Bosphorus Tour: Dolmabahçe Palace, a Private Boat and Two Continents

Highlights

1. Dolmabahçe Palace and its giant crystal chandelier
2. A private boat along the Bosphorus between Europe and Asia
3. The Ortaköy Mosque and the fortress of Rumelihisarı from the water
4. Beylerbeyi Palace, the summer palace on the Asian shore
5. The view of both continents from Çamlıca Hill

Program

1. Morning

   Dolmabahçe Palace

   The ceremonial halls, the crystal staircase and the room where Atatürk died in 1938.

   Opening hours & dress code ↓

2. Late morning

   A private boat on the Bosphorus

   Along the European shore past Ortaköy, Arnavutköy and Bebek to Rumelihisarı.

   Opening hours & dress code ↓

3. Lunch

   Lunch by the water

   Fish or meze in a waterfront village.

4. Afternoon

   Beylerbeyi Palace

   The marble summer palace of Sultan Abdülaziz under the first bridge.

   Opening hours & dress code ↓

5. Late afternoon

   Çamlıca Hill

   The widest view of Istanbul, with both bridges and both continents below.

   Opening hours & dress code ↓

In depth

The Bosphorus is the reason Istanbul exists. For centuries, empires fought over this narrow strait between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, and sultans lined its shores with palaces. Our private Bosphorus tour shows you all of it in one day: a palace, a private boat between two continents, a summer palace in Asia and the whole strait from above.

Dolmabahçe Palace, Start of the Bosphorus Tour

We begin at Dolmabahçe Palace, where the Ottoman sultans moved in the 1850s, leaving Topkapı behind. In the ceremonial hall, a crystal chandelier of several tons hangs under the dome, and a staircase with crystal balusters leads to the private rooms. Here, too, Atatürk died on 10 November 1938. Even today, the clocks in the palace show 9:05, the time of his death.

On the Water During the Bosphorus Tour

A private boat waits at a pier nearby. From there, you glide north along the European shore: past the Ortaköy Mosque under the first bridge, the wooden houses of Arnavutköy and the bay of Bebek. At the narrowest point of the strait, the walls of Rumelihisarı climb the hill, the fortress Mehmed II built before the conquest of 1453.

Because the boat is private, the captain slows down wherever you like. After that, the boat crosses to the Asian shore, past the old mansions of Kandilli and Anadoluhisarı.

Beylerbeyi Palace on the Asian Shore

After lunch by the water, we visit Beylerbeyi Palace, the summer palace of Sultan Abdülaziz, right under the first Bosphorus bridge. Its marble rooms open onto the water, so foreign kings and empresses stayed here as guests of the sultan. If you have time, we add a stop in Çengelköy, a village of old wooden houses on the Asian shore, for tea by the water.

The Bosphorus Tour Ends Above the City

Finally, we drive up to Çamlıca Hill. From the top, the whole strait, both bridges and the domes of the old city lie below you. So it is the perfect place to end a Bosphorus tour, as the evening light falls on two continents. In autumn, add our Bosphorus birdwatching tour.

From our guides

• The clocksIn Dolmabahçe, look at the clocks. They were stopped at 9:05, the moment Atatürk died.
• Devil’s currentOff Arnavutköy, the current runs so fast that local fishermen call it Şeytan Akıntısı, the Devil’s Current.
• MondaysDolmabahçe Palace is closed on Mondays, so we plan the tour on another day.
• DolphinsDolphins sometimes swim in the strait, mostly in the cooler months. Watch the water.

Our suggestion On the boat, ask the captain to pass close to the Kuleli military school on the Asian shore. Its long white facade is one of the most beautiful sights of the strait.

More Ways to Take a Bosphorus Tour

For the villages by land, see our Bosphorus villages tour. We time the palace visits to the hours of the National Palaces. For dinner on board, there is our Bosphorus dinner cruise.

Before you go

• 

  Dolmabahçe Palace

  Entry

  Ticketed palace museum, managed by the Directorate of National Palaces

• 

  Rumelihisarı

  Entry

  Ticketed museum

• 

  Beylerbeyi Palace

  Entry

  Ticketed palace museum, managed by the Directorate of National Palaces

• 

  Çamlıca Hill

  Entry

  Public park, no ticket needed; mosque open (modest dress); tower ticketed

Hours can change on religious holidays. Your guide confirms them the day before.

What’s included

Practical

Updated: November 5, 2026

Starts

Around 9:00 from your hotel

Ends

Your hotel

Meeting point

Your hotel lobby

Walking

Overall, easy: palace halls, a boat and short walks.

Accessibility

Tell us your needs. Boarding the boat needs a little balance, and the palaces have stairs.

Cancellation

If wind or fog stops the boat, we cross the strait by car instead.

Frequently asked questions