Daily Bosphorus Cruise Tour (Private)

Highlights of the Daily Bosphorus Cruise Tour

See Istanbul the way it was meant to be seen — from the water — on this private Bosphorus cruise, a relaxed half-day on the strait that divides Europe and Asia. With your own group aboard and a flexible pace, you glide past imperial palaces, Ottoman fortresses and the painted wooden yali mansions that line both shores, while your English-speaking guide points out each landmark. Arranged by Inca Tour, a TURSAB-licensed operator active since 2007, it is the most scenic and easy-going way to take in the city's skyline.

Shore Excursion for Cruise Passengers in Istanbul

This Bosphorus Cruise Tour also works as a shore excursion from the Istanbul cruise port — a popular choice for passengers who have one day ashore. As a private excursion it is fully flexible — pickup is right at the pier, the pace follows your group, and we make sure you are back on board well before departure. Tell us how many hours your ship stays in port and we will confirm that the full programme fits comfortably. Simply share your cruise itinerary and the date you are in Istanbul, and we will reserve your places.

• Dolmabahce Palace — the lavish 19th-century seat of the late Ottoman sultans on the European shore.
• Ortakoy Mosque — the elegant waterside mosque beneath the first Bosphorus bridge.
• Rumeli Fortress — the great fortress Mehmed the Conqueror raised at the strait's narrowest point.
• Maiden's Tower — the little islet tower at the mouth of the strait, wrapped in legend.
• The three bridges — the 15 July Martyrs, Fatih Sultan Mehmet and Yavuz Sultan Selim bridges linking two continents.

Cruising up the Bosphorus, you pass the imperial Dolmabahce Palace, the waterfront Ortakoy Mosque, the mighty Rumeli Fortress and the iconic Maiden's Tower, sailing beneath the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge and the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge. Between the great monuments the shoreline unfolds in a parade of historic mansions, seaside neighbourhoods and panoramic views back to the old city skyline, all from the open deck where the light and the photographs are at their best.

Because this is a private departure, the day is yours: there is time on deck for photos, Turkish tea or coffee, and your guide's running commentary on the palaces, bridges and fortresses that have guarded this waterway for centuries. Hotel pick-up and return transfer in Istanbul are included, with travel in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle to and from the pier.