Bosphorus cruises in Istanbul, their description, cost, how to go on your own

Description of cruises in Istanbul and tips

One of the main attractions in Istanbul that every tourist should experience are cruise tours along the Bosphorus. But do not confuse the tours with the usual transport ferries that run between the berths to move passengers, here it is a completely different experience. In addition to cruises on the Bosphorus in recent years, the route along the Golden Horn Bay is also gaining popularity. This bay passes under the Galata Bridge and deepens into the European part of Istanbul for 6 kilometers.

During the cruise, stunning views of the Strait and the city, sights, bridges over the Bosphorus are opened from the board, and full tours sail almost to the Black Sea. On the way from the water you will see at least: Sultanahmet Historic District and Suleymaniye Mosque; Dolmabahce Palace; Beylerbeyi Palace; Rumelihisar Fortress and Anatolian fortress; Maiden Tower; Bosphorus suspension bridge; Sultan Mehmet Fatih Bridge.

Ferries are ordinary, without special frills, but all the amenities are there: wooden benches, 2 or 3 decks, toilets, cafes, drinks.

Unfortunately, the variety of entertainment and tourist programs crises do not differ (more about the varieties and what to choose below). On some commercial cruises there are conditional guides who, in a microphone in English, tell you what to look for, but this is rather an exception. Usually, swimming takes place without any explanations and information. To make it more interesting, you can find and download an audio guide on the internet (we managed to find only paid ones), hire a private guide or a tour here, or just use Google Maps or apps like Organic Maps to keep track of interesting places on your own. You can also download points of interest for map applications from our maps of Istanbul with attractions.

Cruise tips

It is best to come 20-30 minutes before departure to take comfortable seats. The best, in our opinion, are the benches on the open upper deck near the side. You can also sit in the closed part near the window, but then your review will be very limited, and the glass is dirty, the photo through them will not work. You need to dress warmer: it's cold and windy on the water. What you walk in this season on the streets of Istanbul will not work. You need something warmer, and preferably a jacket to protect from the wind. On board there is a cafe, hot drinks, food vendors go. Prices there are higher than in the city, so if you want to save money, you can take a snack with you. And by the way, do not forget to take bread to feed the Seagulls.

Oh, and one more tip: see the weather forecast for the day of the planned Cruise, and if it promises cloudy or rain, it is better to abandon your plans.

How and where to buy cruises

Cruises on the Bosphorus are offered in Istanbul everywhere in travel agencies. The price includes delivery from the hotel to the pier, the cruise itself, and optional delivery back to the hotel. Usually for such an excursion they ask from 20 euros.

But it is much more profitable to buy cruises yourself directly at the pier from where they depart. Most often it is the pier Eminönü (Eminönü) in the eponymous area next to the historical quarter of Sultanahmet. Here you can buy tickets for the state ferry and commercial ferries at the box office directly bypassing intermediaries. Prices compared to the offers of travel agencies are lower at times. Tours can also be purchased at the usküdar marinas Kabatas( Kabatas), Besiktas (Besitkas), where some cruise ferries call, as you can see above in the description of different tours.

Getting to Eminenyu Marina is very easy, it is an important transport hub. Nearby is the Stop Eminönü tram T1, as well as the station Sirkeci S-Bahn Marmaray. From Istiklal street you can walk to the funicular F2, go down it to the Lower Station, and then walk across the bridge. Also here is a huge number of buses from different parts of the city. See more about Istanbul transport and what to use here.

But be careful, because already on the approach to the wharves you will be "attacked" by all sorts of intermediaries and touts. Some of them are just speculators, and some are actually touts from the box office. Even if you agree to the offer of Barkers, it is better to give money not into their hands, but into the cash register. Payment for all Cruises is only by cash or plastic card, transport Istanbul Kart cards are not accepted.

Another good option is to buy a cruise on the Bosphorus via the Internet. These can be individual or group tours in Russian on both public and private ferries, night cruises, etc. there are very rich programs with meals, wine tasting, entertainment, etc. There are many options, you can pick them up online on one of these proven sites:

• Excursions from the tour operator TezTour
• Excursions from Sputnik8
• Trips from Tripster

Schedule and cost

This schedule is valid as of fall 2019, but may change. In addition, on weekends and holidays, it may also be slightly different. Check on the sites:

• Full tour - http://en.sehirhatlari.istanbul
• Short - http://en.sehirhatlari.istanbul/
• Classic - http://www.denturavrasya.com/
• Hop On & Hop Off - http://www.denturavrasya.com/
• Short Bogaz turu / Turyol - https://www.turyol.com

Types of cruises that are better to choose

The programs of all cruises are standard. There are short tours for 1.5 hours, and long full tours for 6 hours.

