Istanbul: Bosphorus and Golden Horn Cruise with Audio Guide
Badge of Excellence
Istanbul, Turkey
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
What's Included
- Boat cruise
- Audio guide
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Cankurtaran, Ayasofya Meydanı No:2, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Meet your guide with the Grand Boat Line sign in his hand in front of the Gazete Market kiosk opposite the Hagia Sophia. Follow them on a 10minute walk down to the pier.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Bosphorus Strait (Pass By)
Galata Tower (Pass By)
Golden Horn (Pass By)
Dolmabahce Palace (Pass By)
Ortakoy (Pass By)
Bosphorus Bridge (Pass By)
Rumeli Fortress (Pass By)
Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge (Pass By)
Anadoluhisarı (Pass By)
Beylerbeyi Palace (Pass By)
KIz Kulesi (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 100 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
voishim_W
Comfortable journey started with a funny guided walk to the river . Useful commentary given during cruise but can be more specific
Reviews
4.4
based on 84 reviews
Ling_C, Apr 2025
Great experience. One of the most scenic boat rides. Although a bit crowded, still manageable and enjoyable.
Jonathan_W, Sep 2024
Just a great experience and well organized. we were lucky with the weather and got to see the awesome place which is Istanbul from the water.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the cruise. Thank you for your kind review!
Richard_S, Jul 2024
Good way to see and hear about most of the places of interest.
Pity that the culture of extracting money from tourists was evident.
It would greatly improve the trip if the drinks/fruit were offered for free.
But it is Turkey. Nothing is for free, just a means of gaining financial gain.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Thank you for your nice comments and likes. However, giving you four stars ignores the efforts of the entire team, it is really sad. We would have loved to have received five stars from you.
R_B, May 2024
Took this cruise because the cruise we booked to the black sea was cancelled due to wind. This trip was a great alternative and we were happy spent quite a bit less but saw most everything we wanted to see.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
I'm glad to hear that the alternative cruise is a great option! It's always a pleasant surprise when a change of plans still leads to an enjoyable experience. We are really glad you liked it.
Laene_T, Apr 2024
Amazing trip taking you to lots of well known areas in Istanbul
Overall very relaxing and we had the best experience
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Looks like you had a great time! Exploring famous sites while relaxing on a tour is always a great way to enjoy the city. I'm really glad you liked it and thank you for your comment.
Jeannette_C, Apr 2024
The cruise goes further up the Bosphorus than expected with lots to see along the coast. The commentary was out of synch after a while describing things we couldn’t yet see. There was no commentary at all on the return (along the Asian side) although there a number of things I would have liked to know more about.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for your feedback regarding the Bosphorus cruise. We're glad to hear that the cruise took you further up the Bosphorus and that there were plenty of sights to enjoy along the coast. We sincerely apologize for the issues you experienced with the commentary being out of sync and the lack of commentary on the return leg along the Asian side. We understand how important it is to have informative and timely narration throughout the entire journey, and we will work on improving this aspect to provide a more seamless experience. Your insights are valuable, and we appreciate you sharing them with us. We hope to welcome you again soon for an even better experience!
lubna94, Mar 2024
Very well organised and a detailed tour. We enjoyed it a lot. We went in March and it get’s quite cold on the boat so just remember to wrap up
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for your kind feedback! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found it well-organized. It’s great advice to keep in mind, especially for those visiting in cooler months. We hope to welcome you again on another tour soon!
Aftab_H, Feb 2024
It is value for money @approximately £10 per head for a two hour ride
However, do not expect to hear the tour guide commentary in any of the six languages as the speaker system on the boat is not fit for purpose
Fine if you just want to enjoy the views without learning about where you are at
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! We’re glad to hear that you found the tour to be a good value for money. We do apologize for the issues with the speaker system, as we strive to provide a clear and informative experience for all our guests. Your feedback is really valuable, and we’ll definitely work on improving the audio quality. We hope to see you again and offer a more seamless experience!
Wafa_C, Jan 2024
You'll miss the whole experience if you take this tour. They don't explain, that talk in multiple languages that by the time they get to yours you'll be passed the monument. I got lost in all the languages, they skipped my language many times and when they don't, they talk extremely briefly about the monuments.. not professional at all. 0 value for my Money
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for your feedback. We’re really sorry to hear about your disappointment with the tour. We strive to provide a comprehensive and enjoyable experience for all our guests, and we apologize for the frustration caused by the language issues and the lack of detailed commentary. Your comments are very helpful, and we will certainly work on improving the audio and timing to ensure a better experience for future travelers. We appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts.
voishim_W, Nov 2023
Comfortable journey started with a funny guided walk to the river . Useful commentary given during cruise but can be more specific
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for your feedback! We're glad to hear you enjoyed the journey and the guided walk to the river. We appreciate your suggestion about making the commentary more specific. We'll certainly take that into account as we aim to enhance the experience for future guests.
