Bosphorus Sunset Cruise in Istanbul

Bosphorus sunset cruise from Karaköy: two hours of golden light

Of all the evenings you can spend in Istanbul, the one on the water at sunset is the one guests talk about most. On this shared Bosphorus sunset cruise you book a seat, not a whole boat: a small group of up to 25 guests boards a comfortable motor yacht in Karaköy and sails for two hours while the light changes over two continents.

The timing is the whole point. The sun goes down behind the European hills, the Asian shore glows gold for a while longer, and then the palaces, mosques and bridges light up one by one. A live guide tells you what you are passing, a free audio guide repeats it in your own language, and before you step off you get a printed photo of the evening. If you would rather have the yacht only for your group, see our private sunset yacht cruise.

Why guests choose this sunset cruise

• The best hour of the dayDeparture is set by the real sunset time for your date, so you are always on the water for the golden hour.
• A guide you can talk toAn English-speaking guide on board explains the palaces and fortresses and answers your questions.
• Your language, your paceThe free audio guide in 12 languages starts by itself as the yacht passes each landmark.
• A photo to keepOur photographer takes your picture on deck and hands you the printed photo before you leave.
• Small group, real yachtAt most 25 guests on a modern motor yacht with seats on deck and in a heated saloon.
• From €26 per personOr €32 with two glasses of wine. Book online in a minute.

How long is the cruise and which way does it go?

The cruise lasts two hours. Boarding is about an hour and a half before sunset, so the departure moves with the seasons: around 19:00 to 19:30 in midsummer and around 16:30 in late autumn and winter. The booking calendar shows the departure time for your date, and we send you the exact meeting time and pier pin on WhatsApp.

1. Board in Karaköy
   Meet our team on the Karaköy waterfront between the Galata Bridge and the Golden Horn Metro Bridge and step on board.
2. North along the European shore
   Galataport, Dolmabahçe Palace and Çırağan Palace in the late afternoon light, then Ortaköy Mosque under the Bosphorus Bridge.
3. Bebek, Arnavutköy and Rumeli Fortress
   The yacht sails on to the narrowest point of the strait and turns near the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge as the sun goes down.
4. Back along the Asian shore at blue hour
   Anadolu Fortress, Küçüksu Pavilion, Kuleli and Beylerbeyi Palace as the lights come on along the water.
5. Maiden's Tower to finish
   The last stop for photos is the Maiden's Tower, lit up in the middle of the strait, before we return to Karaköy.

What will you see on the sunset cruise?

The route covers the most famous landmarks on both sides of the Bosphorus. Tap the map to explore them.

• Galata Tower
• Dolmabahçe Palace
• Çırağan Palace
• Ortaköy Mosque
• Bosphorus Bridge
• Beylerbeyi Palace
• Anadolu Fortress
• Rumeli Fortress
• Maiden's Tower

Free audio guide in 12 languages and a live guide on board

Every ticket includes our multilingual audio guide. There is nothing to install: scan the QR code on board or open guide.bosphorussunset.com in your phone browser. The narration is GPS based and starts by itself as the yacht passes 32 landmarks of the Bosphorus, from Dolmabahçe Palace to the Maiden's Tower. Once loaded it also works offline, with no sign-up and no ads.

The audio guide does not replace a person. A live English-speaking guide sails with you, tells the stories behind the yalı mansions and fortresses, and is happy to give tips for the rest of your stay in Istanbul. Use the audio guide for the commentary in your own language and the guide for everything you want to ask.

Audio guide languages: English, Turkish, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.

A printed souvenir photo, free for every guest

A photographer is on board on every sunset cruise. During the sail they take your photo with the Bosphorus behind you, print it on board and give it to you before you leave. One print per guest is included in the ticket, with nothing to buy at the exit.

Drinks and snacks on board

Tea, Turkish coffee, lemonade and water are served throughout the cruise, together with a snack plate of nuts, chips, crackers, pretzels and seasonal fruit. Choose the wine option for two glasses of wine per guest; other alcoholic drinks are not included.

What is included in the sunset cruise

Meeting point and how to get there

• Tram T1Get off at Karaköy and walk a few minutes along the water.
• Metro M2Get off at Haliç and walk down towards Karaköy.
• Tünel F2The historic funicular from Beyoğlu to Karaköy takes about 90 seconds.
• TaxiAsk the driver for “Karaköy Balıkçı Kemal”.

Please arrive 15 minutes before departure. The cruise runs on a fixed schedule and cannot wait for late guests.

Good to know before you go

• The air on the water is usually 2 to 3 °C cooler than in the city, so bring a light jacket, even in summer.
• Families are welcome. Infant, child and youth rates are shown in the booking calendar.
• Charge your phone: the best photos are the Bosphorus Bridge at dusk, Ortaköy Mosque against the bridge and the Maiden's Tower at blue hour.
• Light rain does not stop the cruise; there is covered and heated seating inside.

What our guests say about our cruises

Booking, payment and cancellation

1. Book onlineChoose your date in the calendar, pay securely by card and get instant confirmation.
2. Questions?Message us on WhatsApp or email [email protected] and we reply quickly.
3. Before the cruiseWe send the meeting time and pier pin on WhatsApp.
4. 24+ hours beforeCancel free of charge or change your date.
5. Under 24 hoursLate cancellations and no-shows cannot be refunded.

If the cruise is cancelled because of storms, strong wind or an official warning, you choose a new date or get a full refund. These terms are for shared cruises; private yachts have their own private tour terms.

Sunset cruise FAQ