Guided Bosphorus & Black Sea Cruise – 4 Stops from Istanbul
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Istanbul, Turkey
- 6 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Sail between two continents and into the Black Sea on this full-day cruise along the Bosphorus Strait, with an onboard guide plus a delicious meze lunch on deck. Gaze over the shores of Europe and Asia as you cruise the Bosphorus; stop to visit the pretty Ortaköy neighborhood; and enjoy guided tours of the ornate Küçüksu Palace and Rumeli Fortress. There’s even a chance to swim in the Black Sea.
- Cruise along the Bosphorus Strait and into the sun-baked waters of the Black Sea
- Stops on both the European and Asian banks of Istanbul
- Enjoy free time at Ortaköy, tour Küçüksu Palace, and visit Rumeli Fortress
- Savor a delicious lunch of Turkish meze on board the boat
What's Included
- Lunch
- Private Yacht
- Tour Guide
- Gratuities
- Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
- Private transportation
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Dolmabahçe MosqueÖmer Avni, Meclis-i Mebusan Cd. No:34, 34427 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye
Our partner travel agency for meeting with our guests.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
If you're staying in a hotel in the main tourist districts of central Istanbul, your day begins with pickup. If not, travel to one of two convenient meeting points and join the cruise from there.
Board your boat and soak up the views as you sail north along the Bosphorus Strait, the stretch of water that divides Asia and Europe. Take snaps of mosques and landmarks as you cruise to your first stop, Ortaköy.
Set on Istanbul’s European shores, this picturesque district of neo-baroque buildings and cobbled lanes is filled with arty shops, galleries, markets and cafes.
Your next stop is on Istanbul’s Asian banks. Here, enjoy a guided tour of the Küçüksu Palace, an Ottoman-era imperial hunting lodge built in the 1800s. Behold the rooms adorned with gold, marble and crystal, and hear how the sultans relaxed here after hunting expeditions.
Cruise back over the water and pay a visit to Rumeli Hisari Fortress, once used to control traffic on the Bosphorus. On Mondays, the fortress is closed and you’ll visit the Bebek neighborhood instead.
Your lunch menu may vary, but expect dishes such as grilled chicken and meze accompanied by sodas, with other drinks (own expense) available from the bar.
After lunch, cruise further up the Bosphorus and into the Black Sea, with time for a swim at a bay near a transcontinental bridge.
Your cruise finishes back in central Istanbul, with drop-off at your original meeting point or hotel.
Board your boat and soak up the views as you sail north along the Bosphorus Strait, the stretch of water that divides Asia and Europe. Take snaps of mosques and landmarks as you cruise to your first stop, Ortaköy.
Set on Istanbul’s European shores, this picturesque district of neo-baroque buildings and cobbled lanes is filled with arty shops, galleries, markets and cafes.
Your next stop is on Istanbul’s Asian banks. Here, enjoy a guided tour of the Küçüksu Palace, an Ottoman-era imperial hunting lodge built in the 1800s. Behold the rooms adorned with gold, marble and crystal, and hear how the sultans relaxed here after hunting expeditions.
Cruise back over the water and pay a visit to Rumeli Hisari Fortress, once used to control traffic on the Bosphorus. On Mondays, the fortress is closed and you’ll visit the Bebek neighborhood instead.
Your lunch menu may vary, but expect dishes such as grilled chicken and meze accompanied by sodas, with other drinks (own expense) available from the bar.
After lunch, cruise further up the Bosphorus and into the Black Sea, with time for a swim at a bay near a transcontinental bridge.
Your cruise finishes back in central Istanbul, with drop-off at your original meeting point or hotel.