Febrina_M, Nov 2023
Nice trip that start before sunswt. So we could see Istanbul view during daylight and when it started to get dark. Very beatiful of city views from the bosphorus. Unfortunately the audio guide was only frol 1 loudspeaker, which is not clear and I cannot herlar most of the explanation.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're glad to hear you enjoyed the views of Istanbul both in daylight and as the city started to light up. We appreciate your feedback about the audio guide, and we understand how frustrating it can be when the sound quality isn't clear. We’ll take this into consideration to improve the experience for future guests. Your input is invaluable to us!
Johanna_M, Nov 2023
It was poorly organized due to a number of reasons:
1. it made no sense that we did not meet at the boat directly. Like this we had to litterally RUN in a group of 200 people towards the boat. everyone was running because they wanted the best sport on tje boat.
2. at the entrance tp the boat everyone was pushing because we all arrived at the same time, it was very stressful, uncomfortable and chaotic.
3. on the boat there were not nearly enough sitting spots for everyone.
4. it just felt like a commercial, because they wanted to sell photos, food and drinks all of the time and it was very annoying at one point.
5. they almost insistend to take photos of you with a real parrot which was not animal friendly at all and should not be done, as the parrot was on the very loud and crowded boat all the time and was handed to random people so that they could take photos of it which were later sold.
6. you could not understand anything from the audioguide because it was poor quality and way too loud on the boat.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for sharing your detailed feedback. We're sorry to hear about your disappointing experience, and we completely understand your concerns. The points you’ve raised about organization, overcrowding, and the issues with the photo sales and animal welfare are important and will definitely be reviewed to ensure improvements for future guests. We take guest comfort and safety seriously, and we value your input in helping us make the experience better for everyone. Your comments about the audio guide are also noted, and we'll work on improving the sound quality for clearer communication.
Benu_P, Oct 2023
Was a good boat, comfortable ride and a clear audio in multiple languages. We were given updates as to the meeting points. My friend and me both enjoyed the cruise.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for your positive feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you and your friend had a comfortable and enjoyable experience on the boat. It's great that the audio was clear and that the meeting points were well communicated. We hope to welcome you both back for another memorable cruise!
JoseLuisAntonio_L, Aug 2023
We met in Sultanhamet near the Hagia Sophia and after 15 minutes had to walk more than a kilometer downhill to the boat pier. If we knew, we would have met up in the port area instead. While the ride was great, the audio system was wonky and distorted and could not be heard on our side of the ship. But we managed to view a lot of great sights around the Bosphorus. You get for what it's worth but if travelling with a larger group, maybe charter a private or smaller boat tour instead.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for your feedback! We're glad to hear that you enjoyed the ride and the sights around the Bosphorus, but we apologize for the inconvenience caused by the walk and the audio system. We understand that the journey could have been more convenient, and we appreciate your suggestion about the audio clarity. We hope that despite the hiccups, you had a memorable time on the cruise, and we hope to have the opportunity to improve your experience in the future!
Hanif_D, Jul 2023
A delightful cruise perfect for our family, many pics and videos taken. The weather was perfect with a warm wind.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience! We are so glad to hear that you and your family enjoyed the trip and that the weather was so nice. Sounds like a perfect trip! Thank you very much for this nice comment.
Tanya_G, Jun 2023
Really good boat tour, lasted just over 2 hours, once the commentary ended u could admire the views and relax and enjoy the tour on the way back, went for the 7pm sailing and could watch the sunset. The views are beautiful
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for your feedback! We're delighted you enjoyed the boat tour, especially the beautiful sunset views. Relaxing and admiring the Bosphorus scenery makes for a great experience. Hope to welcome you again!
Sharon_T, Jun 2023
We had a great time on the boat. Very informative, provided enough interesting information about the sites we were passing in different languages.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for your feedback! We're happy to hear you had a great time and found the information provided interesting and informative. Hope to welcome you again!
Hayden_H, Jun 2023
This is the pinnacle of a “touristy” experience. Constantly trying to sell you things on the boat, take photos with you and jam it packed full of people. Nice views though.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience. We appreciate your feedback and take it into consideration to improve the overall experience. Glad you enjoyed the views!
