe, the other half in Asia. This cruise runs the length of that divide, so you watch the monuments of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires rise from both shores as you eat. Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque anchor the European side. Dolmabahce Palace, which served as the Ottoman administrative center from 1856 to 1887, lines the water on the same bank. The boat passes under the Bosphorus Bridge, a gravity-anchored suspension bridge connecting Ortaköy on the European side to Beylerbeyi across the strait.
Turkish meze, small plates of appetizers, arrive as the boat leaves the dock, along with soft drinks and two glasses of local alcohol. The evening's entertainment runs through the meal: live folk dancing and belly dancing performances keep the focus on the water and the skyline rather than a stage. The boat is air-conditioned, and the 3-hour timing means you're back at your hotel by late evening rather than deep into the night.
Hotel pickup from central Istanbul hotels is included, so you don't arrange transport to the dock. The cruise runs most evenings, though a New Year Dinner Cruise option replaces the standard schedule on that night. All areas of the boat are wheelchair accessible, and infants can ride in a pram or stroller, or sit on an adult's lap. Specialized infant seats are available on request.
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 5 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you can type in your address. Pickup is about 60 minutes before departure.
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Arabic and Russian.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 8 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 monuments will I see from the boat on the Bosphorus?
Hagia Sophia, completed in AD 537 as a church and the world's largest interior space at the time, and the Blue Mosque, built between 1609 and 1616 to rival Hagia Sophia's glory, both rise from the European shore. Dolmabahce Palace, a 19th-century imperial palace that governed the Ottoman Empire for decades, lines the water on the same side. The Bosphorus Bridge, a suspension bridge with steel pylons, spans the strait between Ortaköy and the Asian side.
How much alcohol is included in the ticket price?
Two glasses of local alcohol are included with the cruise. Soft drinks are also provided throughout the evening.
What is Ortaköy, and will I see it from the boat?
Ortaköy is a neighborhood on the European shore of the Bosphorus that was once a small fishing village and is now known for its animated streets, cafés, restaurants and bars. The boat passes it during the cruise, so you'll see the waterfront where residents and visitors gather.
Operated by Turkey Trip Planners - Istanbul-Cappadocia. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 10 days ago
Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise: Turkish Meze and Live Music
3h · EN · ES · FR · DE +2
from US$ 80 per person
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