1
Rumeli Fortress
1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included
Ortakoy (Pass By)
KIz Kulesi (Pass By)
2
Anadolu Kavagi
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Bosphorus Strait (Pass By)
3
Kucuksu Pavilion
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
Dolmabahce Palace (Pass By)
Çırağan Palace (Pass By)
Beylerbeyi Palace (Pass By)
Buyuk Mecidiye Camii (Pass By)
Bosphorus Bridge (Pass By)
Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge (Pass By)
Yavuz Sultan Selim Koprusu (Pass By)
Yavuz Sultan Selim Koprusu (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Swimsuit and towel are recommended
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Rumeli Fortres will be closed on mondays and visit will be replaced with freetime in Bebek neighborhood
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Sean_A
A fabulous day. The guide was great, we were well fed and watered throughout the day and made 5 stops in total. Some lovely sights. Definitely recommend. The Bosphorus is a beautiful day out
Reviews
4.3
based on 311 reviews
marva_w, Oct 2025
Tour operator is unreliable. Receved a message day prior that tour was being Canceled at last minute.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
We’re sorry for any confusion regarding your tour. We always inform our guests in advance about the possibility of cancellation if the minimum participant number is not reached. In this case, we initially had to notify you about the cancellation, but we received additional last-minute bookings and were able to confirm the tour afterward. All updates were communicated as soon as possible. We truly apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and appreciate your understanding.
carola_s, Oct 2025
Several strikes:
1. The boat trip was fine but the offering is misleading, It didn't reach the Black sea, even though that's what is advertised. They should be truthful and change the add.
2. Our guide's English language was very limited.
3. He wasn't even aware that the palace and the fortress stops were closed. When arriving, to these sites, he went to get tickets and only then found out ihey are closed on Mondays,
4. I also fault the company for not informing us at the time of booking. We could have booked it for Tuesday.
5. The man who was the coordinator was nice and polite, tried to compensate by offering us tickets to see the swirling Dervils. He made the effort but it's not ok.. That's not what we signed out for.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
We’re sorry to hear the tour didn’t fully meet your expectations. Due to the museums being closed that day, we provided a partial refund to all guests and upgraded the experience to an ultra-luxury yacht. The route was operated as advertised, reaching the closest legally permitted point to the Black Sea. We appreciate your feedback and will continue improving our service and communication.
Jamie_A, Oct 2025
Operator canceled late the night before we were scheduled. They gave us the option to reschedule but we couldn’t with our flight schedule. I didn’t really understand because when I told them I had my heart set on seeing the Black Sea, they offered a private tour for $500USD. Im not sure why that one would’ve been okay but the tour we had booked had to be canceled. Additionally, the day of our scheduled tour, the weather was fine. They did give us a full refund so that was nice of them but I’m still very disappointed. I would recommend anyone booking this have a backup plan.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Due to rainy and cold weather, some reservations had to be canceled and others were rescheduled. Unfortunately, your tour was canceled because the minimum number of participants was not met. Since you were unable to reschedule due to time constraints, we offered you a private tour instead, as you had mentioned how much you wanted to visit the Black Sea. However, you declined that offer as well, and we immediately provided you with a full refund.
We’re not sure what we did to deserve a 1-star review. We care deeply about our guests and try to offer alternatives whenever possible. Sometimes cancellations are unavoidable due to circumstances beyond our control, and we handle these situations within our policy guidelines.
We hope this explanation clarifies things, as we genuinely believe a 1-star rating is not reflective of the effort we made. We explored every possible option for you and promptly processed your refund.
Kate_L, Sep 2025
We appreciated this trip because it was smaller, more detailed, longer and more personal than a ferry ride. There were eleven people in our group, ranging in age from mid-20s through 70s. Our guide, Khalid, was knowledgeable about the four stops we visited, as well as about the political and cultural situation of modern-day Turkey. His narration was interspersed with personal anecdotes that gave us insights into Istanbul life and customs. The lunch was quite nice and freshly prepared, with a variety of typical Turkish elements. Though we had anticipated going slightly into the Black Sea, we were told that only special-visa passengers were allowed to do that. We did approach and see the border between the Bosphorus and the Black Sea, though. Two of our four stops were on the Asian side of the Bosphorus. A lovely way to view and learn about both sides of Istanbul.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words and detailed feedback! We’re very glad you enjoyed the cruise, the stops, and Khalid’s guidance. It’s great to hear the experience felt more personal and meaningful than a standard ferry ride. We hope to welcome you again on another tour!
TERRY_W, Aug 2025
Cancelled the night before. Never got to see the Black Sea. Couldn’t reschedule☹️. Bummed. Bummed. Bummed
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Dear Terry,
Due to operational reasons, some cruise days may be subject to cancellation. This is not a typical classic boat cruise, and because we offer free cancellation, our guests can cancel at any time. Unfortunately, this sometimes leads to an insufficient number of participants, which is beyond our control.