Chun_L, Apr 2023
The cruise was good and nice, as you can see the Golden Horn and the Bosporus. Downside is that they let too much passengers on the boat. It was simply overcrowded. And the walk from the meeting point in front of Hagia Sophia to the boat was disorganized. One big mess.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
The views seem great, but I understand how overcrowding and disorganized meeting point can detract from the experience. It can definitely be frustrating when the logistics don't go smoothly. and we will try to fix that through your comment but hopefully the cruise made up for some of that! Thank you for sharing your feedback.
Jazmin_M, Mar 2023
The boat ride was nice. The only complain I have is that the audio was terrible, it was very low volume and you can not hear what was the description of the places we were looking at.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
It’s unfortunate that the audio wasn’t clear enough to enjoy the commentary, especially when you're trying to learn about the sights around you. Hopefully, the views and the experience of the boat ride made up for it, but it sounds like that’s something that could definitely be improved. Thanks for sharing!
Satyam_D, Nov 2022
There was a great atmosphere. We had a tour together with people from many nationalities. Thanks to the whole team.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
This looks like a great experience! It's always great to meet people from all over the world while enjoying a nice tour. Glad to hear the team made everything special! Also thank you very much for your comment.
Fabio_S, Nov 2022
A great trip. The Bosphorus is amazing. I joined the tour alone, it was very easy from start to finish. I recommend!
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Glad you had a smooth and enjoyable experience! The Bosphorus truly is a breathtaking sight. Thank you for your recommendation!
Norbert_F, Mar 2025
Massenabfertigung in einem uralten und total überfüllten Touristenschiff.
Leider gab es KEINEN Audioguide (darunter verstehe ich einen persönlichen Kopfhörer inkl. Durchsagen in einer frei wählbaren Sprache z.B. Englisch).
Die Durchsagen wurden in mehreren Sprachen (aber NICHT IN ENGLISCH!) durchgesagt. Leider alles auch akustisch nur sehr schwer zu verstehen.
Außerdem absolute Abzocke was z.B. Getränke angeht (EFES 0,33 ltr. 7 €!)
Einmal und nie wieder. Lieber buche ich beim nächsten Mal eine Rundfahrt mit weniger Personen und mit deutlicher Aussprache.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We regret to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations. Our goal is to provide an enjoyable and memorable evening for all our guests, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience you encountered.
Regarding the announcements, we strive to accommodate multiple languages to cater to our diverse guests. However, we understand that clarity is essential, and we will take your comments into account to improve the audio quality and language options. Additionally, we acknowledge your concerns about the drink prices and will review them to ensure they remain fair and competitive.
We appreciate your honest input, as it helps us enhance our service and guest experience. We hope you will consider giving us another opportunity in the future with an improved experience.
Rafael_O, May 2024
Lo que mas recuerdo es que no existe la audio guía que anuncian en sus ofertas, se limitan a una grabación en bucle en varios idiomas que apenas se oye nada, solamente se oye cuando ofertan las diferentes cosas que se venden en el barco.
También se anuncia como "crucero por el Bósforo y el Cuerno de Oro con audioguía", pero no hay audio guía y el cuerno de oro es justamente hasta que pasa el puente de Gálata, y da la vuelta.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
I'm sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations, especially due to the lack of the advertised audio guide. It must be frustrating that the registration cycle is not helpful and the tour does not cover all the promised locations. Thank you for sharing your feedback and we will do our best to make your next visit more satisfactory!
ADRIANA_F, Apr 2024
Excelente paseo. Hermosas vistas. Buena explicación del guía. Aprendiendo mientras se disfruta la naturaleza y la historia.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Looks like you had a great time! Stunning views and a great guide can make all the difference on a tour. Thank you very much indeed for your comment.
Endika_N, May 2023
Crucero por el Bósforo a precio asequible para visitar los puntos más importantes de la ciudad con opción de contratar actividades adicionales a bordo. La audioguía por megáfono en 4 idiomas generaba un pequeño delay entre el audio y lo visitado en ese momento, pero la comunicación con la agencia muy fluida para encontrar el punto de encuentro y que todo fuese satisfactorio. Recomendable.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for your feedback! We're glad to hear that you had a positive experience, even with the slight delay in the audio guide. It's great to know that the communication with the agency was smooth and that you found the cruise enjoyable. We appreciate your recommendation!
From $21.45
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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