Bosphorus Day Cruise – Daily Sightseeing Tour with Audio Guide

See Istanbul’s greatest landmarks from the water in full daylight on a 1.5-hour Bosphorus day cruise departing from Sultanahmet at 12:30 PM and 4:00 PM, a ride between two continents with an audio guide in English, Spanish, Russian and Arabic, from €12 per person.

This is the simplest and most affordable way to see the Bosphorus. You meet your guide in front of Hagia Sophia, walk about ten minutes down to Ahırkapı Pier, collect your headset and find a seat on the open deck. From there the strait does the work: first the old city skyline with Topkapı Palace, the Maiden’s Tower and Galata Tower, then the European palaces, Dolmabahçe, Çırağan and Ortaköy Mosque, before the boat passes under the Bosphorus Bridge, runs along the Asian shore past Beylerbeyi Palace and the wooden yalı mansions, and turns back at the second bridge. The audio guide explains each landmark as it appears, so you get the whole story without joining a group or following a fixed itinerary. There is an indoor salon if the weather turns, and no ticket in Istanbul shows you more for the price.

Tour at a Glance

Highlights

• Navigate the historic waterway separating Asia and Europe
• Observe Topkapı Palace, the Maiden’s Tower and Galata Tower from water level
• Listen to multilingual audio guides, English, Spanish, Russian and Arabic
• Explore the Golden Horn, an ancient commercial hub
• Photograph palaces, mosques and bridges from the best vantage points
• Choose between two departures every day, year-round, 12:30 PM and 4:00 PM

Program

There are two departures every day, all year round: 12:30 PM and 4:00 PM. Meet your guide in front of Hagia Sophia ten minutes beforehand, at 12:20 PM for the midday cruise, or 3:50 PM for the afternoon cruise, and walk down together to Ahırkapı Pier.

• Meet & Walk to the Pier: Meet your guide in front of Hagia Sophia and walk about ten minutes down to Ahırkapı Pier.
• Board: Collect your audio guide at the pier and find a seat on the open deck.
• Golden Horn & Old City: Sail past Topkapı Palace, the Maiden’s Tower and the Galata skyline.
• European Palaces: Dolmabahçe, Çırağan and Ortaköy come into view as the boat approaches the Bosphorus Bridge.
• Under the Bridge, Asian Shore: Cross under the Bosphorus Bridge, pass Beylerbeyi Palace and the wooden yalı mansions, then turn at the second bridge.
• Return to Port: Glide back past the skyline with time to take your favourite photographs before docking.

Route

Old City Shoreline

• Topkapı Palace
• Maiden’s Tower (Kız Kulesi)
• Galata Tower

European Shore

• Dolmabahçe Palace
• Çırağan Palace
• Ortaköy Mosque
• Rumeli Fortress

Asian Shore

• Beylerbeyi Palace
• Küçüksu Pavilion
• Anadolu Fortress
• Wooden yalı mansions

Bridges

• Bosphorus Bridge
• Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge

What’s Included

• Daytime Bosphorus and Golden Horn boat cruise
• Multilingual audio guide (English, Spanish, Russian, Arabic) with personal headphones
• Open-deck access with full views of both shores, plus indoor salon seating
• Friendly onboard crew
• Life jackets and safety briefing
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure

Not Included

• Meals and drinks
• Hotel pickup (available as an optional add-on)
• Tips and gratuities
• Services not mentioned above

Good to Know

• Departures are at 12:30 PM and 4:00 PM every day of the year. Be at the meeting point ten minutes earlier, 12:20 PM or 3:50 PM.
• Meet in front of Hagia Sophia at the Gazete Market kiosk, your guide holds a Grand Boat Line sign. From there it is a 10-minute walk down to Ahırkapı Pier.
• Headsets for the audio guide are handed out at boarding and returned at the end of the cruise.
• Meals and drinks are not included in the ticket.
• Hotel pickup is not included by default but can be added as an optional service.
• The main deck is accessible at most departure piers. If you need step-free access, please contact us in advance so we can assign the most suitable boat.
• Boats run in light rain, and there is an indoor salon on board.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What time does the boat depart?

There are two departures every day, all year round: 12:30 PM and 4:00 PM. Please be at the meeting point ten minutes before, 12:20 PM or 3:50 PM.

2. How long is the cruise?

Approximately 1.5 hours on the water, depending on conditions.

3. Where do we meet, and which pier does the boat leave from?

You meet your guide in front of Hagia Sophia in Sultanahmet, at the Gazete Market kiosk, the guide holds a Grand Boat Line sign. From there it is a 10-minute walk down to Ahırkapı Pier, where the boat departs.

4. Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup is not included in this ticket but can be added as an optional service. Meet-at-pier is the default.

5. Which languages does the audio guide support?

English, Spanish, Russian and Arabic. Headsets are handed out at boarding.

6. Are food and drinks included?

No, meals and drinks are not included in this ticket. If you would like a cruise with a full meal on board, see our lunch and dinner cruises.

7. Is the boat wheelchair-accessible?

The main deck is accessible at most departure piers. Please contact us in advance so we can assign the most suitable boat.

8. What if the weather is bad?

We run in light rain. If we cancel due to weather, you get a full refund or a free reschedule.

9. What is your cancellation policy?

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. Cancellations within 24 hours are non-refundable.