We hope for your understanding and kindly ask you to reconsider your review.
Catherine_C, Apr 2025
The trip was wonderful, but not at all what was advertised or what I paid for. Before getting into that, let me just say that our guide for the trip on April 13 was excellent, very knowledgeable and excited to share information. The trip was supposed to be on a private vessel. It was supposed to "stop to visit the pretty Ortaköy neighborhood; and enjoy guided tours of the ornate Küçüksu Palace and Rumeli Fortress. There’s even a chance to swim in the Black Sea." Instead - apparently because our group was too small - our guide took us to a public ferry that we could not depart from until it reached its final stop in Anadolu, just before the final bridge and the Black Sea. In Anadolu we enjoyed an unplanned visit of a ruined castle and views of the final bridge before the Black Sea as well as a lovely lunch at a restaurant on the harbour. Then we took the ferry back to the port in Istanbul. The trip was memorable and enjoyable. But the description shoud have warned about possible changes and, as we took a ferry, should have been a lot less than the 217.33 CAD I paid. A promised partial refund has not materialized.
Response from Host, May 2025
.
Christophe_C, Feb 2025
Excellent experience with our guides, they give us a lot of details about the history of Istanbul and Bosphorus ! They were very sympathetic and friendly. We chatted with the group during all the cruise and we laughed a lot . It was great, I highly recommend this tour with Taner and Muzzafer ! Güle güle !!
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you so much for your kind review and best rate :)
Kent_B, Nov 2024
Disappointing not to get the tour we signed up for. Ended up taking the public ferry instead.
Enjoyed how knowledgeable and friendly Kadir was.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thank you so much for your best rate :)
Olivia_H, Oct 2024
This was a great experience! Make sure to put on and pack enough sunscreen, so you don't make the same mistake I did! Emir was a lovely tour guide. However, I would recommend that they allocate more time in the small fishing village rather than for swimming. Not a lot of people in our group were interested in swimming, and it felt a little rushed in the village. Would've loved to spend more time there!
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
Tracy_D, Oct 2024
We booked well in advance and were looking forward to this. However, we arranged hotel pickup which never arrived. We tried contacting the tour operator multiple times through Viator and by phone with no response. We will not be rebooking. Not recommended.
Michael_G, Sep 2024
Great scenery and views of historic buildings, a great guide who was very knowledgeable, comfy and clean yacht, tasty fish lunch and a lovely swim in the Black sea
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you so much for your best rate and review.
rebecca_l, Sep 2024
Tour Guide was awesome, helpful and energetic. It made the experience and cruise relaxing and enjoyable!
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you for the best rate :)
Suzanne_A, Sep 2024
Fabulous day on an amazing boat with superb food visiting a few sites along the Bosphorus, highly recommend
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Love from Istanbul and thank you for the best review and rate
Matthew_O, Sep 2024
Nice day on the Bosphorus River. They stopped at a number of small towns along the river to allow you to get off and explore. We went to the first town but decided to just relax on the boat during the other stops. At the mouth of the Black Sea they do allow you a short 20 min swim which was nice, just wish it was longer and they they had floats or towels. You don't actually go into the Black Sea just to the mouth of the river. Still a nice relaxing way to spend the day and watch the scenery go by. Lunch was catered by a restaurant along the river. We had the Sea Bass which was excellent. Nothing bad to say about this trip just some changes that would make it better.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you so much for your great feedback and we will keep in mind your suggestions
Kyran_P, Sep 2024
Unfortunately the cruise was cancelled due to a “machine” problem
But went on a sunset cruise which was very enjoyable
Emily_F, Aug 2024
Relaxing boat trip, lots of stops to explore for just enough time at each place, great lunch spread, amazing fruit platter, informative guide. Loved being on the European side and Asian side in one day. Fully recommend. Left my phone on the bus and they brought it to me at the hotel later in the evening - 5 star review just for that!!
Response from Host, Aug 2024
:) Thank you so much for your best rate.
