See the panoramic sights of the Golden Horn and get a glimpse of Balat, the Jewish Hospital, and much more on this 4-hour cruise in Istanbul. Cruise through the Bosphorus, see the Rumeli Fortress, and visit Pierre Loti coffee house.
About this activity
- Free cancellation
- Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
- COVID-19 precautions
- Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
- Mobile ticketing
- Use your phone or print your voucher
- Duration 4 hours
- Starting time 2:00 PM
- Skip the ticket line
- Instant confirmation
- Live tour guide
- English, Spanish, German, Arabic
Experience
Highlights
- Experience panoramic views of the Golden Horn
- See beautiful views of the Bosphorus
- Admire the magnificent Rumeli Fortress from the boat
- Explore the neighborhood of Balat
- View the Bulgarian St Stephen Church, the Jewish Hospital, the Fener Orthodox Patriarchate, and the Byzantine City Wall
Full description
Enjoy a Bosphorus cruise through the waterway separating the two continents, Europe and Asia, with a possibility to take photographs of marble palaces and ancient wooden villas of Ottoman architecture besides modern residential and luxurious apartments.
See the Rumeli Fortress from the boat, a historical armament built by the Conqueror to control and protect the Bosphorus. It is a unique example of military architecture.
Visit the Golden Horn by bus, the arm of the Bosphorus and a natural harbor of the historical peninsula separating the old and new parts of Istanbul where the first colonies settled during the Byzantine Empire. This was a residential area for Byzantine Jews, Italian traders, and other non-Muslim minorities.
Drive along the traces of history in Balat and view the Bulgarian St Stephen Church, the Jewish Hospital (Or-Ahayim), the Fener Orthodox Patriarchate, and the 22-kilometer Byzantine City Wall, the strongest fortification of the Middle Ages. You then take a cable car ride to Pierre Loti coffee house.
Includes
- Air-conditioned transportation
- Free pick-up and drop off service from/to centrally located city hotels
- 1.5-hour cruise on the Bosphorus
COVID-19 precautions
Customers must book this activity online because the ticket office is closed
Safety measures in place
- All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
- The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds
Traveler requirements
- Customers must bring their own headphones
- Customers are required to bring and wear masks
- Customers will get a mandatory temperature check
Select participants and date
Participants
Date
Prepare for the activity
Meeting point
Tamara Restaurant Sultanahmet
Open in Google Maps ⟶Important information
What to bring
- Passport or ID card
- Comfortable shoes
- Sunglasses
- Sun hat
Not allowed
- Pets
- Oversize luggage
- Smoking
- Luggage or large bags
- Open-toed shoes
Know before you go
- At the time of booking, provide your hotel name and location. You will receive an email with meeting point and pickup details.
- Pick-up is only available from main hotels in the center of Istanbul or other meeting points in the European side.
- If the minimum number of participants is not reached for a private boat tour, you will go on the regular boat tour.
