Bosphorus & Golden Horn: Sunset Yacht Cruise with Expert Guide

Recommended by 90% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Istanbul, Turkey

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

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Overview

First-time visitors can elevate their vacation in Istanbul with this Bosphorus and Golden Horn yacht cruise at sunset. Guided by an expert, depart from Kobatas for a journey to see landmarks like Dolmabahçe, Ortado Mosque, and the Maiden's Tower. Marvel at the sunset glow on the Bosphorus Bridge while enjoying delightful snacks along the way. Get introduced to the highlights of Istanbul during one trip.

Board a sunset yacht cruise and see the iconic landmarks of Istanbul
Pass by the Golden Horn, Galata Tower, Topkapi Palace, and Bosphorus Palace
Savor tasty snacks, juices, and coffee/tea as you see the sights before you
See the Bosphorus Bridge glow up under the sunset with an expert guide

What's Included

Istanbul Bosphorus expert licensed tour guide (English)
Snacks

Nuts, Savory Pastry, and Fruits
Coffee and/or Tea
Juices

Alcoholic Beverages
Hotel Pick - Up / Drop Off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Dentur Avrasya Kabataş - Üsküdar İskelesi
Ömer Avni, Dentur Üsküdar Kabataş Hattı, 34427 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye
Tour guide is waiting with tour sign "Discover Bosphorus." How to get there: You can reach the pier by tram (T1 line) from the old city. Alight at the Kabataş stop. Additionally, you can access the Taksim area via the funicular.

End point

Karaköy
Azapkapı, 34421 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye
Our tour ends at Karakoy pier. The center is in a touristic area, close to the tram.

Itinerary

Bosphorus Strait (Pass By)

Dolmabahce Palace (Pass By)

Ortakoy (Pass By)

Bosphorus Bridge (Pass By)

Rumeli Fortress (Pass By)

Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge (Pass By)

Anadolu Hisari Fort (Pass By)

Beylerbeyi Palace (Pass By)

Uskudar (Pass By)

KIz Kulesi (Pass By)

TopkapI Palace (Pass By)

Galata Tower (Pass By)

Galata Koprusu (Pass By)

Golden Horn (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation

Infants must sit on laps
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 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

Cristina_B

Really great experience! Sena our guide was super nice and helpful. Enjoying amazing views from both sides of Istanbul without having to wait in line or struggle to find a good spot on a crowded boat was sooo worth it! I highly recommend!

Reviews

4.6

based on 69 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

They take advantage of tourists. Complete fraud

David_d, Nov 2025

Avoid at all costs. Two minutes after getting off the docks we were boarded by the Turkish coast guard without receiving any explanation by the guide, whose English was too poor to convey any intelligible information. After being detained for one hour and five minutes, the coast guard let us go and we returned to the docks. Several tourists got off the ship (me included) as the time elapsed while being detained by the coast guard meant that most of the cruise would take place under a very dark sky, not during the sunset as promised. Before unboarding I repeatedly asked for confirmation from the staff on deck that I would be issued a refund, and they said that I would. To my surprise, both Viator and the operator refuse to refund me for a service that never took place. To all effects and purposes, I have paid 40 euros to be detained under the sun by the Turkish board guard. I will not go into other details because I did not have time to interact too much or see any of the attractions. Suffice it to say, Turkish tour operators often have a reputation of dishonesty and dishonest, and this is a perfect example of them taking advantage of vulnerable tourists. If you a book a tour don’t do it on this platform. You will be unprotected if any issues arise.

Enjoying the Boat Ride

Richard_P, Dec 2024

Nice boat ride, a bit breezy (not the tours problem). Did not like being dropped off in a different place than we boarded.

Response from Host, Dec 2024

It is stated in the itinerary that the meeting point and endpoint are different places. Therefore, giving us a low star rating ignores the effort of the whole team, it is really sad.

Nice tour

Scott_C, Oct 2024

Nice cruise and service. Difficult to find location to checkin. Good snacks served. Beautiful sunset cruise that allowed to see Istanbul in both the daylight and at night with the city lights are on!

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Thank you for your nice comments and likes. However, giving you four stars is ignoring the efforts of the entire team, it is really sad. We would have loved to have received five stars from you.

Disappointed

Priya_P, Apr 2024

Unfortunately I was quite disappointed by the experience. The tour is advertised as a tour with an “expert guide” however it seemed the guide knew little about Istanbul, the sights or its history as all that was pointed out was clubs, shops and residential areas. There was a group of at least 14 people and as the guide didn’t have a mic or tannoy, nor was his voice particularly loud, we only heard snippets of the tour as he sat with each group separately. Additionally, the tour was meant to end in Karaköy however we were dropped off at Kabataş Pier and told to make our own way back.

Response from Host, Feb 2025

I'm truly sorry to hear about your disappointing experience, and I appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback. It's always our goal to provide a comprehensive and insightful tour, and I regret that we fell short in this instance. Your comments about the guide's knowledge, the audio difficulties, and the change in the drop-off point are valuable and will be looked into immediately to improve the experience for future guests. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused and are committed to making improvements based on your feedback. Thank you again for sharing, and we hope to have the opportunity to provide you with a better experience in the future.

Amazing views and service without a crowded boat!

Cristina_B, Apr 2024

Response from Host, Feb 2025

Thank you for sharing your experience! We're thrilled to hear that you had such a great time, and that Sena, our guide, made a positive impact on your tour. We completely agree that enjoying Istanbul's amazing views without the hassle of crowded spots or long waits really makes the experience special. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we’re so happy to have been part of your journey!

Best activity in Istanbul

Alican_K, Aug 2023

What a fantastic sunset tour on bosphorus. We loved to join this tour. Our tour guide was prof. Everyone should take this activity.

Response from Host, Feb 2025

We're so glad to hear that you had a fantastic time on the Bosphorus sunset tour! It’s wonderful that you enjoyed the experience, and we’re thrilled to know that our guide’s professionalism added to your enjoyment. we agree—this is an activity everyone should experience! Thank you for sharing your feedback!