Bosphorus Cruise 2-3 Hour Cruises with Optional Asia Stop & Meal

Recommended by 96% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Istanbul, Turkey

Very popular!

5+ bookings in the past 6 hours.

2 to 4 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.8

· Julie_M ·

Jun 2026

A beautiful way to spend a morning in Istanbul. Great tour. Breakfast was tasty fresh & plentiful served with Turkish tea. The views around the bay spectacular and the guide’s commentary was very informative. Spent some time in Asian Istanbul great to see. All in all a fab trip lasting 3hours and great value for money. Loved it!

· John_P ·

Jul 2026

Good communication from Viator. Easy to follow directions to the boat. We walked from Arden City Hotel. The cruise was very informative. We even saw dolphins An altogether memorable experience. Thank you Viator.

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Overview

Discover Istanbul through its majestic waterway, the Bosphorus River. Cruise along the scenic river that divides Europe and Asia and see many landmarks and highlights in just a few hours. Enjoy insightful commentary along the way as you go past Süleymaniye Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahce Palace, Rumeli Fortress, and Galata Tower. Have the option to get off the boat at Beylerbeyi and visit the palace and surrounding neighborhood there.

Maximize your time in Istanbul with this boat tour along the Bosphorus
See both the Asian and European sides of Istanbul on one tour
Choose from an optional lunch or breakfast
Experience a unique vantage point to see the city’s iconic skyline

What's Included

All Fees and Taxes
Wifi On Board
Lunch

The fixed lunch menu is available only if this option is selected and includes soup, salad, rice, sautéed meat, and dessert.
Breakfast

The fixed breakfast plate is available only if this option is selected and includes tea, eggs, assorted cheeses, honey, jam, butter, olives, and sausage.
Coffee and/or Tea

Cookies and tea are included with the if Night Tour option is selected.
Air-conditioned vehicle
Easily accessible by public transportation, with a starting point in the city center of Eminönü.

Soda/Pop

Beverages are not included
Hotel Pickup and Drop off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Travels in Istanbul Adventure Tourism
Ahi Çelebi, Cami Sahili, 34134 Fatih, Sarıdemir, 34134 Eminönü/İstanbul, Türkiye
Please locate NARAL BOATs, an EMBAK Cooperative member, near Ahi Çelebi Mosque on the shore behind Istanbul Ticaret University. If the boat is not there upon your arrival, please wait until the tour start time. You can also If you have internet access send a message

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Galata Koprusu (Pass By)

Galata Tower (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)

Hidiv Kasri (Pass By)

Rumeli Fortress (Pass By)

Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge (Pass By)

Anadolu Hisari Fort (Pass By)

Kucuksu Pavilion (Pass By)

Askeri Muze ve Kultur Sitesi KomutanlIgI (Pass By)

Bosphorus (Pass By)

Beylerbeyi

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

KIz Kulesi (Pass By)

TopkapI Palace (Pass By)

Yeni Camii (Pass By)

Suleymaniye Mosque (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Infants must sit on laps
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation

Stroller accessible
Not wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
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

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Ryan_H

Great experience and. A great way to see/learn about the city. Olga was our tour guide and she did a great job explaining everything. The stop on the Asian side was fine but there’s not a lot where they drop you except to eat. Overall for the cost- it’s a great relaxing 3 hour tour. Recommend sitting on the left side of the boat for best views.

Reviews

4.8

based on 123 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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Sort by: Most insightful

Bosphorus Cruise

John_P, Jul 2026

awsome wxperience

Adnan_Y, Jul 2026

very informative, scenic and relaxing trip. you can cover Istanbul in 2 hours with lot of knowledge or consider as starter of your isranbul trip

A beautiful way to spend...

Julie_M, Jun 2026

Great tour!

Craig_A, May 2026

Great experience and highly recommend this tour, the sunset/night tour is well worth it. Make sure you bring a light jacket for when the sun goes down.

Asia side of Turkey

Kaye_W, May 2026

Food was discussing 3 to 4 stores to shop in but then again we only were given 40 minutes to browse 😳😤. Waste of money and time.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to hear that the experience did not meet your expectations. We appreciate your comments and will take them into consideration.

Ah the Bosphorus!

Vicki_D, Jan 2026

Worth the trip! Not much time to invest, but much to see! We had good weather also, so that was great.

Amazing views by the Bosphorus

Joel_R, Jan 2026

Very nice trip. The sights of the incredible Istanbul by the Bosphorous were amazing and the fact it was snowing it was a magic day for the kids. What I would only change is the time to walk in the city and give at least the hour it was said in the tour. We were only given 30 minutes and with kids we couldn't have the chance to walk farther than the port area. Other than that it was a great day.

Could barely hear the...

Philip_L, Dec 2025

Could barely hear the guide. Half of the tour without any narration. No heat on lower level of boat, so can get cold in late fall/winter. Bring very warm jacket.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that the narration was difficult to hear during parts of the tour. Depending on seating location and weather conditions, sound clarity can sometimes vary. We will review this with our team to ensure the audio system is functioning properly throughout the cruise. Regarding heating, enclosed areas are available, but during colder months the temperature can still feel low, especially on lower decks. We do recommend dressing warmly in late fall and winter. We appreciate you sharing your experience.

Great way to see the city

Ryan_H, Oct 2025

Cruising in Bosphorus strait in Oct, 2025

Mila_N, Oct 2025

It’s a great experience for a reasonable price. The only downside was there’s not enough time to explore the Asian side. Maybe add more time. Our group and a few others we talked to, said the same thing.

Was very good experience...

Muhammad_R, Aug 2025

Was very good experience with reasonable price i enjoyed with my family,also english tour guide was really helpful,definitely we do again same with viator when we be back for next time also turkish tea was delicious 😋

Going through the motions

Stephanie_T, Dec 2024

The serving staff were great, very diligent. Guide was bored and spoke so fast, I understood maybe 30-40% of what she said. Shopping trip a complete waste of tine - to 'owner's' leather shop

Nice boat trip

Lene_T, Apr 2026

Relax on board a large boat while beautiful buildings and bridges are passed. If you would like to land on the Asian side, be aware if the cruise you book includes stops. We thought our had an hour stop, but that was not the case.

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Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thank you for your feedback. We're happy to hear you enjoyed the cruise and the beautiful views along the Bosphorus. Regarding the stop on the Asian side, please note that it is only included in selected tour options, and this information is provided in the tour description before booking. We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you again.