Istanbul Travel Forum

Hello,
I am getting married on Christmas and then flying out to Istanbul with my wife. I only have 5 days there and was wondering about mini-cruise tours up the Bosphorous River? Where can I book a reservation? What are the names of the major tour companies? Is it a good idea? I was planning on just a two day(1 night) mini-cruise. Any info you can pass on would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, J

Well first of all congratulations.. than have a great Honeymoon in Istanbul..

I will try to help you with your request, however if you need more info please do not hesitate to contact with me..

A small correction, Bosphorus is not a river. its a strait between Marmara sea and Black sea.. total length is 35 nautical miles.. And there is no cruising on the bosphorus.. But there are tours..

Difference is, there is a speed and travel limitation and you can travel from the bottom to top in 3,5 hrs max.. and return will be the same.. If you want to spend a night than you need to hire a boat and use anchorage places..

I would definitely advice a bosphorus tour but that shall be a daily tour from the touristy peninsula up to the Black sea.. You may have a short break at "Anadolu Feneri, where you can have lunch " and afterwards you can return..

Regards
Erkmen

Hello,

I would also like to congratulate you.

I would also recommend you to take daily tours. Renting a boat would also be an option however since the Bosphorous strait is not too long, it would not be much satisfactory to you.

Here are some more information about daily tours from my tips on my Istanbul pages:

Description:
If you come to Istanbul and want to make a Bosphorous long trip, by the sea, I recommend you to go to Eminonu (Sirkeci)
early in the morning (everyday at a10.35, 12.00 and 13.35) take the boat (named Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa) for a Bosphorous trip. It stops at Kanlica, Yenikoy etc. The last stop is Anadolu Kavagi. Here it stays for 2 hours (for meal etc). At the end of the 2 hours, you take the same boat for the return.

Address:
Eminonu (Sirkeci)

Phone:
+ 90 212 251 50 00

Try to call before you get to the boat in order to learn whether the hours had changed.

Also if the weather is nice you can try:

Description:
I have heard of the Sultan's Boats before and watched some commercials about them. However I haven't found the occasion to take a trip with them. Recently John Nash (A beautiful mind :)) came to Istanbul and had a Bosphorous trip with a Sultan's Boat. I am planning to take a trip very soon. If you will come to Istanbul, reserve a seat for yourself too. Although I haven't tried yet, I am sure it is magical.

Address:
Cumhuriyet Cad. 141/8-9 Harbiye, Istanbul Turkey

Phone:
+90 212 296 52 40 (4 lines)

Website:
http://www.sultankayiklari.com/boat.html

Other Contact:
info@sultankayiklari.com

For further information you can get in touch with me as well.

Have an unforgettable honeymoon :)
GK

Hi and congratulations!

No I dont reccomend you to take daily bosphorus tours. That doesnt make sense for a honeymoon...it is just a normal tour and you will not enjoy much!

Of course, there are private yacht excursions in the evenings. The ony problem is the excursions may be cancelled due to the bad weather condition. But I think it will be implemented at weekends. Your hotel will direct you once you arrive Istanbul. Don't worry frond desk employees are very good at this and they will find the best for you! All touristic hotels in Istanbul work with the best and well-known tour companies! You can pick the tour catalogs from the front desk at the hotel.
any question? :)