1. . We got a certificate that said "You were in ASIA".. cute : ) but was able to see that the have a restaurant on the straight and it looked amazing! Budget would be 20-40 per head. You mentioned I can buy tickets upfront from the sales booth on the docks in Eminn, can we buy tickets a few days before the cruise or do we have to purchase on the day? I am currently at Istanbul and I am planning to take the full cruze, I am also planning to visit Dolma bahet saray and Rumli Hisar at the same day. 1. In my opinion Istanbul is best appreciated from a distance on the river! Me and my wife are visiting Istanbul from Sept 8th to 13 Sept. Would you suggest booking any tours or we rather do our own thing. Needless to say, you better buy your tickets in time. Typically it takes just over one hour to get out of the airport, and depending on the means of transportation you choose and amount of traffic, itll take one to two hours to reach the city center. It is quite cheap but the boat is quite packed so once we found a spot we sort of just stayed there. The 25 TL just lets you on the ship, no drink nor food included. Insider tip: sit outside on the left-hand side of the ship for the best views. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". We're expecting no extra charge for private tour but they sell snack and drink which is little bit pricey. Much appreciated. Be sure to grab an audio guide at the ticket booth when you buy your tickets. All the best Sure you can bring food and (non-alcoholic) beverages along, but keep in mind that for the full cruise youll stop for quite a while at the farthest point. Istanbul Kart, Museum Pass, Tourist Pass So I am worried about the schedule for Short Bosphorus Tour as we want to ride the cruise from Ortakoy. First of all your post helped alot to understand the Bosphrous Tour Thanks for that. If not, can I buy them immediately before the trip? It is NOT free so easy on the drinks unless you want to.. Not sure? Hi there, great article! There was even an area with wooden toys for the children. Hi, thanks for your very informative articles. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Bosphorus Cruise: Bosphorus Cruise- worth it! I mean, if there will be, out of your knowledge, much more people using the boat on Fridays and you would recommend the Boat cruise on Thursday? more, #32 of 354 Boat Tours & Water Sports in Istanbul, City Tours Multi-day Tours Cultural Tours Boat Tours Day Trips, We are experts in cruises to the amazing Bosphorus providing unforgettable tours with Boats and Luxury Yachts to couples, families, business groups, group of friends and moreover for special occasions, such as Gala dinners, Weddings, Birthdays and all kind of Parties! There are two Bosphorus Tour ferry options: Long Bosphorus Tour (6 hours) and Short Bosphorus Tour (2 hours). How long is the cruise? Here you can find the schedule. This guide will use the new terminology moving forward. The Bosphorus tour takes about 90 minutes, and costs 60 TL. tank uou for your effort and time to write them! The data collected including the number visitors, the source where they have come from, and the pages visted in an anonymous form. Their tours are overpriced (double and more), shorter, and often on boats that can barely be called seaworthy. Thank you Erlend. In June, I took my first cruise with Margaritaville at Sea from Florida to the Bahamas for 2 nights. The price for a round trip is 65 TL, 32,5 TL for children under the age of 12. It does not store any personal data. Before you get off the ship, ask what time the last boat embarks so you dont miss it. Just a decent evening/night cruise for a family in budget? Hello. Our guide informed us that the staff is very friendly and will have a tray of drinks waiting for you as soon as you are on board. Hey, I went on a Bosphorus cruise tour from Ortaky, Beikta. First of all Thank you very much for these useful information! If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Thank you once again thats very useful. These Are the Bosphorus Cruise Tours to Take in 2023, How to Take the Sehir Hatlari Bosphorus Cruise / Public Ferry, Halfway Stopover Anadolu Kavagi Village, Admission is free for children under the age of 6, A Detailed Self-Guided Walking Tour of the Istanbul City Walls, 10-hour Bosphorus Strait AND Black Sea Day Cruise, 3-hour Bosphorus Cruise with 1-hour Stop in Asia, 2.5-hour Bosphorus Sunset Cruise on Luxury Yacht, 3-hr Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Show, 6 Magical Halong Bay Cruises for Your Bucket List, 15 Fun Things to Do in Istanbul with Kids, the best city tours include a Bosphorus cruise. Are there free transfers provided from hotel to boat and back to hotel after the Cruise? Thank you so much. Its caf culture and impromptu street markets define the chic art-boutique neighbourhood. Lets say out of the airport and on the road by 17:00, which is rush hour. Do they have similar amounts of guests? 