Bosphorus Dinner Cruise in Istanbul with Turkish Night Show

The Bosphorus dinner cruise with a Turkish night show: the key facts

This is an evening group tour on the Bosphorus with dinner served on board and a Turkish night show. You are collected from your central Istanbul hotel, board the boat for a night sail past Dolmabahce Palace, under the Bosphorus Bridge and on to the Maiden's Tower, and watch belly dancing, folk dances and a DJ while you eat. Soft drinks are unlimited. The cruise runs from 19:30 to around 23:30, followed by a drop-off at your hotel.

It suits couples, families and first-time visitors who want an easy evening out with transport both ways and no taxi to find late at night. Departures run every night with no minimum number of guests. The price is from $57 per person.

What happens during the evening?

After pick-up you are taken to the pier and seated for dinner. As the boat sails, you pass Dolmabahce Palace lit up after dark, go under the Bosphorus Bridge and continue towards the Maiden's Tower. The show at the tables mixes belly dancing, folk dances and DJ music. Between performances you can go up to the upper deck to look at the European and Asian shores. Our Bosphorus dinner cruise guide explains how these evenings usually run and how to compare them.

Which drinks are included?

Unlimited soft drinks are included. Alcohol is not: you can add a local alcoholic drink package when you book, and imported drinks are sold on board at extra cost. If you want wine or raki with dinner, choose the package at the booking stage rather than paying drink by drink. The page does not list the package price, so ask us for it before you book. Bring some cash or a card for anything bought on board.

What is on the dinner menu, and can we ask for special meals?

A set dinner menu is served on board. The page does not describe the courses, so if you have a vegetarian or vegan diet, allergies, or need halal food, tell us when you book and we will check with the boat. Requests are easier to arrange in advance than on the night. The meal is part of the price, so there is no bill for food at the end of the evening.

Where do you pick us up, and when do we get back?

Pick-up and drop-off at central Istanbul hotels are included. Hotels outside the central pick-up zone pay an extra transfer fee, so give us your hotel name when booking and we will tell you the cost. The cruise starts at 19:30 and ends at about 23:30; with hotel drop-offs, you may reach your room after midnight, depending on how many hotels the vehicle serves. If you have an early flight or tour the next morning, keep that in mind.

What should we wear?

There is no formal dress code on the page. Smart casual clothes fit the evening well. The open upper deck is cooler than the dining area and can be windy, even in summer, so bring a jacket or a warm layer, especially from October to April. Wear shoes that are steady on stairs and on a moving deck. For photos of the lit shore, the upper deck gives the clearest view, away from the window glass.

How is this different from our other evening cruises?

We run more than one dinner cruise. The Bosphorus dinner cruise with folk and belly dance show, from $90 per person, is a longer, six-hour evening with a choice of drinks packages. On 31 December there is the New Year's Eve party cruise from $224 per person. If you would rather see the strait in daylight, the morning Bosphorus cruise costs from $40 per person. All evening options are on our night tours and shows page.

Can we combine it with a day tour?

Yes. Because the cruise starts at 19:30, it fits after most day tours. A common choice is a daytime Old City tour, such as the Istanbul full-day city tour with a Bosphorus cruise from $57 per person, or the Beylerbeyi Palace and Camlica Hill morning tour from $52 per person, followed by a rest at the hotel before the evening pick-up. For more evening ideas, see our Istanbul night tour page.

How do we book this cruise?

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. Note that the form shows start times between 08:00 and 14:00, which do not apply here: the cruise starts at 19:30, and we confirm your evening pick-up time. The FAQ also compares prices in euros, while the price shown is $57 per person, so check the final price, and the cost of any drinks package, in writing before you make any payment. Get Turkey Tours is a TÜRSAB-licensed agency (A-15751).