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| Official name | Bosphorus (İstanbul Boğazı), a strait of about 31 km between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea |
| Departure and access | Boğaz İskelesi pier at Eminönü; T1 tram to Eminönü, or Marmaray to Sirkeci |
| Long public cruise | Uzun Boğaz Turu, round trip ₺640 (£9.48) at the foreign-visitor rate; under 12s ₺160 (£2.37) |
| Short public cruise | Kısa Boğaz Turu, ₺340 (£5.03) at the foreign-visitor rate; under 12s ₺85 (£1.26) |
| Times (winter) | Long: departs 10:35, leaves Anadolu Kavağı at 15:00, back at Eminönü 16:40; short: departs 14:40 |
| Days | Long and short cruises run every day; free for ages 0 to 6 |
| Duration | About 6 hours for the long cruise, including a 2h30 stop; about 2 hours for the short one |
| Who it suits | Everyone; buy tickets at the pier ticket office, the İstanbulkart does not work for the tours |
To visit the Bosphorus, the long public cruise run by Şehir Hatları leaves Eminönü every day at 10:35 and sails up to Anadolu Kavağı, close to the Black Sea. The round trip costs ₺640 (£9.48) at the foreign-visitor rate and takes about 6 hours. The short cruise, at 14:40, costs ₺340 (£5.03).
How much does a public Bosphorus cruise cost?
Şehir Hatları, the city ferry company, charges two fares on its Bosphorus tours: a Turkish fare and a foreign-visitor fare, twice as high. As a tourist you pay ₺640 (£9.48) for the round trip on the long cruise and ₺340 (£5.03) for the short one. Buy your ticket at the pier ticket office: the İstanbulkart does not work for the tours.
| Bosphorus trip | Price for a tourist | In pounds |
|---|---|---|
| Long cruise (Uzun Boğaz Turu), round trip | ₺640 | £9.48 |
| Short cruise (Kısa Boğaz Turu), loop without a stop | ₺340 | £5.03 |
| Long or short cruise, under 12s | ₺160 / ₺85 | £2.37 / £1.26 |
| Cruises, children aged 0 to 6 | Free | Free |
| European-shore line ferry (Boğaz Hattı), single trip with an İstanbulkart | ₺76.90 | £1.14 |
| Eminönü to Üsküdar crossing with an İstanbulkart | ₺58.52 | £0.87 |
| Eminönü to Kadıköy crossing with an İstanbulkart | ₺65.21 | £0.97 |
The locals’ trick is the line ferry on the European shore, which runs up from Eminönü to Rumeli Kavağı with the same views for ₺76.90 (£1.14) on an İstanbulkart. Departures are infrequent and change with the season, so check the Şehir Hatları app the evening before. Everything about the card is in my guide to buying and topping up an İstanbulkart.
What time does the public cruise leave in winter?
The winter timetable runs from 7 September 2026 to 27 June 2027. The long cruise leaves Eminönü once a day at 10:35, calls at Beşiktaş at 10:50 and Üsküdar at 11:05, then stops at Kanlıca, Sarıyer and Rumeli Kavağı before reaching Anadolu Kavağı at 12:25. The boat sails back at 15:00 and docks at Eminönü around 16:40.
- Eminönü: departs 10:35, back around 16:40
- Kanlıca: 11:35 on the way up, 15:40 on the way back
- Sarıyer: 12:05 up, 15:20 back
- Rumeli Kavağı: 12:15 up, 15:10 back
- Anadolu Kavağı: arrives 12:25, departs 15:00
The short cruise leaves Eminönü at 14:40, calls at Üsküdar at 14:55 and Ortaköy at 15:10, then turns back under the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge without stopping. The Mehtap Turu, the evening moonlight cruise, is not in the winter timetable. To be on the pier by 10:15 without rushing, sleep two streets away: here are my favourite hotels near the Eminönü pier.
Local tip: on the May bank holiday weekends (3 and 31 May 2027) the Eminönü pier fills up with visitors. I queue at the ticket office at least 45 minutes before departure and buy the ticket before my coffee: the benches on the upper deck go first.
Public ferry, commentary cruise or private boat: which should you choose?
