Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise in Istanbul – 1 Hour

Recommended by 91% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Istanbul, Turkey

1 hour (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

For visitors looking to go beyond Taksim and Sultanahmet Square, the Bosphorus Cruise Boat Tour is the perfect way to see the city from a new perspective. This half-day tour allows you to explore the Bosphorus Strait, see the Asian and European sides of Istanbul, and take in views of city landmarks—all while sipping on Turkish tea or coffee. With a range of convenient pickup locations and included brunch, the Bosphorus Cruise Boat Tour is the perfect way to start your day in Istanbul.

A perfect way to get your bearings at the start of your Istanbul visit
Straddle the continental divide and see Istanbul's Asian and European shores
Witness the commotion of the Bosporus Strait, one of the world's busiest shipping routes
Frame up the perfect group photo with help from your hosts

What's Included

AUDIO Tour Guide in 11 languages
Coffee and/or Tea

Unlimited Free Turkish Tea & Nescafe!
WiFi on board
Restroom on board

Personal Expenses
Tips

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

SeaLand Travel Agency (Eminönü)
Rüstem Paşa, Ragıp Gümüşpala Cd. No:8/2, 34116 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
The meeting point is our Office next to Eminönü Pier. Please check in at the Office before boarding. After check-in, our staff will escort you to the boat. Arrive 15 minutes before departure. Please ensure the address matches Google Maps before arrival.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.5:00 pm

Itinerary

Bosphorus Strait (Pass By)

Additional Info

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

Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 200 travelers

Supplied by

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

Ahad_M

The tour was well organized and the guides gave us good briefing about the city. Overall I had a great time and would highly recommend this tour to people.

Reviews

4.7

based on 105 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Operator incentives good reviews for free food

Junayd_B, Sep 2024

Please note that the operator incentives good reviews with signs all over boat saying 5 star review will get free coffee and cookie. Boat trip overall is ok. Guide isn't good, do not use this trip to to learn about anything. Minimal and repeated in multiple languages. Boat re-docks to pick up more more people during the cruise. Would be easier to just get a ferry a couple of times and look at the views.

Response from Host, Sep 2024

Dear traveler, please note that all Istanbul boat trips will only provide a brief overview of the landmarks. Our cruise is a sightseeing cruise, similar to others, so you should not expect a fully guided tour for the price you have paid. A walking tour at this time may cost you more than 80 euros. Regarding the signs on the boat, we simply encourage people to write us a review. They do so because they enjoyed our tour, not because we forced them to. People write reviews because they received good service for a fair price. You are always welcome to try the public boat to see the difference compared to our cruise. It can be a nightmare when you have to pay a high price for a cup of tea, which is unlimited free on our cruise and it stops more than three times to pick up more passengers. Before making a comparison, please have an experience and then write about it. Thank you.

Not good.

Bruce_C, Sep 2024

Definitely the worst experience of our entire trip. The tour was very disorganized. The tour started 30 minutes late and during that time we were left out on the dock in the pouring rain waiting for the boat. In the end the tour was only two and a half hours instead of the three hours that is advertised.

Response from Host, Sep 2024

Dear traveler, we are sorry to hear about your negative experience with us. Waiting 30 minutes for the boat at the port is impossible as we always depart on time. There may have been a misunderstanding about the delay. Thank you.

Awesome value

Tracy_C, May 2024

Awesome experience, great vision, great commentary, lovely crew on board. Such excellent value for money.

Here is what i thought:...

gabor_h, Jan 2024

Here is what i thought: booking, tour operator reply for questions fast, great. Transfer great on time. Tour: is good bit the one hour stop over is a waste unless you really think will clime up the the small fortress. Nobody did it so just a restaurant time. You dont jeed this one hour. Tour guide telling the h history just a bit what was more than enough and it was im several languarge. So if you want a safe tour its great and you have one hour to just have a tea

Enjoyed the tour

Harold_S, Nov 2023

Good tour. We enjoyed the view and mostly the narration. We had good weather and enjoyed the tea provided. Recommend you have WhatsAP to communicate with the operator if necessary.

