Bosphorus Explorer: 2-Hour Cruise Throughout the Day
Recommended by 90% of travelers
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Istanbul, Turkey
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Enjoy stunning views of historic Istanbul from the water during this 2-hour boat tour down the Bosphorus. Cover many of the city’s top attractions from the scenic strait, passing highlights like Galata Tower, Dolmabahce and Topkapi palaces, and Rumeli Fortress. You’ll also head to Asia and back, with a stop on Istanbul’s Anatolian side and free time to explore on your own.
- Check off Istanbul's top attractions on a scenic 2-hour Bosphorus cruise
- Listen to enriching commentary as you travel through the historic capital
- Travel from Europe to Asia and back with free time on the Asian side
- Choose from departures throughout the day for added flexibility
What's Included
- WiFi on board
- Restroom on board
- All Fees and Taxes
- Easily accessible by public transportation,
- Soda/PopBeverages are not included
- Hotel Pickup and Drop off
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Sarıdemir, Ragıp Gümüşpala Cd. No:36, 34134 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Please note that meeting points and times may vary by up to 1 km and 30 min due to dock availability. Guests should arrive at the specified address 15 minutes prior to the departure time. Our boat is named IBRAHIM NARAL. Note: In the event of extraordinary circumstances the assigned boat may change.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Galata Tower (Pass By)
Galata Koprusu (Pass By)
Istanbul Resim Ve Heykel Muzesi, Mimar Sinan Guzel Sanatlar Universitesi (Pass By)
Dolmabahce Mosque (Pass By)
Dolmabahce Palace (Pass By)
Ortakoy (Pass By)
Bosphorus Bridge (Pass By)
Bosphorus Strait (Pass By)
Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge (Pass By)
Rumeli Fortress (Pass By)
Anadolu Hisari Fort (Pass By)
Hidiv Kasri (Pass By)
Kucuksu Pavilion (Pass By)
KIz Kulesi (Pass By)
TopkapI Palace (Pass By)
Yeni Camii (Pass By)
Suleymaniye Mosque (Pass By)
Askeri Muze ve Kultur Sitesi KomutanlIgI (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- There is stairs to get on the boat, not recommended for the people who can't step
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 100 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
This cruise was the highlight of our trip! From the moment we stepped onto the boat, everything was well organized and beautifully arranged. The views along the Bosphorus were absolutely breathtaking—passing stunning landmarks, palaces, and bridges as the sun set was magical.
The stop on the Asian side added a unique cultural touch, allowing us to experience a different part of Istanbul that we wouldn’t have seen otherwise. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and made sure we felt comfortable the entire time.
It was relaxing, scenic, and informative all in one. Highly recommended for couples or anyone looking to see Istanbul from a new perspective!
Reviews
4,6
based on 1 295 reviews
Sort by: Most recent
It was very good the team was very supportive and guide us very well.
The lunch was delicious and sights was amazing.
The boat caters for large tour groups and not individuals. They laid on a lunch for a group on the lower deck so after some brief commentary on the key sights they left to cater for the tour group. Then to add insult to injury they announced an unscheduled stop for an hour on the Asian site at a relatively uninteresting location. When we returned to the boat there was another large group that joined so clearly this was a pickup point. We were unable return to the seats we had before because the new group had already boarded and taken them. We were treated as an add on and felt like an inconvenience.
Nice way to see Istanbul. The tour was 3 hours, not 2 as advertised so be aware and give yourself extra time.
Great tour up the Bosphorus. The guide was informative and spoke multiple languages. There was a change of boat (and time) but both were quickly and effectively communicated.
This was a wonderful experience & well worth the money. Communication was great from start to finish. Staff were friendly & the tour guide was excellent & knowledgeable. I would definitely recommend this to anyone visiting Istanbul. The sunset time was perfect for us.
The information indicated we would stop on the Asian side. When asked they said that this cruise doesn’t do that as it is only 2 hours. Unfortunately their description was not consistent in this and we were disappointed. In addition, they changed the time on us and we had to go earlier because the later time conflicted with our dinner reservation.
Response from Host, Sept 2026
We sincerely apologize for the misunderstanding. Your original booking was for the sunset cruise, and as the sunset time changes depending on the season, the departure time was naturally adjusted accordingly. As the later time did not suit your schedule, you chose an earlier departure, which was an option without an Asian-side stop. We always try to be flexible and accommodate our guests whenever possible, and a different date with a suitable departure time could also have been arranged. We appreciate your understanding and feedback.
Had a great time learning and enjoying the rich culture and heritage of Istanbul. Enjoyed my time on the Nahral cruise boat and our host Onga was very informed and friendly.