• Full tour (Full Bosphorus tour)

  • Cost in both directions: adults-25 lire (0.53 USD); children under 12 years-12.5 lire; up to 6 years free of charge.
  • One-way fare: adults-15 liras (0.32 USD); children under 12 years-6 lire; up to 6 years free of charge.
  • Duration: 6 hours.

  The full tour takes 6 hours, but in general it is worth allocating a whole day for it. It starts from the pier of Eminonu (Eminonu, Eminonu on the map) at 10:35, and makes stops at Besiktas marinas (Besitkas, Beşıktaş on the map) and Uskudar (Uskudar, Uskudar on the map), where you can also start your cruise. Schedule may change, check here - http://en.sehirhatlari.istanbul. Then the ferry sails almost through the entire Strait to the Black Sea, and makes a stop for two and a half hours in the village of Anadolu Kavağı, and back.

  You can walk around the village of Anadolukavagy, climb the observation deck overlooking the sea and the ruins of the fortress (entrance to the fortress is free, but the caretaker expects a tip of several lire), eat very fresh fish in a cafe in one of several restaurants. Prices in restaurants are very good, lower than in the city. The cost of a dish of whole fish starts from 25 lire.

  Alternatively, in order not to wait 2 and a half hours for the return trip by ferry, you can leave here by taxi or bus. To do this, take the bus number 15a (stop next to the pier, departs every 30 minutes). You need to go to the Beykoz stop, where you can change to 15F or 15BK (to Kadikoy pier on the Asian side), or 15T (to Uskudar pier on the Asian side).

  In our opinion, this type of Cruises is very long, and after the first 30 minutes without a guide or excursion you will start to get bored, and some tourists literally fall asleep. But there will also be a return trip… In addition, this route does not pass by the most important attractions in tourist areas, past the Maiden Tower, but directly goes along the Strait. Therefore, we would recommend this cruise option only if you have nowhere to spend time in Istanbul, or if the end point of the route is really interesting with a fortress and seafood restaurants.

• Short tour (Short Bosphorus tour)

  • Cost: adults-12 lire (0.26 USD); children under 12 years-6 lire; up to 6 years free of charge.
  • Duration: 1.5-2 hours.

  It's a one-and-a-half, two-hour walk with no stops, or with stops at other marinas to pick up other tourists. It does not sail the entire Strait, but only a small part of it to the Ortakoy area and back.

  Departs 1 time a day from the pier Eminenyu (Eminonu) at 14:35, along the way picks up passengers from Uskyudar (Üsküdar) at 14:50. Schedules are subject to change, check here - http://en.sehirhatlari.istanbul/.

• Classic Tour (Classic Bosphorus Tour)

  • Cost: 20 lire (0.43 USD); children under 6 years free of charge.
  • Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes.

  This is a short tour of the water area for only 1 hour 15 minutes. Departs from Kabataş pier (Kabatas on the map) at 10:30, and makes stops to board passengers at Besiktas pier at 10:40. Check the schedule here - http://www.denturavrasya.com/

• Hop On & Hop Off Bosphorus Tour

  • Cost in both directions: 25 lire (0.53 USD); children under 6 years free of charge.
  • One-way fare: 12.5 lire; children under 6 years free.

  A very interesting version of the tour on the principle of tourist buses Hop On & Hop Off. ie you can go to the pier, take a walk, and then continue on the next ferry. But the big minus is that ferries go not far along the Strait. See the schedule here - http://www.denturavrasya.com/

• Night cruise (Moonlight Bosphorus Tour)

  There is another kind of cruises – night. This is not quite an excursion, but rather an entertaining option. They include an entertainment program on board, food, disco. But do not flatter yourself, as a rule, the whole program is very low-grade, without a wow effect.

In addition to these cruises, there are still a lot of commercial options that can be bought at travel agencies or at the Eminönü Marina. They are sent every hour, so it is not necessary to be tied to the schedule, you can just come and buy the nearest one on the spot. They cost the same as the state ones described above, but unfortunately we could not find anything like a full tour for 6 hours.