I have worked it out for a couple and for a family of four, using the official Şehir Hatları fares and the “from” prices shown on GetYourGuide on 4 November 2026.
| Option | Duration | For 2 adults | For 4 adults |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long public cruise, Şehir Hatları (round trip) | About 6 h | ₺1,280 (£18.95) | ₺2,560 (£37.90) |
| Short public cruise, Şehir Hatları | About 2 h | ₺680 (£10.07) | ₺1,360 (£20.13) |
| Commentary cruise with audio guide, from ₺394 (£5.83) per person | 2 h | ₺788 (£11.67) | ₺1,576 (£23.33) |
| Private yacht, from ₺10,970 (£162.41) per boat (up to 12 people) | 2 h | ₺10,970 (£162.41), or ₺5,485 (£81.20) per person | ₺10,970 (£162.41), or ₺2,742.50 (£40.60) per person |
| Line ferry Boğaz Hattı with an İstanbulkart (return) | Per timetable | ₺307.60 (£4.55) | ₺615.20 (£9.11) |
My verdict: the long public cruise is unbeatable. For £9.48 a head you sail the whole Bosphorus up to the entrance of the Black Sea, with a 2h30 stop at Anadolu Kavağı. If you only have 2 hours, the short public cruise and the commentary cruise cost within £1 of each other: take the commentary cruise if you want explanations in English. The private yacht starts to make sense from 6 to 8 people, or for a sunset proposal.
Private operators such as Turyol also run tours of about 1h30 from Eminönü, without a stop and with more frequent departures than Şehir Hatları: expect around ₺300 (£4.44), according to a press report from October 2026, to be confirmed at the ticket office.
What can you see from the boat on the Bosphorus?
On the European side, the first thing you notice is the white façade of Dolmabahçe Palace, which you can also visit from the Beşiktaş side, then Çırağan Palace, Ortaköy Mosque at the foot of the first bridge, the timber waterside mansions (yalı) of Bebek and Arnavutköy, and the stepped walls of Rumeli Hisarı, the fortress built in 1452 before the siege of Constantinople.
On the Asian side, look for Beylerbeyi Palace under the bridge, the coloured houses of Kuzguncuk and Çengelköy, then Kanlıca, known for the yoghurt served on the quay. At the Anadolu Kavağı stop, a 20 to 30 minute climb leads to Yoros Castle: from the top you can see the third bridge and the Black Sea.
For food, three stops: balık ekmek, the grilled fish sandwich from the boats at Eminönü, with the smell of frying and diesel on the quay; çay in a tulip glass from the waiter who walks between the benches on the ferry; and the kumpir at Ortaköy, a baked potato with toppings, eaten on the steps facing the water. The gulls follow the stern for scraps of simit: keep yours out of sight.
My top itinerary for a day on the Bosphorus
This is the plan I give friends visiting from London: the Asian shore on foot in the morning, the European shore in the afternoon, and sunset at Ortaköy. It also fits neatly into my programme to visit Istanbul in 3 days.
- 09:00: a hot simit from a street vendor on the Eminönü quay.
- 09:30: ferry to Üsküdar (₺58.52 (£0.87) with an İstanbulkart), sitting outside to watch Topkapı and Hagia Sophia slip away.
- 10:00: walk north along the water to Kuzguncuk, 15 minutes: coloured wooden houses, cats in the sun, neighbourhood cafés.
- 12:30: back to Üsküdar by bus, ferry to Beşiktaş, then a bus along the coast road north to Bebek.
- 13:30: lunch in Bebek between the yachts and the cafés, then a stroll along the water.
- 15:30: walk back down to Ortaköy along the waterfront, a little under half an hour; otherwise any southbound bus, 5 minutes.
- 16:30: kumpir on the Ortaköy steps and a photo of the mosque in front of the bridge, when the light turns gold.
- 18:00: bus to Kabataş, then the T1 tram to Eminönü, where the evening ends with a balık ekmek.
If you only have 2 hours
Take the short public cruise at 14:40 from Eminönü (₺340 (£5.03)): it passes Dolmabahçe, Ortaköy and Rumeli Hisarı before turning back under the second bridge. Allow about 2 hours in all, then finish at the Spice Bazaar, 3 minutes from the pier.
How do you get to the cruise pier at Eminönü?
The simplest way is the T1 tram to Eminönü, 2 minutes on foot from the pier: from Sultanahmet it is 3 stops. From the Asian side, Marmaray drops you at Sirkeci, 5 minutes away. From Karaköy or Galata, walk across the Galata Bridge between the fishing rods. A tram or Marmaray trip costs ₺46.20 (£0.68) with an İstanbulkart.
On the way back from Anadolu Kavağı the boat brings you to Eminönü in the late afternoon, just when traffic jams the coast road. If you get off at Beşiktaş or Üsküdar to reach your hotel, make sure you can order a ride without haggling.
Travelling to the Bosphorus from the UK: flights, time difference and documents
Direct flights from London take about 4 hours (check with your airline), and regional airports have services too. Turkey is on UTC+3 all year: that is 3 hours ahead of GMT at the moment, and 2 hours ahead during British Summer Time (28 March to 31 October 2027).