Carrie_F, Jul 2024
Great service with knowledgeable tour guides and a good selection of stops. The refreshments were plentiful and yummy, too.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Thank you :)
Geoff_B, Jun 2024
When we had not received pickup confirmation we (with some difficulty) contacted the tour operator on the evening before we were scheduled to picked up the following morning. The tour operator informed us that the tour was cancelled because they didn’t have enough people booked. We had book this tour approximately 8 months ago ; we had received confirmation & they took our money a day before when they obviously knew that the tour would be cancelled. The tour operator suggested that we could swap our following day tour & we were not keen on this proposal. We told them that we would agree if the tour on the next day was identical & he could guarantee the original tour would go ahead on the following day . Fortunately the ethical tour operator for our scheduled tour called us & told us that the dodgy operator advised that we wanted to change. This was a lie. When we were advised that a major part of our tour would be excluded if we changed, we confirmed the original booking & requested an immediate refund from the dodgy operator. At this point, the dodgy operator told us that the tour might go ahead & undertook to confirm this by 8 pm that night. We made several attempts to phone the operator- but the phone was not answered. At 9.45 pm they called to confirm that the tour was cancelled.
No booking agent ( such as Viator) should ever deal with this shonky tour operator. They are a disgrace!
Robin_H, Jun 2024
Enjoyed seeing sights we would otherwise have had a great deal of difficulty getting to. The boatride was comfortable and the food was quite nice. The staff were all polite, helpful, and efficient.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thanks
brendawatts736, Jun 2024
This tour was beautiful to experience being transported along the Bosphorus! It was a nice balance of relax time and exploring. our tour guides Duha and Erdemm were very good. We recommend this tour!
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you so much :)
Elizabeth_K, Jun 2024
We had a great time! Very informative, and we loved the cultural stops along the way. The pace was perfect and the food was good with lots of options throughout the day.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you
William_B, Jun 2024
A fun cruise and an unforgettable experience kicking back on the Bosphorus ! Amazing photo opportunities here too.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you
Malcolm_S, Jun 2024
We were happy we did the full day cruise as we got see much more than the people who joined half way through. Definitely a good way to spend a day in Istanbul. The pick up & drop off service was convenient - don't be surprised by Istanbul's awful traffic though, which can make things slow.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you
Sean_A, Jun 2024
A fabulous day. The guide was great, we were well fed and watered throughout the day and made 5 stops in total. Some lovely sights. Definitely recommend. The Bosphorus is a beautiful day out
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you :)
MuhammadAmar_s, Jun 2024
Cruise staff offered a highest level of hospitality. I would like to thank Mohammed for serving delicious snacks and lunch.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you
David_R, May 2024
Although the boat experience & lunch were very good, the time alloted for each stop was not. Too much time & lots of waiting to leave at the fort while not enough time at the fishing village near the Black Sea. The swim in the Black Sea was never offered nor time allotted.
Albert_C, May 2024
Great shipboard cruise to the mouth of the Black Sea with a few stops along the way. Lunch on board the ship was good. Time for swimming near the Black Sea, but water was too cold for me, but others went in.
Response from Host, May 2024
Thank you so much :)
Jakeob_B, May 2024
Share the most memorable parts of my experience? Sure. That would be the end when we were supposed to take the bus back to our hotel where we were picked up. The driver drove right by our hotel (on the highway) without stopping. And would not go back. We had to pay for a taxi and will be arriving back to the hotel almost 2 hours late, ruining a dinner reservation we had. In addition to this, the boat was very small and old, which was disappointing. We did 4 tours in Istanbul and this was the only disappointment. What a shame.
Response from Host, May 2024
So sorry for the mistake. I hope the rest of the cruise was good.
Russell_M, May 2024
A great trip with some stops along the way, Guide was knowledgeable but at times lost in translation. Coordination with ferry after each stop could be better coordinated to avoid standing around too long. Bit overall I would recommend this trip.
Response from Host, May 2024
We will be more attentive with these details for sure. Thank you so much for your suggestions. would it be possible to convert your review to 5 stars then we would be happy.
eduardo_j, May 2024
Excellent trip. The only problem was to wait half an hour for more people to be added in a stop after noon and lunch was delayed.
Response from Host, May 2024
It sounds like your trip was enjoyable overall, but waiting for additional people at a stop after noon delayed lunch. That can definitely be frustrating. Hopefully, the rest of your journey made up for the inconvenience!
From $166.72
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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