4. Do they have ticket booths on the docks in Eminn? Keep reading for our top Bosphorus Cruise recommendations for 2023. Topkapi Palace & Harem Whether it be a full-service day tour or public ferry option, we strongly recommend a Bosphorus cruise to anyone visiting Istanbul. The Full Bosphorus Cruise (Uzun Boaz Turu) lasts six hours and departs from Eminn, going all the way to the Black Sea. From US$21 / By Blue Brothers Bosphorus Tour. On the cruise back to Emononu pier in Istanbul, we hugged the Asia side with a few quick stops to let local passengers on and off. Leaving the Old City, the ferry passed a number of historic sights and points of interest. Will we need to take a taxi or its a walking distance? Bosphorus Cruise See all things to do Bosphorus Cruise 4.5 1,685 reviews #32 of 353 Boat Tours & Water Sports in Istanbul City Tours Multi-day Tours Cultural Tours Boat Tours Day Trips Write a review See all photos About Could you please share the google map location of the place where we can buy the tickets for Bosphorus tour. On the way back you can get off at Beikta or Eminn, thats up to you. It briefly stops at all the docks along the way to let people on and off. To get to the Asian side, and assuming youll want to go to Kadky, you can take a ferry from Eminn or Karaky. There are so many Bosphorus Cruise tours operating these days, its hard to know which to choose. There is only one tour a day. Here you go: ehir Hatlar Bosphorus Cruises. Heres the link. Bosphorus Tour 2) I will be there on Nov 1st (Friday Evening) to Nov 6th (Wednesday Morning). Hi Erlend The boat starts its trip in Bostanc, then sails to Kadiky and picks up people there, then sails to Eminn where youll get on the boat, etc. Your email address will not be published. The Scenic River cruise, among many others on this page, are privately owned cruises that advertise here. each program is different, and so are their prices. What is the name of the office at the Eminou dock? : ) Review of Bosphorus Cruise. Yes, there will be restaurants at the port where you can eat, and the ferry doesnt leave until 15:00. The 32km (20mi) natural waterway of the Bosphorus in Turkey connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara and by extension via the Dardanelles the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. Could I buy the tickets at the boat port? we will update it, Hi I want to take a boat and or ferry from the Istanbul old town to Kilyos and return We dont prefer taking a private cruise. Two hours, in fact, got to be a bit boring, apart from our captain's crazy cross across the bow of an enormous freighter steaming up toward us. Thanks, Mary. The audio guide you normally get on the vessel itself. during your stay -- and venture to several different neighbourhoods, as you certainly must! | 6 Best Ways to Cruise the Bosphorus in 2023 Looking for the best Istanbul Bosphorus cruise tours for your budget? There are a number of companies offering cruises on a range of boats. Normally this trip is available during the months July and August. If you take the Kadky-Karaky ferry it will drop you off at Karaky. Its located on a picturesque street that offers both a haven of calm away from the crowds but also proximity to the citys biggest sites. The one you found starting in skdar and ending at Eyp is the official Golden Horn line (Hali Hatt). But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The current schedule runs until September 18. The only non-private company providing Bosphorus tours is ehir Hatlar, with the tour you know. Are Dolmabahe Palace, Topkapi Palace and the Basilica Cistern on your list already? Do you fly with Turkish Airlines? If it fit your itinerary by boarding in Ortakoy, then I wouldnt change it. Thanks a lot! Enjoy! From US$94 / Tour by IBO Cruise. Hi Umar, We have an infant along with us.! From US$75 / Tour by Turkey Tours Planners. Simply put, cruising the Bosphorus Strait is an unforgettable experience of a lifetime! But yes, outside operating hours, a taxi back is your best/only option. They have a lot of companies offering this tour, some have half day cruises, some have night cruises and some have short cruises. As for COVID, its hard to predict. The barracks are perhaps best known for Florence Nightingale, who worked there along with 37 volunteer nurses during the Crimean War(1854-1856). Hello. The trip takes indeed about 15 min. It offers the exact same tour as the regular Full Bosphorus Tour, but you get to see Istanbul at night! If neither are an option, I suggest you take a look at all the other Bosphorus tour suggestions, with or without dinner. There was no tour guide so we all just saw the view but didn't know what places that we passed by. Still your opinion is very welcome! When:The best time to visit Istanbul is spring (March to mid-June) when the weather is moderate and the days are long. It will briefly stop there to let people board, but that wont even be 5 minutes. It really helps us all. I will be in Istanbul in September for 3 full days, sunday Tuesday (flying out Wednesday morning). I would like to take public transport but I would not mind taking taxi to the nearest public transport terminal from our hotel. bosphoruscruise(. Make sure to read through the comments of others to make sure if it suits your needs. Im traveling to Istanbul in Jan. is it better to do the cruise by day or by night? Yes, you can start in Ortaky and get off at Eminn. I took this bosphorus cruise only for 1 hour cruise by the boat. Is it worth buying Istanbul tourist pass or venture on your own? Their offers MAY include equally long or shorter cruises, normally dont have extra stops, can have daytime, sunset or night timeframes, food and drinks, entertainment on board, etc. We like to take the short Bosphorus Cruise on October. Since 1721, the current stone tower has served as a lighthouse and today houses a caf. We will be there june. I paid EUR 10 at the port. Our ferry docked here for a few hours more than enough time to grab lunch, do a little hike, and poke around the village. For the tours organized by ehir Hatlar you can only buy tickets the same day. Oh, here comes the first one: As we arrive on a Wednesday around 3 PM (arrival at airport), what would you recommend for this evening that doesnt involve too much sightseeing & walking, as we will be tired probably. Two hours cruising the historic Bosphorus with a one-hour stop on the Asia side for shopping and eating. If this is the case, is the scenery further up after Ortakoy worth it? The price per person is 32 TL, 16 TL for children under 12. For the latest updates, check the official timetable. We use affiliate links and may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. On Sehir Hatlari website I found a departure point from Karakoy (ferry coming from Uksudar and stopping to Eyup). The ferry leaves before dusk providing great Istanbul sunset views. I really would explore Ortakoy a bit along with the bosphorous tour. Where in Emenonu is the piers/docs? I love boat tours and exploring places, I am thinking to take the Full Bosphorus Cruise. Can you help me? It was close to the evening so we started with a day light and also managed to see the sunset and Istanbul in night lights. The reason I ask is because the state run ferry normally has a Bosphorus sunset cruise in summer, which may be announced soon? Many thanks, we are going to take the Eminn ferry today. 3. Is this correct link for Bosphorus cruise? The tour guide was great, as he gave information about what we were seeing, but he did not talk the entire time. Assuming that you want to take the one by ehir Hatlar, its just called Eminn 2 Iskelesi / Pier Boaz Hatt / Bosphorus Line by ehir Hatlar. Moreover, there is nothing private about a boat you share with 50 to 100or more strangers. Can you please suggest me what we can do in Istanbul for around three days and for the remaining days we wish to explore places around Istanbul. Tickets can be brought for Bosphorus cruises right up until departure, but in peak season it can get very busy so its worth booking ahead where possible. EMINONU area is pretty wide. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". And do we buy the tickets from sehir hatlari the same morning? With this tour, get more out of the experience with a guide that accompanies you onboard. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The operating hours were in the link I shared in the previous reply. 19K views 2 years ago STANBUL EP72: The Bosphorus Dinner Cruise is WORTH IT // ISTANBUL TOURIST PASS // plus I Broke My Canon M50 Camera Show more Good luck. If you miss the only return ferry, the youre left with a very expensive taxi ride back. The time on the water is about 2hrs. News. As of January 2023, the Long Tour (round trip) tickets cost 65 TL (US$3.45) for adults and 32,50 TL (US$1.75) for children under 12. Im not a travel agent, so I dont have an office. Because we walked past the dock today and I could find a real office. We look forward to hearing from you. and on Friday going on the Full Bosphorus Cruise. Visitors come from across the globe to experience a bucket list cruise like none other, spanning continents and millennia. This is it! For the ultimate family vacation! Its a real office. You can find out all the information whether your eligible for Touristanbul. From there, as you suggested, take the T1 to Kabatas followed by the F2 to Taksim. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of less trustworthy options. The windows are large, maybe not the clearest, but we certainly were happy with our views plus the outdoor areas on the back of the boat were protected from the wind. Looking forward for my stay in Istanbul. In 1110, ByzantineEmperorAlexius Comnenusbuilt the first tower on this tiny islet, albeit just a modest wooden tower protected by a stone wall. 2. How to choose hiking boots: a beginners guide. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Reviewed 20 September 2013 . If staying further afield, you can use Istanbuls reliablemetro systemto get around. Thanks to some reviewers here, I found it. Thank you for all that nice info ! Any information about the princes ferry would be appreciated. Why and How Should You Visit the Princes Islands in Istanbul? The Bosphorus Cruise as they call it is of course not a real cruise. 2)How to find out their schedule for Short Bosphorus Cruise? Just dont be overwhelmed by the waiters trying to lure you in, take your time to check them all out first, and then pick the one that pleases you most. Certainly if youre in town between May and September. Youll now land at the new Istanbul Airport. Yes, there is one trip a day in winter, leaves at 10:35 and back around 16:40 with a long break at the furthest point. One of the best cruise tour in Istanbul on board actives will keep u busy and entertain you through out the tour. Ayasofya: 7 tips for visiting the iconic building. Where can I purchase the tickets? 2. Hi we dock in instanbul from 9 till 6 on a cruise and we want to do a trip on the Bosphorus, what would you recommend? I think around May. You can go in the morning to get tickets for the evening though . I suggest you have a nice dinner overlooking or by the Bosphorus. On board, you can use digital guides explaining over 70 points of interest along the way, in 10 different languages (Turkish, English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Persian, and Arabic). Ive been told to walk down Istiklal Street and at the end of Istiklal Street I can get a ferry at Karakoy port on the European side, is this correct? How much is it? The good news is that it only costs 52 TL. I will be in Istanbul for the first time for the last May weekend, arriving Wednesday afternoon and leaving Sunday noon. We took a two-hour continuous cruise from the Golden Horn up to the Bosphorus Bridge and back. Sail past landmarks such as Dolmabahce Palace, the Galata Tower, and the Bosphorus Bridge, learn about the history of the Rumeli Fortress, and pass the waterfront neighborhood of Ortakoy. The Full Bosphorus Tour offers a great Bosphorus experience and will take several hours in total. Seats indoor and outdoor. When we arrived, we were directed to move on to the boat right away. Tickets from the ehir Hatlar Bosphorus Tours booth at the Eminn docks. I paid $300 for a 2-night Margaritaville cruise from Florida to the Bahamas, and I wouldn't do it again. http://en.sehirhatlari.istanbul/en/timetable/sunset-cruises-415.html this link. We arrived 30 minutes beforehand and there was already a line (midweek in August). Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. The Sehir Hatlari Bosphorus Cruise boat left Eminonu on the Golden Horn, right in the heart of the city. Please note that we do not operate such tours. 3) I am planning on taking the full day cruise from Sehir Hatlari in Eminono, what is the small fish town called where the cruise stop for lunch? 2.5-hour Bosphorus Sunset Cruise on Luxury Yacht Experience the Bosphorus in style on this unforgettable luxury sunset tour featuring onboard guide and complimentary drinks and canaps. I suggest going with Sehir Hatlari if their timetable suits you, if not, Turyol because you stay in Eminn. I dont know if this is still available in 2019. And secondly: you mentioned the ticket office, is it really an office or machines? Your email address will not be published. Marie. On the flip side, it may freeze and even snow. What is the ehir Hatlar schedule in March? Overall, we were pretty impressed with the amenities offered by a public ferryfor the price. Rumeli Fortress, built by the Ottomans in 1452. Taking part in our Bosphorus Tours, you will live experiences that will be forever engraved in your heart. The cruise takes you from Eminn to Istinye (well past the second bridge that is), and back. Would that be possible ? Bosphorus Cruise, Istanbul: Address, Phone Number, Bosphorus Cruise Reviews: 4.5/5, Live and breathe all aspects of vibrant Istanbul as you soak up its sights, sounds and aromas on this comprehensive tour. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Read on for our detailed guide on taking the Sehir Hatlari Bosphorus Cruise, plus what to expect. A cruise on the Bosphorus is probably the most overlooked Istanbul tourist attraction. Yes we are plaaning for now but if there will be any problem such as covid etc. It includes a 1.5 hour journey along the river almost to the Black Sea, a 3 hour stop at a pretty little village where you can have a leisurely lunch and then a 1.5 hour return. Thanks for the article. Visiting the islands is still a good idea, and something locals do on Sundays to escape the busy city life and get some fresh air. Which begs the question, Which Bosphorus cruise options should you choose?. There is no real preference for a day, just see what day best fits in your plan and/or pick the sunniest day. Our essential guide to visiting Istanbul, Turkey with kids of all ages! Explore the magnificent Bosphorus and all the sights along its length, discover the marvelous Princes Islands and get amazed by the Old city and all its significant monuments! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". 2) Second thing is you said For the tours organized by ehir Hatlar you can only buy tickets the same day. Contact It is clear it can be used by up to 5 people. Many cruises start from the Eminonu -Sirkeci piers in the old town ( easily reaches by tram ) For less than 200TL (10 ) you will get a 90 minute cruise up to the Bosphorus Suspension Bridge and back again and possibly going under Galata Bridge to Halic Pier. I am a bit confused though when I look at Hatlaris schedule which shows: Departure from Eminonu: 2.40pm Hi Ill be going to Istanbul in June / early July hopefully, we want to go on the sunset cruise, on one of the days well be visiting the Dolmabahce Palace and we were thinking off doing the sunset cruise the same day. How to get to the ferry station from Pendik? You can find the sales booth and dock right from the Galata Bridge when facing the Galata Tower. Is it possible to help me with correct and updated info? Looking for the best Istanbul Bosphorus cruise tours for your budget? The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Or maybe just stay in Sultanahmet. Or we wont have time to get down from the ferry? If you really want non stop tours youll have to take a look at private Bosphorus tours. Is it on the boat itself? The Bosphorus ferry trip is a very cheap way to spend a day (about $AU30 for two ferry tickets). Currently you see only two tours, as soon as the sunset tour is back available, itll appear there too. The grandest of Ottoman Imperial palaces, Dolmabahe showcases the very best of 19th-century Ottoman decadence and is everything a palace should be. I will be there until Saturday at 8 AM, as I checked, my only option to visit something typical in Istanbul is the Bosphorus Cruise by Night (Mehtap Gezi). You can buy those online, youll find their ads on my site. Disembark at Anadolu Kava - the last harbour before the Black Sea - to visit the fortress or have some lunch in one of the town's fish restaurants. It said Bogaz turlari where we took the boat from. Thank you. Not to mention the one and only time one can say "I am at both Asia and Europe at the same time! