Private Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Istanbul: 2-3 Hours

Ottoman palaces look different from the water.

A private Bosphorus dinner or lunch cruise from Bebek in Istanbul aboard a luxury yacht, where you pass Rumeli Fortress, the Bosphorus Bridge, Küçüksu Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, Ortaköy Mosque, Dolmabahce Palace, Maiden's Tower and Hagia Sophia while a professional crew serves grilled meat, seasonal fish or vegetarian dinner. Choose between a 2-hour tour to Ortaköy or a 3-hour tour to Maiden's Tower. The yacht includes bottled water, a cold drink of your choice and onboard restroom. You can customize the tour with live music, decoration, a celebration cake or extended hours by contacting the operator before booking.

Options for this experience

2 options

From US$ 284 per person, depending on the option and date you choose. See options & prices

Private Bosphorus tour lasting 2 hours No fixed time Lasts 2 hours

Private Bosphorus tour lasting 3 hours No fixed time Lasts 3 hours

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

Step-by-step itinerary

Private Bosphorus Yacht Cruise

• Start tour at Bebek, Beşiktaş
• Cruise under Bosphorus Bridge
• Pass by Rumeli Fortress
• View Küçüksu Palace from sea
• Admire Dolmabahce Palace from sea
• See Beylerbeyi Palace from sea
• Pass Ortaköy Mosque
• View Hagia Sophia from sea
• Admire Maiden's Tower
• Enjoy grilled meat, fish, or vegetarian meal
• Relax, swim, and take photos
• End tour at Bebek, Beşiktaş

What’s included

• Dinner (grilled meat, seasonal fish or vegetarian).
• bottled water.
• a cold drink of your choice.
• professional crew service.
• onboard restroom.
• all fees and taxes.

Times

• Every day No fixed time

Information

Private yacht cruise on the Bosphorus with dinner, drinks and views of Dolmabahce Palace, Maiden's Tower and Hagia Sophia from the water, grilled meat.

Group Private 11 similar group tours ›

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. 8 similar tours with pickup › See the exact address

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 Pets welcome 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

4.84 ★★★★★ Exceptional 19 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

The experience

The yacht departs from Bebek, a popular waterfront district with bars and restaurants, and heads north under the Bosphorus Bridge toward Rumeli Fortress. From the deck you see the castle's walls rising from the Asian shore, then pass under the bridge itself: the steel span that connects Europe and Asia. The route takes you past Küçüksu Palace, the summer residence Ottoman sultans built in the 1860s, which sits on the water's edge and reveals its scale and detail only when you're floating past it.

Dinner arrives while you're underway. You choose grilled meat, seasonal fish or a vegetarian plate before booking, and the crew serves it on board along with bottled water and a cold drink. The yacht has a restroom, and there's room to move around the deck for photographs. The 2-hour option circles back to Bebek after Ortaköy, where you see the mosque's white stone and the bridge framing it. The 3-hour tour continues south past Beylerbeyi Palace, another Ottoman summer residence, then Maiden's Tower standing alone in the strait, and finally Hagia Sophia and the old city skyline from the sea.

This is a private tour: no other passengers, no shared schedule. If you want live music, a decorated table, a birthday cake or a longer route, contact the operator to arrange it before you book. The crew handles the timing and the route. You handle the moment.

Top questions

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 exactly do I see on the Bosphorus cruise from Istanbul?

The yacht passes Rumeli Fortress, the Bosphorus Bridge, Küçüksu Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, Ortaköy Mosque, Dolmabahce Palace, Maiden's Tower and Hagia Sophia. The 2-hour tour stops at Ortaköy. The 3-hour tour continues to Maiden's Tower and the old city.

Is dinner included, and can I choose what I eat?

Dinner is included. You choose grilled meat, seasonal fish or vegetarian when you book, and the professional crew serves it on board along with bottled water and a cold drink.

Can I add music, decorations or a cake to the cruise?

Yes. Contact the operator before booking to arrange live music, table decoration, a celebration cake, or to extend the tour beyond 2 or 3 hours. These are customizable options.

How long does the Bosphorus cruise take?

The 2-hour tour goes to Ortaköy. The 3-hour tour extends to Maiden's Tower. Both depart and return to Bebek.

Is this tour shared with other passengers?

No. This is a private yacht tour for you and your group only: no other passengers join you.

Operated by Lotus Yat Kiralama I Lotus Yacht 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 12 days ago