Yacht Tour Istanbul 2027: Private Bosphorus Yacht Tours, Routes and Hourly Prices

A yacht tour in Istanbul is a private boat for your group on the Bosphorus, priced per hour for the whole yacht, not per person. Our cheapest is the 13 m Aura yacht from $190 per hour, a yacht for up to 12 guests is $299 to $600 per hour, and a fixed 2-hour private cruise with a guide is $600 per group. The usual first-time trip is 2 hours from a pier near your hotel.

Quick facts: yacht tour Istanbul 2027

Yacht tour or Bosphorus boat tour: which one do you need

People search both phrases for different things. A boat tour usually means a seat on a shared vessel: the public ferry from Eminönü, a 1-hour sightseeing boat, or a dinner cruise. A yacht tour means the whole boat is yours: your own route, your own time and no other passengers.

Shared options are cheaper per head. On our lists the Bosphorus lunch cruise is $75 per person and the dinner cruise with show is $90 per person. A private yacht pays off from about 4 to 6 people, because the hourly price is split across the group, and it is the only choice when you want a proposal, a birthday or a table of your own.

For a yacht-only comparison of hourly rates, see Bosphorus yacht rental price per hour; a longer guide to private boats is at Istanbul boat rental.

Prices by yacht and group size

The prices below are the starting hourly prices on our tour pages, per yacht. Captain, crew and fuel for the standard Bosphorus route are part of the price. Food and alcohol are normally extra.

Prices vary by season, day and what is included, so ask us for today's price for your date. A 3-hour cruise on the $299 yacht works out to about $897 for the boat, or about $112 per person for 8 guests. For two people, a shared dinner cruise is cheaper; for six or more, the yacht often costs the same per head and the cruise is private.

More detail on every yacht is on our private Bosphorus yacht tour page and the Bosphorus yacht rental page.

The route: what you see from the water

The standard route runs north along the European shore and back along the Asian side. First comes Dolmabahçe Palace, the 19th-century palace of the last sultans, then Ortaköy Mosque under the Bosphorus Bridge, then Beylerbeyi Palace on the Asian shore, and Rumeli Fortress at the narrowest point of the strait. The Maiden's Tower sits on its islet just off Üsküdar.

Where you start changes how the two hours are spent. From Eminönü or Karaköy you pass the Old City skyline and Galata first, which suits a sightseeing group. From Bebek or İstinye the fortress and bridges are minutes away, so more of the trip is spent between the palaces and the villages on the upper Bosphorus.

Piers and where to board

Most guests board at one of five points. Eminönü suits Sultanahmet hotels, Karaköy and Galataport suit the city centre and cruise passengers, and Bebek, İstinye and Arnavutköy are on the upper Bosphorus. Several of our yachts also offer hotel or Galataport pick-up, which is arranged for you when you request the boat. Tell us where you are staying and we confirm the pier.

How many people fit

Capacity depends on the yacht, not on your budget. Aura, AMESİN N and the standard private yachts take up to 12, ZENDAY up to 22, Marilyn up to 28, White İstanbul up to 32, the mega yacht up to 40 and Corona Tokyo up to 72. Do not exceed the stated number: children count as guests.

A yacht for 6 to 32 guests is our most flexible choice for families and friend groups, at $525 per hour. A small couple's trip or a proposal works on any of the 12-guest boats; a company event needs the bigger boats.

How long: 2, 3 or 4 hours

• 2 hours. The core route: palaces, Ortaköy, the bridges, Rumeli Fortress and back. Enough for a first sightseeing cruise or a proposal.
• 3 hours. Time for a stop in front of the fortress, a meal on board and a return before dark. Comfortable for families.
• 4 hours. A slow trip toward the Black Sea end of the strait or a full sunset-to-dusk cruise. The usual choice for birthdays and parties.

Each extra hour is charged at the same hourly price.

What it costs per person

The easiest way to judge value is to divide the hourly price by the group. On the $299 yacht, a 2-hour cruise is about $598 for the boat: $150 per person for 4 guests, $100 for 6 and $75 for 8. On the $525 family and friends yacht, 2 hours is $1,050, which is about $53 per person for 20 guests. Compare that with $75 to $90 per person on a shared cruise and the picture is clear: a yacht is the cheaper choice per head for a larger group, and the dearer one for a couple.

Two cautions. Food and drink are extra on most boats, and a cruise that runs past the booked hours is charged at the hourly price. Tell us the final head count early: the right yacht is chosen by capacity first and price second.

Sunset, dinner and night cruises

Sunset is the most requested slot. It moves from around 17:00 in December to around 20:30 in June, so we plan departure about an hour and a half before sunset for your date. Our sunset Bosphorus yacht cruise page lists the times by month.

Food and drink on board can be arranged: lunch or dinner, a birthday cake, flowers or a photographer are common extras, and several yachts allow your own food. Alcohol is not included. For a party see yacht party Istanbul and birthday yacht party Istanbul; for a proposal, Bosphorus yacht proposal.

Seasons and weather

• April to June: mild days, long evenings. The best balance of weather and price.
• July and August: hot afternoons, so most guests choose a late departure with the sunset.
• September and October: clear evenings and fewer people on the shore.
• November to March: cold on deck, but the interior lounges are warm and the water is clear. Sunsets are early, so a 16:00 start can end in the dark.

The Bosphorus is a working strait with ferries and tankers, and a strong northerly wind can make the upper strait choppy. The captain may shorten or reroute the cruise for comfort, so keep a flexible hour in your plan. Bring a light jacket in every season.

Other boats in Istanbul

If you want to compare more boats before choosing, takeyacht.com lists yachts for Istanbul as well. To pair a yacht with a car and guide, see our luxury Istanbul tours, and for the rest of the water, the Istanbul tours category. Multi-day trips that include a Bosphorus cruise are on packages.

What we need to quote a yacht

Five things: the date, the preferred departure time, the number of guests including children, the pier or hotel, and the occasion. With those we reply with the matching yacht, the hourly price, the number of hours and any extras, so you can compare. We organise the yacht, the pier or pick-up and the extras.

Frequently Asked Questions