Bosphorus Cruise in Istanbul: Public Ferry, Tour Boat or Sunset Cruise?

In short: For the full Bosphorus on a budget, take the city ferry company’s Long Bosphorus Tour (Uzun Boğaz Turu) from Eminönü up to the fishing village of Anadolu Kavağı near the Black Sea and back. If you have only a couple of hours, a short tour boat from Eminönü is easier. For commentary, a smaller boat or dinner on the water, book a guided, sunset or dinner cruise.

Last checked: 10 November 2026. Timetables change with the seasons; always check the current one before you go.

Your options at a glance

The Long Bosphorus Tour by city ferry

The city ferry company, Şehir Hatları, runs the classic trip. The ferry leaves Eminönü in the morning, calls at piers on both shores such as Beşiktaş, Üsküdar, Kanlıca, Sarıyer and Rumeli Kavağı, and ends at Anadolu Kavağı, where the Bosphorus opens towards the Black Sea. You then have a few hours ashore before the afternoon ferry takes you back the same way.

At Anadolu Kavağı, most people walk uphill to the ruins of Yoros Castle for a wide view over the strait and the Black Sea, then eat fish by the harbour. The walk is steep, so wear good shoes.

What you will see

• Dolmabahçe and Çırağan palaces: the long white Ottoman palaces on the European shore.
• Ortaköy Mosque: the small baroque mosque right on the water, under the first bridge.
• The bridges: the July 15 Martyrs Bridge and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge. The third, newest bridge (Yavuz Sultan Selim) is further north, near the Black Sea. Short tours turn long before it; on the long tour you can see it in the distance from Yoros Castle.
• Rumeli Hisarı: the 15th-century fortress at the narrowest point of the strait.
• Beylerbeyi Palace and the yalıs: the Ottoman summer palace, and the wooden waterside mansions in Arnavutköy, Bebek, Kandilli and along both shores.
• The Maiden’s Tower: the little tower on its rock off Üsküdar. See our Maiden’s Tower guide.

Guided, sunset and dinner cruises

Private companies run many kinds of cruises. Guided cruises add live or audio commentary, and some include hotel pick-up. Sunset cruises on smaller boats or yachts are popular with couples; the light on the palaces and mosques at the end of the day is beautiful. Dinner cruises sail after dark, with dinner and a show on board, past the lit-up bridges.

Booking ahead is useful in summer and at weekends, and most online bookings can be cancelled free of charge up to a day before.

Tips for a good cruise

• Which side to sit: sailing north from Eminönü, the European shore is on your left and the Asian shore on your right. On the way back they swap, so you see both.
• Bring a layer: it is windy on the water, even on warm days, and cold from late autumn to spring.
• A quick taste for little money: if you have no time for a cruise, a regular commuter ferry, for example from Eminönü or Karaköy to Üsküdar or Kadıköy, gives you a short trip across the water (about 20 minutes) with great views of the old city. Pay with an Istanbulkart.
• Morning or evening: mornings are calmer and better for photos of the European shore; evenings are for sunset and the lights.

What is nearby

Most cruises leave from Eminönü, a short walk from the Spice Bazaar and the Grand Bazaar. From Karaköy you can walk up to Galata Tower, and from Kabataş the tram goes back to Sultanahmet.

What travellers say

• “The public ferry is the best value in Istanbul.” Many say it is one of their favourite days in the city.
• “Pay for a tour if you want the stories.” A guide explains the palaces and mansions you pass.
• “Don’t expect all three bridges.” Short tours turn well before the newest bridge; on the long tour you see it from Yoros Castle.
• “The fish restaurants by the pier are the busiest.” Walk a little further for a quieter table.

Summarised in our own words from travellers’ reviews and travel guides. We do not list prices, because they change often.

Bosphorus cruise: questions

More Istanbul guides: 3 days in Istanbul · Where to stay · Ferry to the Asian side

Cover photo: the Bosphorus, by Matti Blume, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons