Bosphorus Cruise Tour with Audio Guide

Istanbul E-pass includes Bosphorus Cruise with audio guide. Present your Istanbul E-pass at the counter and get access.

Bosphorus Boat Cruise Istanbul

Bosphorus, also recognized as the Strait of Istanbul, is a tight, natural strait and a globally famous waterway located in northwestern Turkey. It can also be pronounced as Bosphorus Strait. If you want to enjoy the Bosphorus in a relatively short time, it is the best choice for you. The tour starts from the Eminonu port and returns to the same place after a cruise to the second bridge in the Bosphorus.

Information about Istanbul Bosphorus Boat Cruise

Starting the Cruise at Eminonu Port

On this cruise, you will see some of the most iconic places of the Bosphorus. After you start from the Eminonu port, the first highlight is the Dolmabahce Palace.

Dolmabahce Palace

Dolmabahce Palace was the residence of the royal family after the Topkapi Palace and was built in the 19th century with the order of Sultan Abdulmecid. It was also the place where the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, stayed as a presidential palace and where he passed away in 1938. Today, Dolmabahce Palace functions as a museum.

Ciragan Palace: A Light of History

After the Dolmabahce Palace, the second palace is Ciragan Palace. Ciragan means light, and this was the secondary palace in the 19th century. After a big fire in 1910, the palace needed extensive renovation, which was carried out by a hotel group. Today, the building is leased from the government for 49 years and functions as a hotel.

The Iconic Bosphorus Bridge

After Ciragan Palace, there is one of Istanbul's most iconic constructions, the Bosphorus Bridge. The oldest bridge in Istanbul that connects the continents, the Bosphorus Bridge, was built in 1973. Before this bridge, Istanbul's people used ferries to pass from the European side to the Asian side.

Rumeli Fortress: A Security Stronghold

Today, there are three bridges and two tunnels under the Bosphorus connecting the two sides. After the bridge, you can see the Rumeli Fortress, which is the biggest fortress of the Bosphorus. Built before the attack on Constantinople in the 15th century by Sultan Mehmed II, this fortress was designed as a security point for the Bosphorus. It played a crucial role in stopping aid to the Byzantines from the Black Sea during the siege. Today, the fortress is a museum and hosts open-air concerts in the summer.

The Return Journey: Beylerbeyi Palace and Maiden’s Tower

After the fortress, the boat makes a U-turn and returns to the same port where the tour started. On the way back, you can see the Beylerbeyi Palace, a royal guesthouse from the 19th century.

The Legendary Maiden’s Tower

After the Beylerbeyi Palace, you will also pass the mythical Maiden’s Tower. Originally built to collect taxes from passing ships, the tower has many stories, including that of two lovers who couldn’t meet and a Roman King trying to protect his daughter from an oracle.

Ending the Cruise at Eminonu Port

After passing the Maiden's Tower, the tour ends at Eminonu, where it started, after about 1 to 1.5 hours. After the cruise, if you are hungry, don’t forget to try the famous fish sandwiches on the seashore.