Istanbul: Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Sunset Option

Your tour begins at Eminönü Pier

Meet at Eminönü Pier along Istanbul's bustling waterfront. A marine officer greets you at the dock, helps you aboard, and hands you a cruise map as passengers settle into open-air seats.

Pass the iconic Galata Tower

Begin the cruise, and watch the stone cylinder of Galata Tower rise above the European shore. This 14th-century Genoese watchtower once tracked ships entering the Golden Horn, and today it still commands attention over the neighborhood's sloped rooftops.

Sail under the Bosphorus Bridge

Glide beneath the 1973 suspension bridge that first linked Europe and Asia by road. Steel cables stretch overhead as you pass between two continents, with city traffic humming above.

Admire Dolmabahce Palace on the shore

The white marble façade of Dolmabahce Palace stretches along the European waterfront. Built in the 1800s, this sprawling imperial residence replaced older palaces and served as the Ottoman sultans' final seat of power before the empire dissolved.

View Ortaköy Mosque and Beylerbeyi Palace

The delicate minarets of Ortaköy Mosque frame the water's edge, while across the strait, Beylerbeyi Palace sits surrounded by cypress trees. Both were built as royal retreats, offering sultans summer escapes from inland heat.