Istanbul Sunset Cruise on Luxury Yacht - Guided Group Cruise

based on 673 reviews

Duration:2 hours 15 minutes (approx.)
Location: Istanbul, Turkey

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Enjoy the end of your day with one of the most beautiful sunset views with world's top heritage sites, all from the comfort of a luxury yacht. During this Bosphorus cruise, you’ll sail down both European and Asian sides of the renowned strait, covering highlights like 19th-century Dolmabahce Palace, imposing Rumeli Fortress, and the iconic towers of Maiden and Galata. Guided tour including complimentary refreshments, fruits, nuts, baklava, and homemade lemonade.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. Bosphorus Strait
The Bosphorus, or Bosporus with its historical name, is a strait and international waterway that separates the continents of Asia and Europe and connects the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. The Bosphorus generally stretches in the northeast-southwest direction and divides the city of Istanbul into the European Side and the Anatolian Side. The Bosphorus is a gateway connecting Asia and Europe and is 30 kilometers long. It is the point that connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. The depth of the Bosphorus is 60 meters on average, and the deepest point reaches up to 120 meters. Its width is very variable due to its distance from the shore, and its widest point is 3500 meters. In the Bosphorus, there are currents from the Black Sea to the Marmara on the water surface, and from the Marmara to the Black Sea underwater. There are also occasional counter currents on the water surface.
2. Dolmabahce Palace
Dolmabahçe Palace is an Ottoman palace located on an area of 250.000 m² in Istanbul, Beşiktaş, between Dolmabahçe Street stretching from Kabataş to Beşiktaş and the Bosphorus. It is located on the left bank at the entrance to the Bosphorus from the Sea of Marmara, opposite Uskudar and Kuzguncuk. Dolmabahçe, which used to be a cove where ships anchored in ancient times, became the favorite residence of the sultanate, carries the memory of centuries and the clear splendor of the waters of the Bosphorus.
3. Ortakoy
Ortakoy is a neighborhood and district in the district of Beşiktas, on the European side of the Bosphorus. Ortakoy district, which consists of Ortakoy and Mecidiye districts, is a settlement established on the slopes along the valley opening to the coast. The northern border of the district, which is surrounded by Kurucesme, Ulus, Levazım, Balmumcu and Yildiz districts, is Defterdarburnu. Ortakoy Bazaar is lively at all hours of the day with its "intellectual market", souvenir shops, cafes, bars and restaurants inside the bazaar. But in the early hours of the morning, the market is a bit uninspiring. The movement starts after 10:00 am...
4. Bosphorus Bridge
The feet of the Bosphorus Bridge, one of the two suspension bridges on the Bosphorus, are located in Ortaköy on the European side and in Beylerbeyi on the Anatolian side. The Bosphorus Bridge, the first bridge built on the Bosphorus, provides access between the two sides of the city, together with the later Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge and the ferries operating on the Bosphorus. The idea of building a bridge over the Bosphorus is quite old. After many attempts, the construction of the Bosphorus Bridge started in 1970 and the bridge was opened on 29 October 1973, the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic. This suspension bridge, which is an important link in the Turkish transportation network and is very active at all hours of the day, is also an important crossing point of the Istanbul Eurasa Marathon organized by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. In addition to transportation, the bridge is one of the important symbols of Istanbul with its unique Bosphorus view.
5.
The Cıragan Palace was commissioned by Sultan Abdulaziz and designed by the architect Sarkis Balyan. It is located in the place of a former wooden summer palace built by Selim Ill in 1800. In the course of the palace's construction the wooden structure and the nearby Besiktas Mevlevihane were destroyed. Cıragan's construction was completed in 1871. The palace is made of marble and is spread out over a total area of 80,000 square meters. After Abdelaziz was deposed, he was imprisoned here for years together with his family. After Murat V was deposed, he was also imprisoned here in a similar fashion for 29 years with his family. After the declaration of the Second Constitutional Monarchy in 1908, the palace was used as the House of Parliament, however it was damaged by fire in 1910. The palace grounds were transferred to the Besiktas Sports Club and were used for some time as the Seref Stadium. Toward the beginning of the 1990's the palace was restored and reopened as a luxury hotel.
6. Rumeli Fortress
Located in Sariyer, Rumeli Fortress (Rumeli Hisari) was constructed directly across from the Anadolu Hisari (the Anatolian Fortress). Construction began in 1453 at the order of Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror placing the fortress at the narrowest point of the Bosphorus. The construction was completed in the short span of three months. Before the conquest of Istanbul, it was used to protect against naval attacks. After the conquest it was used to as an inspection point for maritime traffic on the Bosphorus. Over the centuries, the area inside the fortress filled with small wooden houses but in the course of restoration work in 1953 these houses were removed. After its restoration, the fortress came to be known for the numerous concerts given here during the summer months, and it now serves as an open-air theater and museum.
7. Bebek Sahili
