Private Bosphorus Yacht Cruise with Dinner – Istanbul Landmarks

4.84

(19 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

We met our crew right at the dock in Bebek—easy to find, even with the morning buzz from the nearby cafés. The yacht felt spotless and fresh, not stuffy like some boats I’ve tried before. There was this faint salty breeze coming off the water, and you could hear seagulls squabbling over simit crumbs by the shore. Our guide, Cem, handed out cold drinks as we settled in. He knew every twist of the Bosphorus and pointed out little things—like how Ortaköy’s mosque glows pink just before sunset or which side of the strait gets more sun in spring.

As we cruised under the Bosphorus Bridge, I snapped photos of Rumeli Fortress—its old stone walls looked almost golden in the afternoon light. We passed Dolmabahce Palace and Beylerbeyi Palace; Cem shared stories about Ottoman sultans who used to throw parties here (apparently, they loved their sweets). The kitchen crew grilled up fresh fish for us—nothing fancy, just lemon and herbs—and there was a veggie option too. The smell drifted through the open deck while we floated past Maiden’s Tower. At one point, I leaned over the rail and caught sight of dolphins chasing our wake—didn’t expect that at all.

The route is flexible: you can do a quick 2-hour loop to Ortaköy if you’re after romance or stretch it to three hours for Maiden’s Tower and Hagia Sophia views from the water. We took our time near Küçüksu Palace; it’s quieter there, away from big ferries. If you want extras—like birthday cake or live music—they’ll sort it out if you ask ahead. By the end, we’d seen both sides of Istanbul lit up, heard a few local legends from Cem, and left feeling like we’d actually lived a piece of the city—not just ticked off landmarks.