Bosphorus Sunset Cruise in Istanbul on the way to your favorite restaurant…
Route Map
Click the cruise map to enlarge and view the daily route taken for this Istanbul sunset cruise.
Cruise Route
Itinerary for Bosphorus Sunset Cruise
The evening Bosphorus Sunset Cruise in Istanbul is one of our most popular cruises. On the way to your favorite restaurant, why not start the night with a beverage during sunset on the Bosphorus gliding along both European & Asian waterfronts on a luxury yacht, the award-winning Zoe Yacht.
Enjoy unique views, comfort and a relaxing environment on board your very own private yacht for the evening in this private sunset tour, just for you and your chosen companions, loved ones, family or friends, nobody else.
You’ll see some of the most famous and beautiful highlights of the Bosphorus strait offering fantastic photo opportunities. Right on the water, you’ll be in one of the best places in Istanbul to catch beautiful sunsets and capture the waterfront palaces, mosques and mansions and boats of all sizes.
This cruise is ideal for couples, families or small groups of friends (up to 12 guests in total) wishing to experience the most delightful time of sunset falling over Istanbul’s unique skyline, or to celebrate a special occasion or romantic evening.
After this stunning evening cruise with ever-changing views, we can drop you off at selected piers or seaside restaurants along the Bosphorus. A truly unbeatable location to sip champagne or cocktails in Istanbul. Highly recommended!
You’ll experience:
- An evening Sunset Cruise along the Bosphorus, Europe & Asian shores
- Unique views of the most famous waterfront sites and Istanbul’s magnificent skyline
- Complimentary tea or coffee served on board
- Beverages/champagne/cocktails prepared with care and served on board from a bar with great service for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks (available for purchase on-board)
- A friendly captain and crew at your service
- Relaxing in your own private lounge terrace and 360 degree flybridge rooftop
- Easy boarding from a choice of selected piers in central Istanbul, or some hotels/restaurants with their own piers (for hotel residents/reservation required)
- A yacht for you and your chosen companions only, nobody else
- Great photo opportunities to capture beautiful sunsets, waterfront palaces, mosques and mansions and boats of all sizes before night
Restaurants for Drop-Off after your Sunset Cruise:
At the end of your sunset tour, you can choose to be dropped off at one of Istanbul’s nice waterfront restaurants or piers, such as:
- Restaurants: Park Fora, Tuğra Restaurant, Aqua Restaurant, Marina Balık Restaurant, Sortie, Delmare, Uskumru, Lacivert, Angelique, Feriye Restaurant (reservation required).
- Piers: Kabataş, Kuruçeşme, or selected Bosphorus hotels with private piers (for hotel residents only), including Çırağan Palace, Four Seasons Bosphorus, Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus, The Peninsula Hotel, Radisson Blu Bosphorus, House Hotel Ortaköy).
If you’d prefer, we can also drop you off at your original pier. Just let us know your preference during booking!
Sunset Cruise Schedule
Our Istanbul sunset cruise operates every day all year around at these times:
Daily 16:15-18:15*, 17:30-19:30** (duration: 2 hours)
Istanbul Sunset Times
Wondering what time is the sunset in Istanbul? Please see below:
* During November-February period, the sunset sets during our 16:15-18:15 Sunset Cruise.
** During March-April & September-October period, the sunset sets during our 17:30-19:30 Sunset Cruise.
*** During May-August, the sunset sets during our 20:00 departing Dinner or Evening Cruises.
Boarding Made Easy: Convenient Pick-Up & Drop-Off Points
We offer easy boarding at a choice of centrally located piers for your convenience:
- Free Piers:
- Kabataş Pier – Perfect for guests staying in Sultanahmet, Taksim, Beyoğlu, Eminönü, Galata and nearby areas.
- Kuruçeşme Pier – Best for those in Bebek, Etiler, Ortaköy, Arnavutköy, Levent and Ulus.
- Free Bosphorus Hotel & Restaurant Piers (Reservation Required):
- Guests staying at select Bosphorus hotels (such as Çırağan Palace, Four Seasons Bosphorus, Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus, The Peninsula and others), or dining at certain Bosphorus restaurants can board directly at the venue’s private pier for free (valid reservations required). Note: Shangri-La Hotel has no private pier – choose Kabataş (free) or Beşiktaş (extra fee below).
- Important: Please ensure you have a confirmed hotel stay or restaurant reservation, or you may be charged additional docking fees or the venue may deny boarding, which could result in lost cruise time.
- Paid Piers (Optional for Convenience): For extra flexibility, you can opt to board/disembark at Beşiktaş, Karaköy, Üsküdar or Beylerbeyi piers for an additional fee of 75 Euro per approach.
Not sure which pier to use or want more details? Check our departure points guide or contact us for help choosing the best option.
Capacity Options for Every Occasion:
- Small Groups (Up to 12 Guests Including Children): Zoe Yacht is ideal for a private, luxurious and intimate experience, perfect for couples, families or friends be it a small gathering or celebration.
- Larger Groups (Over 12 Guests): Planning for a bigger group? We partner with a curated selection of medium to large yachts to suit various needs. Simply email us now with your group size and preferences and we’ll do our best to suggest a suitable option based on your requirements and availability.
What Our Guests Say About This Cruise:
Magical private cruise. This is a wonderful way to see Istanbul at night. We took the sunset cruise including dinner onboard. We were collected from our hotel and taken to the yacht. We had it exclusively for the two of us… As we set sail we were served canapés and wine. The crew pointed out all the places of interest as we sailed down one side of the Bosphorus, returning along the opposite bank. Most historic buildings are illuminated which made for a magical experience. After an hour we pulled up to a restaurant quay and our main course meal was brought on board directly from the restaurant kitchen. The food was delicious, the crew discreet but helpful when needed and the two hours were a memorable introduction to this amazing city. Highly recommended!
Couple from Palma de Mallorca, Spain
We happened to be in Istanbul for our American Thanksgiving holiday – yes, turkey day in Turkey!!! For a special memory, we booked Zoe for the 2 hour sunset sail. Our family of 4, including 4 and 7 year old boys, loved the private experience and getting to say we sailed Europe and Asia on Thanksgiving night! The day had been overcast all day, however, it cleared just as we boarded and we got the most gorgeous sunset!
The captain and crew were both very pleasant…we sailed an hour up the Europe coast and then an hour back down the Asian side. The boat was comfortable with blankets, champagne (we had ordered ahead) and juice for the kids – HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Family from Edmund, USA
Superb cruise on Zoe yacht. Very good communication with booking, transport to the boat and afterwards too was all organised perfectly.
Service and food on board was excellent. We had a 2 hour cruise from 6-8pm.
All staff were very courteous. Boat was super clean and cozy and warm.
Would highly recommend
A visitor from UK
Pricing:
Click here to see all cruise prices for 2025
Special Occasions:
You can enhance your special occasion by adding a birthday cake, champagne and other extras while making a reservation in our online booking system. Considering this trip for a marriage proposal? Click here for more information.
Related Boat Trips:
A truly magical experience... it was certainly the perfect way for friends to celebrate a special occasion. Thank you for all the lovely details, like the flowers and your staff’s helpfulness.
I would recommend this experience to anyone looking for an exclusive and impressive way to discover the Bosphorus.
