Full-Day Bosphorus Cruise & Two Continents Tour in Istanbul

The full-day Bosphorus cruise and two continents tour: the key facts

This is a full-day group tour in Istanbul that covers both the European and the Asian side. It starts with a hotel pick-up and a visit to the Spice Bazaar, followed by a morning cruise on the Bosphorus past Ottoman palaces and waterfront mansions. After lunch at a local restaurant, you cross the Bosphorus Bridge to Asia, go inside Beylerbeyi Palace and finish with the view from Camlica Hill. The tour runs from 08:30 to around 17:00.

It suits travellers who have done, or plan to do, the Old City separately and want one day for the water and the Asian shore. Guides speak English, Spanish or Italian. The price is from $88 per person.

What does the day look like?

The morning starts at the Spice Bazaar, then you board the boat. From the water you see Ciragan and Dolmabahce palaces, the old pasha mansions along the shore and the Maiden's Tower, which the FAQ calls Leander's Tower. Lunch at a local restaurant comes between the cruise and the Asian side. In the afternoon you drive over the Bosphorus Bridge to Beylerbeyi Palace for a guided visit inside, and end at Camlica Hill before returning to your hotel.

How is it different from the shorter Bosphorus tours?

It combines two half-day tours we also sell separately. The morning Bosphorus cruise with a Spice Bazaar stop, from $40 per person, covers the bazaar and the boat and drops you in Sultanahmet around midday. The Beylerbeyi Palace and Camlica Hill morning tour, from $52 per person, covers the Asian side by road. This full day adds lunch and a hotel drop-off, and you visit everything with the same guide and group.

Which days does it run, and is Beylerbeyi Palace always open?

The page does not list the operating days. Beylerbeyi Palace is normally closed on Mondays, like Istanbul's other national palaces, and can also close on the first days of religious holidays. If you want to travel on a Monday, ask us first whether the tour runs and what replaces the palace visit. The palace's hours have changed over the years, so we confirm the visit for your exact date in writing when you book.

Is lunch included, and what about drinks?

Yes, lunch at a local restaurant is included; dinner is not. The page does not say whether drinks with lunch are part of the price, so plan to pay for them unless your confirmation says otherwise. Bring water for the morning, especially in summer, and some cash for the Spice Bazaar if you want to buy spices, tea or sweets. If you have food allergies or a vegetarian diet, tell us when booking so we can pass it on to the restaurant.

Where do you pick us up?

Pick-up and drop-off at hotels in central Istanbul are included at no extra cost. If your hotel is outside the central pick-up zones, an extra transport fee applies and is not in the price, so give us your hotel name when you book and we will tell you whether this applies and how much it is. Pick-up is at 08:30, and drop-off is around 17:00, depending on traffic over the bridge. Our page on Istanbul tours with hotel pickup shows other tours that collect you.

What should we wear and bring?

Bring a light layer for the boat, as it can be breezy on deck, and wear comfortable shoes for the bazaar, the palace floors and the garden paths. In summer, sun cream and a hat help on the cruise and at Camlica Hill. Camlica Hill also has a large mosque; if you go inside, cover shoulders and knees, women should cover their hair, and shoes come off at the door. Our what to wear in Istanbul guide gives more advice by season.

Can we combine it with the Old City?

This tour does not include the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia or the Hippodrome. To see them, plan another day. Compare the Istanbul full-day Old City small-group tour with lunch from $199 per person, the Istanbul history tour from $161 per person, or the Istanbul full-day city tour with a Bosphorus cruise from $57 per person, which mixes the Old City and the water. Our Istanbul 3-day itinerary shows how to spread these over a short stay.

How do we book this tour?

Choose your date and number of guests in the booking form on this page, or message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 307 67 88. The form lists several start times, but this tour has a fixed 08:30 pick-up. The FAQ compares prices in euros, while the price shown is $88 per person, and the guide price can differ for Spanish or Italian, so check the final amount in your confirmation. We confirm the date, the palace visit and your pick-up in writing before you make any payment. Get Turkey Tours is a TÜRSAB-licensed agency (A-15751).