Istanbul Bosphorus Yacht Tour: Asian Side Stop & Kanlıca Yogurt

Cross the Bosphorus by yacht taste Kanlıca yogurt on Istanbul’s Asian shore

You’ll cross from Europe to Asia by yacht along Istanbul’s Bosphorus Strait, tasting Kanlıca’s famous yogurt with powdered sugar and wandering its quiet streets. Sip Turkish coffee on deck as palaces drift by and share fresh pastries with fellow travelers while your local guide brings stories to life. It’s less about checking sights off a list: more about feeling Istanbul breathe around you.

Options for this experience

3 options

From US$ 31 to US$ 79 per person, depending on the option and date you choose. See options & prices

Bosphorus luxury yacht tour, including a stop and exploration on the Asian side 10:30 and 13:00 Guide in English

With Hotel Transfer 10:30 and 13:00 Guide in English With Hotel Transfer

Private yacht cruise lasting 2 hours 12 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 19:00 Guide in English

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Step-by-step itinerary

Bosphorus yacht cruise and Kanlıca stop

• Board Bosphorus yacht
• Cruise along Bosphorus Strait
• Pass Dolmabahçe Palace
• Pass Dolmabahçe Mosque
• Pass Çırağan Palace
• Pass Ortaköy Mosque
• Pass Bosphorus Bridge
• Pass Galatasaray Island
• Pass Arnavutköy neighborhood
• Pass Bebek neighborhood
• Pass Rumeli Fortress
• Pass Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge
• Stop at Kanlıca neighborhood
• Explore Kanlıca streets and waterfront
• Taste Kanlıca yogurt with powdered sugar
• Return to yacht and continue cruise

Stops and time spent at each 20 stops

1. Bosphorus Strait passing by
2. Dolmabahce Palace passing by
3. Dolmabahce Mosque passing by
4. Buyuk Mecidiye Camii passing by
5. Bosphorus Bridge passing by
6. Galatasaray Island passing by
7. Bebek Sahili passing by
8. Rumeli Fortress passing by
9. Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge passing by
10. Küçüksu Palace passing by
11. Anadolu Hisari Fort passing by
12. Beylerbeyi 15m
13. Beylerbeyi Palace passing by
14. Maiden’s Tower passing by
15. Golden Horn passing by
16. Galata Bridge passing by
17. New Mosque passing by
18. Spice Bazaar passing by
19. Galata Tower passing by
20. Galataport passing by

What’s included

• Your day includes pickup if needed (or meet at port), Turkish coffee served in traditional cups with delight alongside savory pastries and snacks as you sail.
• bottled water and fresh seasonal fruits are always available.
• plus time ashore in Kanlıca to try their famous yogurt before heading back across continents by yacht.

Times

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• Every day 08:00 09:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00

Information

Wake up to Istanbul’s Bosphorus on a yacht cruise, cross continents, taste Kanlıca yogurt, and wander Asian-side streets. Includes Turkish coffee, snacks, and pickup.

Group Up to 35 1 similar private tour ›

Live guide English Another language? ›

Audio guide Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Turkish

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 1,757 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you can type in your address. Pickup is about 60 minutes before departure. See the exact addressSee the pickup points

Book up to the start time

Ages Adult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 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 or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Stroller-friendly Public transport nearby Infants must sit on laps

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

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The experience

You know that feeling when you open your eyes and the world is already moving? That’s how it felt stepping onto the deck in Karaköy: seagulls darting above, the city already humming. The Bosphorus stretched out blue and busy, ferries zigzagging between Europe and Asia like it was nothing special (but it is). Our guide, Zeynep, handed me a tiny cup of Turkish coffee before we even left the dock: thick, sweet, almost muddy at the bottom. She grinned and said something about fortune-telling in the grounds but I just sipped and watched Galata Tower drift past. The air smelled salty and faintly like engine oil, not in a bad way. Just real.

We glided under bridges with names I kept mixing up (Bosphorus Bridge? Fatih Sultan Mehmet? My brain was still waking up). Zeynep pointed out palaces: Dolmabahçe shimmering gold in the morning light, then Beylerbeyi all white stone across on the Asian side. The yacht slowed near Kanlıca and she waved us off with a “don’t skip the yogurt!” So we wandered narrow streets where old men played backgammon outside cafés. I ordered yogurt with powdered sugar because apparently that’s what you do here. It was cold, creamy, a little tangy under all that sugar dust. Not what I expected but somehow perfect after the wind on deck.

On the way back we passed Rumeli Fortress. Those stone towers look like they’ve seen everything. Some fisherman waved from his tiny boat. Zeynep called out something in Turkish that made him laugh. There were pastries passed around (still warm), fruit cut up on a plate, someone spilled tea but nobody minded. I leaned against the rail as Maiden’s Tower came into view (just this tiny dot in all that water), and tried to memorize how Istanbul looked from here: layered, noisy but peaceful too. I still think about that view sometimes when things get loud at home.

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 1,757 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you can type in your address. Pickup is about 60 minutes before departure.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 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.

How long does the Bosphorus yacht tour last?

The cruise lasts approximately 2.5 hours including stops.

Is there a stop on the Asian side during this tour?

Yes, there’s a stop at Kanlıca on the Asian shore for exploration and yogurt tasting.

What food or drinks are included?

You’ll get Turkish coffee served with delight, savory pastry, bottled water, snacks, seasonal fruit, plus tea or coffee onboard.

Which landmarks will I see during the cruise?

You’ll pass Galata Tower, Dolmabahçe Palace & Mosque, Ortaköy Mosque, Rumeli Fortress, Maiden’s Tower, both Bosphorus bridges & more.

Operated by Sunset Bosphorus Yacht Cruises. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated today