Is a Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Worth It?

Is a Bosphorus dinner cruise worth it? Yes, if you want to see the strait by day, at dusk and at night in one evening, with dinner at your own table. On our Bosphorus dinner cruise, you board half an hour before sunset and sit down to eat as the bridges light up above you. If you only want the golden hour, a sunset cruise may suit you better. For an evening on land and on the ferries, an Istanbul by night tour adds meze (small dishes shared at the start of a meal) and the lit-up city.

What makes a Bosphorus dinner cruise worth it?

The timing. In about three hours, you see the shores in daylight, watch the palaces glow at dusk and come back under the lit bridges. On a private yacht, the deck is yours, so you choose the menu, the music and the pace. That is why it suits an anniversary, a family’s last night in Istanbul or a small group of friends.

What do you see from the water?

First, the yacht passes Dolmabahçe Palace, white against the water. Then comes the Ortaköy Mosque, right under the Bosphorus Bridge. Farther north, wooden yalı (a waterfront mansion on the Bosphorus) mansions line both shores. Near Anadoluhisarı, the waterside hall of the Amcazade Hüseyin Paşa Yalısı, built for a grand vizier around 1700, is the last of its kind still standing in Istanbul. At Rumelihisarı, the fortress of 1452, the boat turns and comes back slowly.

What is on the menu?

We plan the dinner with you before the day. It can start with meze, the small shared plates of Turkish cooking, and go on to fish or grilled meat, then dessert. Vegetarian and other needs are easy to plan. Drinks and live music can be added when you book.

Dinner cruise, sunset cruise or a table on the shore?

Each one gives you a different evening. Our Bosphorus dinner cruise combines the views and a full meal on your own yacht. A sunset cruise is a simpler evening, with tea and simit (a sesame-crusted bread ring) or a bottle of wine as the light turns gold. If you would rather keep your feet on land, read our guide to the best Bosphorus restaurants in Istanbul.

When is a Bosphorus dinner cruise worth it most?

Any time of year, as long as you time it to the sunset. In summer, the sun sets around 8:30 p.m., so dinner comes late and the evening is long. In winter, it sets before 5 p.m., and a boat with a closed cabin keeps everyone warm. For a proposal on board, see our marriage proposals service.

Tell us your date and how many of you are coming, and we plan your evening on the Bosphorus.