Planning a private yacht tour on the Bosphorus

The Bosphorus is the strait that links the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara and divides Istanbul into its European and Asian sides. From the water you see a side of the city that is hard to see from the shore.

Among the places you may pass:

• Dolmabahçe Palace and Beylerbeyi Palace
• Ortaköy Mosque, with the suspension bridge behind it
• the waterfronts of Bebek and Arnavutköy
• the old wooden waterside mansions, the yalıs
• Rumeli Fortress
• the Maiden’s Tower, to the south

How far you go depends on the length of time you choose.

Each time of day has its own mood. Morning light is soft and the day is still cool, which makes it a good time for a quiet tour and for photographs. Around midday and in the afternoon the sun is high, and in summer it can be hot.

In the late afternoon and at sunset the sky takes on colour, and then the lights of the city and the bridges come on. An evening tour is for watching the illuminated shore and bridges. Sunset times change with the seasons, so write the time you have in mind in your request.

B Travel’s yacht tour leaves from Kuruçeşme, on the European shore of the Bosphorus, between Ortaköy and Arnavutköy. The tour runs like this:

• you are picked up from your hotel in a VIP vehicle
• you board the yacht at Kuruçeşme
• you are on the Bosphorus for as long as you have chosen
• a VIP transfer takes you back to your hotel

The yacht is yours alone; you do not share it with other guests. Because a VIP transfer takes you to Kuruçeşme, you do not have to find the pier or look for parking.

The private yacht tour starts at €170 per hour, and the VIP transfer to and from your hotel is included. This is a starting price; the exact price depends on the date, the number of people and your choices.

The yacht’s capacity, the minimum hire period and the food and drink options are confirmed when we reply to your request. Tell us how many of you there are, the date and time you would like and how long you have in mind, and we will write back with the availability and the exact price.

A private yacht is not the only way to see the Bosphorus from the water. The city’s Şehir Hatları ferries and the shared tour boats cost much less and show you the same views. You follow a set route with fixed departure times, and the boats can be crowded. Şehir Hatları runs long and short Bosphorus tours from Eminönü; check its own website for times and fares.

On a private yacht you choose the time and the length of your tour. For a family or a group of friends, for a day you are celebrating, or if you would rather be collected from your hotel and taken back, a private yacht makes things easier.

Worth knowing before your tour:

• on the water it can be cooler and windier than on land; bring a light layer, even in summer
• in summer, a hat and sunscreen are useful
• wear comfortable shoes that do not slip
• charge your phone for photographs
• if you have a special wish, such as a celebration or food and drink, put it in your request; we confirm what is possible when we reply