Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise: Turkish Night Show
Three to four hours of dinner, dance and the Bosphorus's palaces lit at night
An evening dinner cruise on the Bosphorus in Istanbul, where you eat a four-course Turkish meal while the boat passes Dolmabahce Palace, Ortaköy Mosque, Rumeli Fortress, and the two suspension bridges that span the strait. After dinner, a live DJ and dancers perform folk, belly dancing, and whirling dervish routines. You choose your seating (stage-side or window table), and whether to add local or imported alcoholic drinks. Hotel pickup is available depending on the option you select.
Options for this experience
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Step-by-step itinerary
Bosphorus dinner cruise and show
- Optional: Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Board the Bosphorus dinner cruise
- Pass by Dolmabahçe Palace
- Pass by Çırağan Palace
- Pass by Ortaköy Mosque and area
- Pass by Rumeli Fortress
- Pass by Bosphorus Bridge
- Pass by Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge
- Pass by Beylerbeyi Palace
- Pass by Maiden’s Tower
- Enjoy traditional Turkish dinner with main dish choice
- Watch folk and belly dance show
- Listen to international songs by DJ
- Optional: Enjoy local or imported alcoholic drinks
- Disembark and end of cruise
What’s included
- Cold Turkish appetizers and fresh seasonal salad.
- your choice of grilled fish, grilled chicken steak, or grilled meatballs for the main course.
- dessert and fresh fruit.
- unlimited soft drinks, Turkish coffee and tea.
- a live DJ performance.
- folk dancing, belly dancing, and whirling dervish routines.
- an air-conditioned boat.
- and a live guide in English, Spanish, or Arabic.
- Every day 20:30
Information
Cruise the Bosphorus for 3–4 hours with a four-course Turkish dinner, folk and belly dancing, and views of Dolmabahce Palace and Rumeli Fortress.
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The experience
The boat departs from Viaport Marina and heads north along the European shore, passing under the Bosphorus Bridge before turning to cross toward Asia. You'll see Dolmabahce Palace, the former Ottoman administrative center, and Ortaköy's waterfront mosque framed against the bridge. The route continues past Rumeli Fortress on the hills above, then turns back south past Beylerbeyi Palace and the Maiden's Tower at the strait's mouth. The landmarks stay visible throughout the meal, lit as the sun sets.
Dinner starts with cold Turkish appetizers and a fresh seasonal salad, followed by your choice of grilled fish with arugula and lemon, grilled chicken steak with rice and potatoes, or grilled meatballs with rice and potatoes. Dessert and fresh fruit close the meal. Soft drinks, Turkish coffee and tea are unlimited. If your option includes alcohol, you get two local drinks or can order imported ones for an extra fee. The boat is air-conditioned and wheelchair accessible.
Once the plates are cleared, a live DJ takes over and dancers perform a sequence of folk routines, belly dancing, and whirling dervish. The show runs while the boat cruises back toward the marina. Stage-side seating puts you close to the performers. Window tables let you watch while looking out at the water and the lit palaces. A live guide in English, Spanish, or Arabic is on board. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included in some options and can be added at checkout.
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 2,994 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you can type in your address. Pickup is about 2 hours before departure.
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, Spanish and Arabic.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 12 years); Infant (under 7): free.
What Ottoman palaces and landmarks do you pass on the Bosphorus cruise?
Dolmabahce Palace, which served as the Ottoman Empire's main administrative center from 1856 to 1887, is visible early in the cruise. You also pass Ortaköy Mosque at the water's edge, Rumeli Fortress on the European hills, Beylerbeyi Palace on the Asian shore, and the Maiden's Tower at the southern entrance to the strait. The Bosphorus Bridge and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge span the water between them.
Can you choose what you eat for the main course?
Yes. The main dish comes in three options: grilled fish served with arugula, onion and lemon; grilled chicken steak with rice and potatoes; or grilled meatballs with rice and potatoes. A vegetarian option is available on request.
What happens after dinner?
A live DJ and dancers perform folk routines, belly dancing, and whirling dervish while the boat cruises back toward the marina. The show runs for the second half of the evening.
Does the cruise include alcoholic drinks?
It depends on which option you choose at checkout. Some options include two local alcoholic drinks. Others offer only soft drinks, Turkish coffee and tea. Imported alcoholic drinks are available for an additional fee on any option that includes alcohol.
Operated by Pereme Tours. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 3 days ago
Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise: Turkish Night Show
3h–4h · EN · ES +1
from US$ 23 per person
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