British passport holders do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180, but the passport must be valid for 150 days after arrival, according to the FCDO (Turkey travel advice, updated 27 October 2026). Turkish sockets are types C and F, so pack a UK adapter. Before you go, read the FCDO advice; the British Consulate-General is in Beyoğlu if you need it. Cash is easy to get from ATMs, and the rate to keep in mind is £1 = ₺67.5454 (TCMB, 4 November 2026).
Taxi or Uber in Istanbul: how do you avoid being overcharged?
After a day on the water the quays are full of tired visitors and taxis know it. The Üsküdar and Eminönü piers are the worst places to hail one at the end of the afternoon.
18:40 on the Üsküdar quay, just after the last light on the water: the first driver in the queue says his meter is “broken” and quotes ₺1,100 (£16.29) for Sultanahmet, “because of the bridge traffic”. I walked on.
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The price of an Uber ride is shown in advance. Trip and driver recorded in the app, card payment, zero haggling.
Kevin’s tip: when I leave the pier I order from the waiting area on the quay; the fare is on screen before the car arrives, and I can follow the route all the way back across the bridge.
Mobile data on the Bosphorus: boat times, Maps and Uber without roaming charges
On the water your phone does everything: the Şehir Hatları app for the next sailing, the map to follow the shoreline, and the ride app when you land. UK operators charge extra for roaming in Turkey, so sort your data out before you fly.
Need data to check the last ferry back from Üsküdar while you sit with a çay on the Kuzguncuk waterfront?
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Kevin’s tip: Airalo is the cheapest provider I have found; I install the eSIM at home the night before, on an eSIM-compatible phone, and switch my UK SIM’s data off so nothing is billed in Turkey.
Is a Bosphorus dinner cruise worth it?
Yes, if you want to see the illuminated bridges without hunting for a restaurant: the dinner cruise combines 3 hours on the water, a meal and a folklore show, from ₺1,519 (£22.49) on GetYourGuide on 4 November 2026. Choose the operator carefully: on crowded boats you see more of the stage than of the Bosphorus. I compared the offers, menus and times in my guide to the Bosphorus dinner cruise with show.
For New Year’s Eve, several companies run a cruise with dinner and a view of the fireworks: compare the 31 December Bosphorus cruises; they sell out from early December.
Is the cruise included in the Istanbul Tourist Pass?
Yes: according to the provider’s page consulted on 4 November 2026, the Istanbul Tourist Pass includes a sunset cruise and a dinner cruise on the Bosphorus, on top of the monuments. For the cruise alone it is not worth it; it becomes interesting if you chain Topkapı, Dolmabahçe and a guided visit of Hagia Sophia. My full calculation is in my Istanbul Tourist Pass review, and you can see the offer on the official Istanbul Tourist Pass website.
Where should you stay near the Bosphorus piers?
Staying between Eminönü and Sirkeci puts the ferries, the T1 tram and Marmaray within 5 minutes on foot. My selection around the piers, from the simplest to the most expensive.
| Budget | Hotel | Why this one |
|---|---|---|
| Low budget | Second Home Hostel | Friendly atmosphere, a good bed and the essentials, so you can spend your budget on the water rather than the hotel. |
| High-end | Rixos Hotel Istanbul | Attentive service and great comfort, to end a day on the boat in peace. |
| High-end | Orientbank Hotel | Restored former bank with a rooftop above the Golden Horn, a walk from Galata Bridge. |
My pick: the Orientbank, for breakfast on the roof while the first ferries leave Eminönü.
Pros, cons and my favourite moment on the Bosphorus cruise
- Pros: the whole Bosphorus for £9.48, on a proper line ferry alongside Istanbulites; the stop at Anadolu Kavağı and the view of the Black Sea from Yoros.
- Cons: a single departure a day in winter, no commentary, and 6 hours set aside; in summer the upper deck is full by 10:20.
- My favourite moment: passing under the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, level with Rumeli Hisarı, when the current rocks the boat and the çay slides across the little table.
One scam to know about before you go: at Eminönü, touts sell “Bosphorus tours” for about ₺560 (£8.29) on small boats that turn back at Ortaköy after 45 minutes. It happened to me in my first year. The fix: buy at the official Şehir Hatları ticket office on the quay, with the price on display. Take a jacket even in summer: the Bosphorus wind is cold on deck.
For the rest of your trip, my list of the best things to do in Istanbul sorts the sights by shore, Bosphorus included.
Bosphorus cruise FAQ
How much does a Bosphorus cruise cost?
With Şehir Hatları, the long public cruise costs ₺640 (£9.48) for the round trip at the foreign-visitor rate and the short one ₺340 (£5.03), according to the fares consulted on 4 November 2026. Commentary cruises start at ₺394 (£5.83) on GetYourGuide, and a 2-hour private yacht at ₺10,970 (£162.41) per boat.