I repeatedly requested the provider to change the date as I had accidentally booked the wrong month!
Did not ask to cancel.
No response from them inspite of repeated requests.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We sincerely apologize for any frustration or inconvenience regarding your booking dates.
According to our platform policies, for any modifications or cancellations requested outside of the 24-hour window, customers are required to manage and process these changes themselves directly through the system. This ensures immediate confirmation and secures your updated slot in real time.
We regret that our support team did not get back to your messages in time due to high inquiry volumes. For future bookings, please note that you can easily adjust your dates at any time via the "My Bookings" section in your account.
We appreciate your understanding and hope to provide you with a seamless experience in the future.
Best regards,
Enjoyable and affordable 2 hour long boat trip on the Boshphorus with views of Europe and Asia sides. Tour guide did a great job explaining the sites and history
Very interesting experience. This trip takes you through one of the world’s special geographical area.
it was nothing short of spectacular. Sailing along the iconic waters of Istanbul offered breathtaking, panoramic views of the city's historic skyline, stunning palaces, and beautiful bridges. Seeing these landmarks from the comfort of the ship provided a unique and unforgettable perspective of where East meets West. The scheduling was seamless, the atmosphere was relaxing, and the overall experience was incredibly satisfying.
We like it , it’s not crowded doesn’t make you scared that it’s going to sink because of too much people. Customer can breath and relax.
Excellent tour, well run, and the two guides made the tour engaging as they explained the sights really well. Would highly recommend.
Charming time spent on the breeze of the Bosphoros River. Good commentary, comfortable boat. Nice morning tea on Asian side
Great way to see many sides of Istanbul The tour guide was amazing and provided very informative historical and fun facts. This tour was well worth the cost
Beautiful views and good information given, however there was no free time on the Asian side as was advertised in the tour description. The boat stopped for passengers to get ON the boat, but we were not given the option to get off and have free time.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your feedback. We're glad you enjoyed the views and the guided commentary. Please note that the stop on the Asian side is only included in selected tour options. If your ticket did not include the Asian stop, the boat would not stop there for passengers to get off. This information is available when selecting the tour and ticket option. We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you again.
The 2 hour boat cruise on the Bosphorus was well worth it, especially our guide was brilliant, she was highly knowledgeable and engaging.
Don't miss this excursion. We stopped and got out in Asia. Now I can say I've been to Asia. We spend one hour before jumping on the boat and crusing back.
Today, May 18, 2026, I had a tour on this boat. The guide was very kind and explained everything thoroughly. I also enjoyed their black tea served with cookies.
We enjoyed the narrated tour. One spoke in English and the other in Russian. We got a little chilly at the end- bring a layer if doing the sunset cruise in the Spring.
Excellent experience. They’ll reach out as soon as you book to send detailed instructions on meeting points and the boat picture. You will enjoy all the important monuments from the water. The guide (Sheila) was giving fun facts and the most important things to know. She even gave us recs on where to have lunch later. It was a very nice experience. You will have plenty of time to take pictures.
Well organised, with clear messaging. Super informative all along the waterway. Easy to find which in Istanbul is a real bonus
A lengthy, relaxing cruise around the famed Bosphorus Strait with full descriptions of sites passed, a wonderful experience.
Great trip. Booked only a few hours before departure. Back on time which is essential for cruisers. Choice of multiple languages.
Possibly the best deal offered from Viator, Under 10$ and spent 3 hours on boat with guide, no pressure selling at all, just sit and relax. Highly recommend this one.
The guide was hard to impossible to understand. Otherwise the tour was visually informative. Reasonably priced.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your feedback. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by the difficulty in understanding the guide during the tour. We appreciate your comments and will continue working to improve our services.
Kind regards,
There were two boats next to each other - The Naral and The Ibrahim Naral: first lady looked at our tickets, showed them to a colleague, then put us on the wrong boat. We ended up on a 3-hour trip including an hour free time om Asian side. We were on a cruise ship leaving that day - the extra, acccidental hour might have caused us to miss a ship departure. Fortunately, it didn't! Other than that, we enjoyed it.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your feedback. We sincerely apologize for the confusion regarding the boarding process and for any inconvenience this caused. We're relieved to hear that you were still able to make your cruise ship on time and that you enjoyed the tour overall. We appreciate your comments and will work to prevent similar situations in the future.
Fabulous tour!! And includes lots of history with very knowledgeable guides. I would highly recommend!
Lovely trip on the water.You get a good idea of the city and its size.Pleasant speed and worth the money!
Smooth boat ride and a great experience. Learned a lot of information and history about Istanbul without it being overwhelming.
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US$11,10
per personWas US$11,69(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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