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Departure from skdar: 2.55pm Istanbuls inner-city/domestic public ferry lines are NOT the same as the Bosphorus cruise lines. The sceneries are beautiful and while cruising on board, one can enjoy the views of Asian-Middle Eastern influenced buildings on one side and the other side, one can be captured by the European architecture. My question is or advance ticket? Its safe to book them online. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Can I still take the long Bosphorus tour from Eminn at 10:35 and be back at Eminn at around 16:40? In the locker in eminonu or I can use istanbulkart? Ive read all the comments and have two questions left: for the long bosphorus tour you mentioned the audio guides, where can we get one? As you mentioned, it all depends on the weather. Is it also true that if i took the ferry from Karakoy on the European side, I will get off at Kadikoy port on the Asian side and this ferry ride should take about 15mins from Karakoy to Kadikoy.. If you are in Istanbul, you have to experience the Bosphorus Cruise! Admire the beauty of Istanbul on this 3-hour cruise along the Bosphorus with live music, entertainment, and dinner. The cruise lasts for two and a half hours and includes an English-speaking guide. 6-hr Sehir Hatlari Bosphorus Tours There are numerous options for doing a Bosphorus cruise in Istanbul. I have few questions: 1) I am coming there in first week of november. This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. We are just afraid of all these touts outside the office and all over the docks? My first cruise ever was with Margaritaville at Sea to the Bahamas. Ticket prices are negotiable so make sure you haggle for the best price. Moreover, the main sightseeing spots (80%) are also covered by the short tour. Hi, thanks for your article, very helpful. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. 354 subscribers Subscribe 76 Share 8.4K views 5 months ago Hop on to. Turyol and Dentur are two private companies that also offer a two-hour Bosphorus tour, similar to the one by ehir Hatlar. Private Bosphorus cruises are great value for your money if you do them with reputable and trustworthy companies such as Zoe Yacht. I dont want to go on a different company, how do I find your ticket counter? Keep in mind that they will be more expensive. If you are traveling on a tight budget, the Sehir Hatlari Bosphorus Cruise may seem like the obvious choice at its low ticket price. If you are on the docks, and look at The Galata Tower on the other side of the Golden Horn, its about 150 meters right from the bridge. Tour was with commentary at points of interest. Includes delicious Mediterranean lunch, onboard guide, and stops at Rumeli Fortress, Ortakoy, Kucuksu Pavilion, Buyuk Mecidiye Cami. We were traveling on a limited budget with time on our hands, so decided to take a chance on the Sehir Hatlari public ferry option. Bosphorus Sunset Cruise on Luxury Yacht 2,5 hours Bosphorus cruise on a 25 meters luxury yacht This is one of the best and the most attended Bosphorus cruises. Istanbul is waiting for you. It was used by parliament briefly before being destroyed by fire in 1910 and then served as a football stadium for Beikta before finally being renovated in 1989 and again in 2007. Hello Erlend, We will be on the Nautica in Istanbul this Nov and we are wondering if the Bosphorus cruise shore excursion @ $100.00 per person is worth it. It leaves daily from the Eminn pier at 18:25. The nonstop short bosphorous tour Will they halt at Ortakoy for an hour or so? You can find them in the ads on the page. Many thanks. Do I have to book in advance or can I turn up on the day at Sehir Hatlati offices to book for that night? Hey, can you bring whatever you want to the cruise? A few minutes later he came round demanding money whilst jabbering in Turkish. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of less trustworthyoptions. And where I can find it please? Indulge in a 3-course Turkish meal and sip on unlimited soft drinks as you gaze out at the picturesque city. Will it be okay to buy a ticket on the day before departure, at this time of the year? Its not an easy connection.