Bebek is a historic Istanbul neighborhood, located on the European shores of the Bosporus, surrounded by Arnavutkoy, Etiler and Rumeli Hisari. The direct translation of the word Bebek is baby which is a reference to the neighborhood's attractive positioning on the Bosphorus. A popular residential district since the Ottoman rule, Bebek's population reflects the diverse society of the time. Today with its historical buildings such as Bogazici University and waterside mansions, with it's beautiful Bosphorus view and fancy restaurants.
8. Anadolu Hisari Fort
The Anatolian Fortress (Anadolu Hisari) is located in in Beykoz (on the Asian Side), at the narrowest point of the Bosphorus. It was built in 1395 by Beyazit I and is made up of a citadel and its exterior castle walls. After the conquest of Istanbul, it lost much of its strategic importance and was converted into a military hospital. Over time the area around the castle became settled. Today waterfront houses and old mansions are dispersed among the castle's ruins. During restoration work which lasted from 1991-1993 it was converted into a museum however it is not open to the public. Today, Anadolu Hisari is an open-air museum but only outer walls can be visited, and the road passes just through it.
9. Kucuksu Pavilion
The Anatolian Fortress (Anadolu Hisari) is located in in Beykoz (on the Asian Side), at the narrowest point of the Bosphorus. It was built in 1395 by Beyazit I and is made up of a citadel and its exterior castle walls. After the conquest of Istanbul, it lost much of its strategic importance and was converted into a military hospital. Over time the area around the castle became settled. Today waterfront houses and old mansions are dispersed among the castle's ruins. During restoration work which lasted from 1991-1993 it was converted into a museum however it is not open to the public. Today, Anadolu Hisari is an open-air museum but only outer walls can be visited, and the road passes just through it.
10. Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge
Istanbul's second bridge spanning the Bosphorus, the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge (Fatih Sultan Mehmet Koprusu) was built between Kavacik and Hisarustu. Construction began in 1986 and the bridge opened on the 3rd of July 1988. The Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge is the 14th largest steel suspension bridge in the world. Along with the Bosphorus Bridge and the city's ferries, the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge carries a significant portion of Istanbul's trans-Bosphorus traffic. It has also become an unforgettable piece of the Istanbul skyline.
11. Beylerbeyi Palace
The Beylerbeyi Palace (It means -Lord of Lords") is an Ottoman summer palace complex built in the 1860's on the shores of the Bosphorus. Today it lies right under the Bosphorus bridge. The building was designed by the well-known architect Sarkis Balyan and it combines elements of renaissance, baroque and other styles from both the East and West. The main building of the complex is a two-store construction, made of stone, on a high basement. The building was constructed on a land of about 2,500 square meters sits on a rectangular floor area. The South side of the Palace was organized as Imperial Mabeyn and The North side as Valide Sultan's Apartment. There is total 6 halls, 24 rooms, 1 hamam and 1 bathroom at two stores. In addition to the fantastic view of the Bosphorus and historical architecture, one should not miss exploring its lily pond and large garden.
12. KIz Kulesi
The Maiden's Tower (Kiz Kulesi) is a distinctive feature of the Bosporus skyline. Built on a tiny island located about 200m from the shore of Uskudar, the tower is the main subject to many legends. The most popular legend though is about a sultan and his daughter. An oracle prophesied that the sultan's daughter would be killed by a snake bite on her 18th birthday. The sultan decided to protect her from this misfortune and had the tower built in the middle of the Bosphorus, where she was put to live her life in secrecy and protection. Finally on her 18th birthday, the sultan brought her a basket of fruits as a birthday gift, not aware of the hidden snake inside. Upon reaching into the basket the princess got bitten by the snake and died in her father's arms as foreseen by the oracle. Referring to this legend the tower got its name: Maiden's tower.
13. Galata Tower
Built by Genoese in 1348, the nine-story tower is 66.90 meters, and it was the tallest building in the city when built. In the Ottoman Era, the tower has been used for different purposes such as a fire observatory and a jail. During its long history, the tower witnessed a lot, but the most striking occasion undoubtedly was in 1632, when Hezarfen Ahmet Celebi glided from the top of the Galata Tower across the Bosphorus to Uskudar with his self-constructed wings. During a storm in 1875, the conic roof of the tower was destroyed and was not restored during the rest of the Ottoman Era. In 1960s the conical cap has been restored and the wooden interior was replaced by a concrete structure. Since then, the tower is open to public. Today there is a restaurant and cafe on its upper floor. With its essential role in Istanbul's skyline, Galata Tower is the optimum spot to catch a panoramic view of Istanbul.
14. Galata Koprusu
The history of the Galata Bridge (Galata Koprusu), one of Istanbul's most exciting spots, begins in 1845. The bridge, which spans the two sides of the Golden Horn, has gone through many changes over the years. Most recently the bridge was damaged by fire in 1992 and a new bridge was built in its place. The beloved old bridge was moved to Halic. The Galata Bridge is an important symbol of Istanbul and has an important place in the daily life of the city, as well as in its literature and popular culture. With its restaurants, cafes and hookah lounges below and the tramway and pedestrian traffic passing above it offers a splendid view of the city, particularly in the evening. Together with the street peddlers, people fishing from the bridge and the ferries docking across the way it one of the most magnificent places to get a picture of daily life in Istanbul.

