Best Bosphorus Cruises: Which One to Pick

The four kinds of Bosphorus cruise

Not all "Bosphorus cruises" are the same product. Understanding which one you want will save you money and (more importantly) hours of your vacation.

1. The public commuter ferry

Şehir Hatları runs regular commuter ferries up the strait every day. The full "Uzun" (long) Bosphorus tour goes to Anadolu Kavağı at the mouth of the Black Sea and back — a six-hour day for around €8. This is the cheapest and the most authentic, but you spend most of the day on the boat and the commentary is minimal.

2. The 90-minute pass-included cruise

This is what the Istanbul Pass covers, and for most travelers it's the sweet spot. Departure from Kabataş or Eminönü, up to the Second Bridge, past the waterfront yalıs (Ottoman mansions), and back. Ninety minutes, licensed guide, refreshments on board. The sunset departure is the one to book.

3. The private sailboat charter

For €200–400 you can charter a small sailboat with a captain for two hours. Worth it for special occasions or a group of four to six. Book Sunset Sailing Istanbul or Bosphorus Sailing for the least-touristy operators.

4. The dinner cruise

Popular with tour groups. The food is average, the entertainment is loud, and the boat can't move fast enough to actually see much of the strait. We don't recommend it unless you specifically want the belly-dancer-and-buffet experience.

What time to go

Sunset, no question. The light on the domes of the Sultanahmet peninsula as you sail past is one of those moments the guidebooks fail to describe. In summer that's around 19:30; in winter, closer to 17:00. Check the departure schedule at your ferry terminal the day before.

What to bring

Even in summer the water is 5–10°C cooler than the shore. Bring a light jacket. Sunglasses for the sunset direction (you'll want to be on the port — left — side going up the strait). Water. A camera with something better than a phone lens if you can — the waterfront details reward zoom.

What you'll see

Going up-strait from Kabataş: Dolmabahçe Palace, Çırağan Palace (now a hotel), the Bosphorus Bridge, Rumeli Fortress, Anadolu Fortress on the Asian side, and the ornate yalıs of Yeniköy and Tarabya. The captain typically turns at the Second Bridge and returns.

The one thing nobody tells you

The best photos on the cruise are not of the palaces. They're of the fishermen on the Galata Bridge as you sail under it in the returning direction. Have your camera ready as you approach — the light through the bridge arches at golden hour is unreal.

Booking notes

The pass includes the cruise but you must reserve your specific departure online 24 hours in advance. The sunset slot books out first, especially in July and August. Reserve on the pass app during your first evening in the city.