Can you pay for the Şehir Hatları cruise with an İstanbulkart?
No, the Bosphorus tours (long, short and Mehtap) are paid for at the Eminönü pier ticket office. The İstanbulkart works on line ferries, such as the Boğaz Hattı to Rumeli Kavağı at ₺76.90 (£1.14) a trip, or the crossings to Üsküdar and Kadıköy.
How long does the Bosphorus cruise take?
The long public cruise takes about 6 hours: 1h50 to sail up to Anadolu Kavağı, a 2h30 stop, then the return to Eminönü around 16:40. The short cruise takes about 2 hours, with no stop. Private commentary cruises usually last 1h30 to 2 hours.
What time does the Bosphorus cruise leave in winter?
According to the Şehir Hatları winter timetable, valid from 7 September 2026 to 27 June 2027, the long cruise leaves Eminönü at 10:35, Beşiktaş at 10:50 and Üsküdar at 11:05. The return leaves Anadolu Kavağı at 15:00. The short cruise leaves Eminönü at 14:40.
Where do you catch the Bosphorus ferry?
The public cruises leave from the Boğaz İskelesi pier at Eminönü, 2 minutes on foot from the T1 tram stop. The long cruise also calls at Beşiktaş and Üsküdar on the way up, where you can board. Tickets are sold at the pier ticket office.
Is a Bosphorus cruise worth it?
Yes. For £9.48 the long public cruise gives you the entire strait, from the Dolmabahçe façade to Yoros Castle, with a 2h30 stop for lunch. If you are short of time, the 2-hour short cruise at £5.03 still covers the main palaces and bridges.
What is the best time of year for a Bosphorus cruise?
The public cruises run all year. I prefer April and May, or September and October, when it is mild and the light is soft for photos. In winter there is only one long departure a day, so plan your morning around 10:35.
Why is the Bosphorus famous?
The Bosphorus joins the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara over about 31 km and separates Europe from Asia. The Ottomans built Anadolu Hisarı in the late 14th century, then Rumeli Hisarı in 1452, to control the passage before the capture of Constantinople in 1453.
How do you cross the Bosphorus in Istanbul?
The simplest way is the ferry: Eminönü to Üsküdar in about twenty minutes for ₺58.52, or Eminönü to Kadıköy for ₺65.21, with an İstanbulkart. Under the water, Marmaray links Sirkeci to Üsküdar in a few minutes. The three bridges and the Eurasia Tunnel are for vehicles only.
Which side of the boat should you sit on?
Going up towards the Black Sea, sit on the left for the European shore: Dolmabahçe, Ortaköy, Bebek and Rumeli Hisarı. On the way back the same seat faces the Asian shore. Board from 10:15 to get a bench outside on the upper deck.
Read more
Bosphorus dinner cruise with show
The operators, the menus and the traps to avoid for an evening on the water.
The tower on its islet off Üsküdar, which the cruise skirts after leaving Eminönü.
The neighbourhood of the 10:50 stop, between the palace, the fish market and the student cafés.
Sources and references
- Şehir Hatları, Bosphorus tours price list (long, short and Mehtap cruises), consulted on 4 November 2026
- Şehir Hatları, long Bosphorus cruise timetable (Uzun Boğaz Turu) (Turkish), consulted on 4 November 2026
- Şehir Hatları, İstanbulkart line fares (Boğaz Hattı, Üsküdar, Kadıköy) (Turkish), consulted on 29 October and 4 November 2026
- Bir Dakikada Geziyorum, 2026-2027 winter timetable of the Şehir Hatları tours (Turkish), article of 2 November 2026, consulted on 4 November 2026
- Golden Sunset Tour, Bosphorus tour and private yacht prices (Turkish), prices of 3 November 2026, consulted on 4 November 2026
- İstanbulkart, transport fares (Turkish; ₺46.20 per trip), consulted on 1 November 2026
- FCDO, Turkey travel advice, entry requirements updated 27 October 2026
- GetYourGuide, “from” prices of commentary cruises, private yachts and dinner cruises, recorded on 4 November 2026
- Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye (TCMB), exchange rates, bulletin of 4 November 2026
- Wikipedia, Bosphorus (length, bridges, fortresses), consulted on 4 November 2026
📢 Kevin’s transparency note: this article contains affiliate links (GetYourGuide, Booking.com, Uber, Airalo and the official Istanbul Tourist Pass website). The price stays the same for you; a small commission comes to me and pays for these free guides, and my next çay on the ferry. Teşekkür ederim! Follow my days in Istanbul on Instagram: @kevinloveistanbul.
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