Bosphorus by Public Ferry: Şehir Hatları Tours, Fares and Times

Yes, you can do the Bosphorus yourself on a public ferry: the city ferry company Şehir Hatları runs a daily Long Bosphorus Tour from Eminönü at 10:35 that costs 640 TL round trip for foreign visitors, and a Short Bosphorus Tour at 14:40 for 340 TL. Both run all winter under the current timetable, valid from 7 September 2026 to 27 June 2027. The long tour takes about six hours door to door, with a break at Anadolu Kavağı near the Black Sea. Below are the fares, the timetable, what you see from the deck, cheaper commuter-ferry alternatives, and when a guided cruise such as our morning Bosphorus cruise (from $40 per person) is the better use of your day.

The two public Bosphorus tours

Şehir Hatları, owned by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, operates two sightseeing sailings on top of its commuter network:

• Uzun Boğaz Turu (Long Bosphorus Tour). A full-length trip up the strait to Anadolu Kavağı, the last village before the Black Sea, with a break of about two and a half hours there before sailing back.
• Kısa Boğaz Turu (Short Bosphorus Tour). An afternoon loop on the lower Bosphorus, calling at Üsküdar and Ortaköy, with no break ashore.

Both leave from the Bosphorus tours pier (Boğaz Turları İskelesi) at Eminönü, a few minutes' walk from the Spice Bazaar and the Galata Bridge. Tickets are sold at the pier ticket office. There is no commentary on board, only the view.

Fares for the 2026-27 season

Şehir Hatları charges foreign visitors double the local fare on its sightseeing tours. These are the prices in its published fare table for Bosphorus tours.

Children aged 0 to 6 travel free on all three tours. The fare table shows no separate child price for foreign passengers, so ask at the ticket office. Prices change with the city's tariff decisions, so treat these as the current figures, not a guarantee for next season.

The long tour, stop by stop

Under the winter timetable there is one departure a day, every day of the week.

What you pass on the way up:

• Between Eminönü and Beşiktaş: Topkapı Point behind you, the Maiden's Tower off Üsküdar, then the long façade of Dolmabahçe Palace.
• Beşiktaş to Kanlıca: the Ortaköy Mosque under the first bridge, Beylerbeyi Palace on the Asian shore, then the old wooden waterside mansions (yalı) of Arnavutköy and Bebek.
• Around the second bridge: Rumeli Fortress on the European side and the smaller Anadolu Fortress opposite. Kanlıca is known for its thick yoghurt served with powdered sugar.
• Sarıyer and the Kavaks: the strait widens, fishing villages replace the city, and the third bridge comes into view to the north.

At Anadolu Kavağı most passengers eat fish or mussels at the waterfront restaurants and walk up the hill towards the ruins of Yoros Castle for the view of the Black Sea entrance. The climb is steep, so set off soon after you land and keep an eye on the 15:00 departure. You can also stay on the Asian side and take a different ferry or bus back, but the round-trip ticket is then partly wasted.

The short tour and the moonlight tour

The Short Bosphorus Tour leaves Eminönü at 14:40, calls at Üsküdar at 14:55 and Ortaköy at 15:10, then heads back to Eminönü; the timetable notes that there is no break at Ortaköy. It is the right choice if you have only an afternoon and mainly want the palaces, the first bridge and the skyline from the water.

The Moonlight tour (Mehtap) is an evening sailing that Şehir Hatları runs in the warmer months. It is not part of the current winter timetable, so if you are visiting between September and June, plan on the long or short tour instead.

Cheaper still: commuter ferries with an İstanbulkart

You do not need a tour ticket to be on the Bosphorus. The regular city ferries are paid with an İstanbulkart at normal transport fares, and one card can be tapped for several people.

• Karaköy or Beşiktaş to Kadıköy: 65.21 TL full fare in the current fare table, about 20 minutes across the mouth of the Bosphorus with views of the Old City. Spend the afternoon in Kadıköy and Moda.
• Eminönü to Üsküdar: a short crossing past the Maiden's Tower.
• Eminönü to Rumeli Kavağı line: a daily commuter service up the European shore, calling at Beşiktaş, Ortaköy, Arnavutköy, Bebek, Emirgan, İstinye, Büyükdere and Sarıyer. There are about a dozen departures a day from Eminönü, not all running the full length. It is a good way to get off in Bebek or Emirgan, walk, and take a later boat back.

These ferries do not wait for photos and fill up at rush hour, but they show the Bosphorus as residents use it.

Tips for doing it yourself

• Arrive 20 to 30 minutes early in summer and on weekends to get a seat on the open deck; the best spots are at the back and along the rails.
• Which side to sit: heading north from Eminönü, the European shore is on your left and the Asian shore on your right. The long tour zigzags between them, so both sides get turns.
• Bring a layer. Even on warm days the wind on the open deck is cool, and in winter it is cold.
• Tea on board. A tea seller usually works on board, but carry some cash and water of your own.
• Check the weather. Strong wind or fog occasionally disrupts sailings; the ticket office will tell you on the day.
• Plan the rest of the day around 16:40. The long tour takes most of the day, so pair it with an evening plan near Eminönü rather than a museum.

When a guided cruise is the better choice

The public ferry is excellent value, but it is not always the best option.

• You have limited time. Six hours on the long tour is a big share of a two- or three-day stay. A guided cruise of two to three hours covers the palaces, fortresses and bridges in less time.
• You want the stories. There is no commentary on the public ferry. A guide explains who built the palaces and mansions and what happened at the fortresses.
• You want comfort or privacy. Hotel pick-up, a reserved seat, lunch or dinner on board, or a private yacht for your group.
• Sunset or evening. Outside summer there is no public evening sailing; a private yacht or dinner cruise fills that gap. See our sunset Bosphorus yacht cruise page.
• Mobility. Boarding a busy public ferry and climbing at Anadolu Kavağı is harder for some travellers; a private boat boards at a quieter pier.

Tours that cover this

• Morning Bosphorus Cruise Tour with Spice Bazaar Stop, from $40 per person. A guided cruise plus the bazaar, finished by early afternoon.
• Bosphorus Lunch Cruise with Hotel Pick-up & Drop-off, 3 hours, from $75 per person. Transfers and lunch included.
• Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Folk & Belly Dance Show, 6 hours, from $90 per person. The evening option when no public sailing runs.
• Private Yacht Tour Istanbul for 1-12 People, from $299 per hour. Your own route and timing on the strait.

All our options are listed on the Bosphorus tours page, and background on the strait itself is on our Bosphorus Strait guide.

Frequently Asked Questions