Relaxing day cruise

david_m, Oct 2023

A bit chaotic on the pick up and drop off from the hotel, but I was picked up and dropped off as promised. The cruise was as relaxing as I expected it to be. I didn't realise there was a one hour lunch stop. Although they tried I stayed on the boat and if you can I would recommend it. I had an extra 20 cruise as it had to go from the mooring to let other boats dock, not sure if I should be saying that but it's too late now. Great day out

Cruise boat, comfort & staff excellent.

Gloria_T, Sep 2023

The boat was clean, lots of seating, in shade or sun depending on your choice, left on time & back on time. Commentary in several languages. The tour operator picked us up from our hotel & dropped us back, no problem. The elder man organising us at the SeaLand company(ex Seaman) was a lovely warm character & it was a pleasure to talk to him. The stop at Rumelli Fortress was dreadful really, as most of it closed due to restoration. Until that’s finished, don’t bother, the gardens are dry and a mess & there’s very little of interest to see, unfortunately it’s not until you get inside you find that out so a waste of money really. Perhaps SeaLand should remove it from their itinerary until it’s done & for sure whoever controls Rumelli should close it to all Visitors.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Hello there, fellow traveler! We wanted to take a moment to express our gratitude for your kind review and for choosing us to show you around during your tour. It would be our pleasure to welcome you back to Istanbul on your next trip, and we hope that you had a wonderful time during your vacation here. Best regards, Sealand Trip team

Very good experience

Rouzana_H, Jun 2023

Very nice tour guide and clean boat. The hotel pick up was great the drop off could have been arranged a bit better. I wished the tour guide provided more details on the sights we passed by

Boat tour

Rashmitant_P, Jun 2023

The boat was big and nice. The photographer took nice pictures with traditional clothes. My wife loved the experience

A great value trip and sightseeing

Iwan_B, Apr 2023

From the great pickup and drop off service to the boat it self , this has been a very enjoyable experience and great value. Good commentary on board and plenty of space with complimentary tea/coffee and Wi-Fi . The hour at the castle free time was just right. Crew on board very helpful also.

It was very pleasant...

Irina_B, Oct 2022

It was very pleasant experience. I am glad that I decided to take that trip. They picked me at my hotel and gave a ride to a meeting point. The weather was perfect, so it seemed like everyone enjoyed the trip. One hour stop for lunch was also quite well arranged.

Wonderful

Ahad_M, Jul 2022

The tour was well organized and the guides gave us good briefing about the city. Overall I had a great time and would highly recommend this tour to people.

An enjoyable cruise

Stephen_C, Jun 2022

A very enjoyable half day spent sailing the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus. Pickup from hotel smooth and on time. Large deck on boat with plenty of seating. Free tea and coffee. Very informative guide. Includes a 1 hour stop at the fort. Time to visit or simply grab some lunch. 4 hours in total on the boat. Good value. Recommended.

Wonderful tour

Dimple_P, Jun 2022

We booked this tour for my family few days before travel. The price was good and the boat tour was excellent, lasting 4 hours capturing the busy life of Istanbul from the water and seeing the historical building from a distance. The tour includes a pick up from virtually any place which was very convenient. I highly recommend this tour, no regrets.

Top

Akram_N, Aug 2023

Belle balade sur le bosphore, journée ensoleillée idéal pour bronzer et profiter du panorama. Équipage sympa. Bonne ambiance

Fuyez

Rahhal_C, May 2022

Nul, excursion proposée non faites. Pas de transfert prévu. Les visites non faites. Simplement un tour en bateau

Response from Host, May 2022

hello. just like I told you and apologize to you so many times on that day there was high traffic and in case you don't lose the trip we had to take you on foot and from your hotel to the boat is less than 10 minutes... you made the trip and like every day we are doing this trip and we visit Rumeli fortress every day...