Daily Bosphorus Cruise Tour (Shared)

Highlights of the Daily Bosphorus Cruise Tour

Join a relaxed shared Bosphorus cruise and discover Istanbul from the water, on the strait that divides Europe and Asia. This scheduled group departure is the easy, great-value way to see the city's palaces, fortresses and painted yali mansions drift past, with a friendly English-speaking guide naming every landmark as you sail. The cruise is organised by Inca Tour, a TURSAB-licensed operator serving travellers in Turkey since 2007.

Shore Excursion for Cruise Passengers in Istanbul

Cruise passengers docking in Istanbul can book the Bosphorus Cruise Tour as a convenient Istanbul shore excursion during their port call. This shared tour suits cruise passengers with a full day in port; let us know your ship’s schedule and we will confirm the pickup point at the cruise terminal or offer a private alternative. Tell us how many hours your ship stays in port and we will confirm that the full programme fits comfortably. Just tell us the ship and the day it calls at Istanbul — we take care of the rest.

• 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.

The shared cruise keeps the price friendly while still giving you time on deck for photos, Turkish tea or coffee, and your guide's 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.