ADDITIONAL INFO

CANCELLATION POLICY

Posted By : Flacagaitan
Cruise in Istanbul was very nice as you marvel the beauty from both sides of the water. Taking a boat ride is a must here. Do not miss it. Shah did a great job in making sure everyone was enjoying themselves.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-30 13:16:56

Posted By : krupaa2020
Unmatched views of both Eurpean and Asian sides.

Special shout out to Shah, Orha, Airha ( forgive me if I have spelt the names wrong) and the whole team for organising such a lovely and informative cruise.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-30 13:16:29

Posted By : shayastahm
Exceptional experience with beautiful views and lovely customer service. The staff were very nice and welcoming, the ride was smooth and very educational.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-30 13:16:26

Posted By : FaraH00
We had a wonderful cruise! Relaxed and smaller size boat. Plenty of delicious little snacks and lemonade and tea made for a lovely sunset cruise. Thanks to Shah and the staff for taking such good care of us!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-30 13:15:47

Posted By : Stay55410660298
Great sunset trip. Good organized. Plenty of local foods on board. Thanks to the captain Orhan, crew Sha, Erhan and the others of the team for the nice sunset trip.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-30 13:14:51

Posted By : EmilyD682
Shah was a great tour guide. We had the best time and really enjoyed the tour. Istanbul is so much more than I thought it was.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-30 13:07:18

Posted By : 819erhank
I attended alone, I hope to come with my friends next time. Thank you very much to the captain.
Akankakmamaammamamamamma
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-27 13:52:39

Posted By : Lisa_S
We had a wonderful sunset cruise with Golden City Tours. Received a message in the morning with photo of meeting point and contact details if needed any assistance. Staff so friendly and accomodating. We had free snacks and soft drinks. The guide was so knowledgable but didnt over do it. The boat was loverly not overcrowded and plenty of seat to move around if you wanted to capture a view. Staff offering to take photos of guest with our own phones/cameras, so no money making gimmics (there was none of that). I would take some cash for the tips at the end. Definitely recommend
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-20 03:21:02

Posted By : kiro86
- good duration
- light snacks and drinks so you won’t starve!
- Aslan and Rabia were welcoming and helpful hosts
- the boat is well sized and not crowded
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-19 13:20:31

Posted By : Haseeb A
Rabia and Lion were great small group and very informative!!! Great views during sunset makes for great pictures. A good get away from the busy city life.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-19 13:10:29