Bosphorus Private Boat Tour 2027: Routes, Boat Sizes and Hourly Prices

A private Bosphorus boat tour with us starts at $190 an hour for the 12-guest Aura from Eminönü, and $299 an hour for our private yacht for up to 12 guests, minimum two hours. You rent the whole boat, with captain and crew, so the price is per boat, not per person. If you would rather have a guide on board, the 2-hour private Bosphorus yacht cruise is $600 per group and includes a licensed guide and tea or coffee.

Most groups choose two hours: long enough to run from the Old City to Rumeli Fortress and back with the palaces, bridges and waterfront mansions in view. This page shows which boat fits which group, what the hourly prices cover, where the boats leave from and which route to ask for. Our full fleet is on Istanbul boat rental.

Quick facts: Bosphorus private boat tour

Which boat for which group: hourly prices

The boats differ in size, pier and amenities. Prices below are the from-prices on our tour pages, per hour for the whole boat:

Prices vary by season, day of the week and the length of the charter, so ask us for the price on your date. When you compare with other quotes, check what each price covers: captain, fuel, port fees, drinks and VAT are not always included.

Pick by group size first. Two to four people on a budget do well on Aura. A family of five to ten fits the 12-guest yacht, which has indoor and outdoor seating and works in any season. Birthday groups of 15 to 30 want the family and friends yacht or Zenday. For parties of 30 to 40, only the mega yacht has the space. Our blog post on the price per hour of Bosphorus yacht rental explains how hourly pricing builds up.

Routes: what you pass on a private boat tour

The standard route runs north along the European shore, turns round at Rumeli Fortress and returns along the Asian shore. Heading out from Eminönü you pass, in order:

• Dolmabahçe Palace, the white marble palace of 1856, with its clock tower and mosque next door;
• Ortaköy Mosque, the small baroque mosque in front of the Bosphorus Bridge;
• the Bosphorus Bridge (15 July Martyrs Bridge), the first of the three crossings;
• Beylerbeyi Palace on the Asian shore, right beside the bridge;
• Rumeli Fortress and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, at the narrowest part of the strait;
• on the way back, Kuleli Military School and the Maiden's Tower off Üsküdar.

Because the boat is yours, you can change this with the captain before you set off: stay longer in front of a palace, go further north towards the Black Sea, or loiter in a bay for photographs. Longer routes beyond the standard Bosphorus route are not in the base price on Aura and Zenday. If you want a guide to name every building, add the guided 2-hour cruise.

If you want to compare, other ways to see the same shores are in our things to do on the Bosphorus page and in the Bosphorus cruise guide.

How long should a private Bosphorus tour be

Two hours is the minimum on our hourly boats and the right length for first-timers. It covers the palaces, both bridges and Rumeli Fortress without rushing. Three hours gives time to anchor for a drink and photographs, or to go north of the second bridge. Four hours or more is for parties, and swimming stops become possible. Swimming is only really pleasant from late May to September.

The Bosphorus itself is not a swimming strait for strong currents and heavy traffic, so swimming stops use sheltered bays chosen by the captain. If swimming is the point, tell us when you enquire so we choose the right boat and time.

For a quick comparison with shared boats: a public ferry or sightseeing cruise is cheaper per person, but you share a deck with strangers and a set timetable. Our comparison of Bosphorus cruise prices sets the options side by side, and which Bosphorus cruise to book helps you decide.

Piers and pick-up: Eminönü, İstinye and Galataport

Eminönü is the pier for Aura, next to the Galata Bridge and a short tram ride from Sultanahmet on the T1 line. İstinye, where Zenday is based, is on the upper European shore. It puts you near Rumeli Fortress within minutes, and the yacht then goes south past the palaces, so the same two hours show you the upper Bosphorus first. Bosphorus Marina is the base for the 12-guest luxury yacht.

For the larger yachts, pick-up and drop-off from your hotel or Galataport cruise terminal are part of the price, which suits cruise-ship passengers on a tight schedule. For Aura and Zenday, hotel transfers are available on request. Tell us your hotel and we will say which pier is nearest and how long the drive takes. Traffic on the shore roads is heavy in the late afternoon, so allow extra time for a sunset departure.

Sunset and evening cruises

Sunset is the most requested slot. Istanbul sunset is around 16:45 in December and around 20:30 in late June, so start roughly 90 minutes before. Because the boat is private you choose the exact time. The bridges light up after dark, which makes a late departure attractive for proposals, anniversaries and birthdays.

Our sunset Bosphorus yacht cruise page lists the boats best suited to the evening, and Bosphorus yacht rental in Istanbul covers the overall offer. If you want a shared evening with a meal and a show, the Bosphorus dinner cruise is $90 per person. For a wider choice of yachts at other piers and for event boats, our sister site takeyacht.com has more listings.

What is included and what is not

On our hourly yachts the price covers the whole boat, a licensed captain and crew, fuel for the standard Bosphorus route, port fees, insurance and a waiter for the stated number of guests. Soft drinks, tea and water are included on the 12-guest yacht and bottled water on the larger ones.

Not included on most boats: lunch or dinner on board, alcoholic drinks, hotel transfers on the smaller boats, cake and decorations, and extra guests above the stated number. On Aura and Zenday you may bring your own food and drinks and the crew will serve them; only catering teams may use the galley. Catering menus, flowers and decorations can be arranged on request.

Rules on board: cabins are not used on hourly charters, and confetti, torches, fireworks, flammable materials and barbecues are not allowed. Pets are welcome on selected boats if you tell us in advance. We organise the boat, the pier, the crew and the pick-up so that all you have to do is turn up.

Combining the boat with a day in Istanbul

A boat tour pairs well with a morning on land. The Dolmabahce Palace private tour from $150 per person visits the palace you will see from the water in the afternoon. The Bosphorus lunch cruise with hotel pick-up is a shared alternative from $75 per person, and a private tour guide in Istanbul can plan the day around the boat.

Several of our yachts are also used for celebrations. If you are planning a party, see yacht party in Istanbul, and for a general overview of what each boat offers, the yacht tour in Istanbul and private Bosphorus yacht tour pages go further.

Frequently Asked Questions