Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Turkish Night Show

Sunset to Midnight on the Bosphorus: Dinner, Dance & Palaces Lit Up

You board at sunset, sit at a private table, and eat a four-course dinner with unlimited soft drinks and two alcoholic drinks while the boat drifts past illuminated palaces and mosques. Live performances (belly dance, folk dance, Whirling Dervish) run throughout the evening. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so you don't arrange transport yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Evening Bosphorus dinner cruise and show

• Board Bosphorus dinner cruise at sunset
• Admire illuminated historical buildings
• Enjoy Turkish appetizers and dinner
• Drink unlimited soft drinks and two alcoholic drinks
• Watch Whirling Dervish and folk dance shows
• See belly dancer and DJ performances
• Celebrate special occasions if applicable

The experience

"Is that the Topkapı Palace?" someone asks, pointing at the massive silhouette sliding past as the boat pulls away from the dock. It is, and in the next three and a half hours, you'll drift past Hagia Sophia, Dolmabahçe, the Maiden's Tower, and half a dozen other monuments that define Istanbul, all of them lit up against the dark water in a way you won't see from land. The Bosphorus dinner cruise departs between 8 and 8:30 p.m., which means you catch the tail end of sunset and then watch the city transform as the lights come on. Your table is private, and the boat moves slowly enough that you're not eating while gripping the edge.

The food arrives in courses: ten types of appetizers first, then your choice of fish, meat, or chicken for the main. Bread, salad, the small things that matter. Two glasses of alcoholic drinks come with it (beer, raki, gin, whatever you choose), and soft drinks are unlimited, which is good because the evening is warm and the boat moves through the strait at a pace that lets you actually taste what you're eating instead of bracing yourself. Between courses, the performances start. A belly dancer, then a Whirling Dervish in the traditional spinning robes, then a Caucasian dancer, then a gypsy group, then folk dancers in costume. A DJ keeps the rhythm moving. It's not subtle, but it's not trying to be. It's Istanbul at night, loud and theatrical and unapologetic.

The logistics are simple: hotel pickup from centrally located hotels, then you're back at your hotel by the time the show ends. Dessert (baklava and fruit) comes near the end, and by then you've seen Rumeli Fortress on the Asian side, the Galata Tower on the European side, and the whole strait lit up like a stage set. The boat is full but your table is yours. If someone in your group has a birthday or wants to mark something, you can arrange that beforehand.

What’s included

Your evening includes hotel pickup and drop-off from centrally located hotels, a private table for your group, a four-course dinner with ten types of appetizers and a choice of fish, meat, or chicken for the main course, unlimited soft drinks, two glasses of alcoholic drinks per person, dessert service with baklava and fruit, and live performances including belly dance, Whirling Dervish, folk dance, and DJ entertainment throughout the 3.5-hour cruise.

Options for this experience

4 options

Silver option without alcoholic drinks20:00Pickup is included. This option does not include any alcoholic beverages.

Silver option with 2 glasses of alcohol20:00Includes pickup, with 2 glasses of alcoholic drink

Gold option without alcoholic drinks20:00Seating by a window or at the front of the stage: this option includes one of our best tables. Gold menu: chicken with curry sauce, chicken with mushrooms and cream, grilled chicken, beef stir fry, and grilled meatballs. Seating area: enjoy a 360-degree view of the Bosphorus in summer, and a guaranteed excellent table in winter. Pickup is included.

Gold option with unlimited alcoholic drinks20:00Seating by a window or at the front of the stage: this option includes one of our best tables. Gold menu with unlimited alcoholic drinks: chicken with curry sauce, chicken with mushrooms and cream, grilled chicken, beef stir fry, and grilled meatballs. Seating area: enjoy a 360-degree view of the Bosphorus in summer, and a guaranteed excellent table in winter. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 20:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (8 to 12 years) · Child (3 to 7 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 250

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Acetes Travel Istanbul and Turkey Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Istanbul's major monuments lit up at night without arranging your own boat, timing the sunset, or deciding what to eat: the fixed schedule and private table let you focus on the view and the evening itself.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (8 to 12 years); 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 time does the Bosphorus dinner cruise depart?

Between 8:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., timed to catch the sunset and see the city lights come on.

How long is the cruise?

3.5 hours from departure to return.

What's included in the dinner?

Ten types of appetizers, a main course (fish, meat, or chicken), dessert (baklava and fruit), unlimited soft drinks, and two glasses of alcoholic drinks per person (beer, raki, gin, or similar).

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, from centrally located hotels in Istanbul. Drop-off is also included.

What performances happen during the cruise?

Belly dance, Whirling Dervish, Caucasian dance, Turkish gypsy dance, Turkish folk dance, and DJ performance.

Which landmarks will I see?

Maiden's Tower, Dolmabahçe Palace, Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, Galata Tower, Beylerbeyi Palace, and Rumeli Fortress: all illuminated at night.

Can I celebrate a birthday on the cruise?

Yes, you can arrange a birthday celebration beforehand with your private table.

Is the table shared or private?

Your table is private.