Blogging from our boat on the Bosphorus, get a local insider view on Istanbul, how to enjoy its waterways and monuments! You’ll find interesting travel tips, suggestions, news and photos, from our unique boaty perspective on the water:
Istanbul’s Food in 10 Photographs
In Istanbul food is everywhere. At every corner a street vendor offers you something delicious. Crowded markets present a feast for the senses, with fresh local and seasonal produce. Restaurants prepare numerous fish and seafood dishes, whose scent travels across long distances and entices you to take a seat. And of course, with so much
Read More »Afif Ahmed Paşa Yalısı
The Afif Ahmed Paşa Yalısı (also known as the Muhayyeş Yalısı or Kemal Uzan Yalısı) is a unique Ottoman mansion built in the late 19th century between the İstinye-Yeniköy neighborhoods on the European shore of the Bosphorus in Istanbul. Recognizable Feature: This 4 story white yalı is immediately recognizable if you look out for the
Read More »Mediha Sultan Palace
The Mediha Sultan Palace (Mediha Sultan Sarayı / Mediha Sultan ve Damat Ferit Paşa Yalısı) is a Neoclassical mansion located by the waterfront of the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul, Turkey, in the Sarıyer neighborhood of Baltalimanı, on Rumelihisarı Street, on the European side of the Bosphorus. It was built in 1840 for the Sultan’s Grand
Read More »Said Halim Paşa Yalısı
The Said Halim Paşa Yalısı is a beautiful 19th century Ottoman mansion located in Sarıyer, on the European Side of the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul. Before the architecture you see today, an earlier building previously existed in the same area belonging to the Düzoğulları family. This was subsequently demolished and the current mansion was built
Read More »5 Istanbul Palaces As Seen From The Water
Istanbul’s Bosphorus waterfront is loaded with many of the cities best attractions; historical Ottoman palaces, castles and fortresses, mosques and the famous ‘yalılar’ (Ottoman mansions). Here we take a look at these top 5 Istanbul palaces, as can be seen and enjoyed from the water during a cruise on the Bosphorus: 1. Ciragan Palace The
Read More »Travelers’ Choice Awards Winner 2020
Great news this week – we found out that Zoe Yacht has been awarded Trip Advisor’s coveted Travelers’ Choice Awards 2020! This award is reserved for only the top 10% of their listings known for consistently earning great reviews, so it’s wonderful to be among these again this year :-))) Thank you to all our
Read More »Travel and Hospitality Award Winner 2019
We are delighted to announce that Zoe Yacht Cruises has been awarded as Charter Company of the Year in Istanbul for 2019. This international travel award for Turkey is promoted by Travel and Hospitality Magazine and here’s some info about them. Travel and Hospitality Magazine’s global awards honour the firms and individuals which have displayed
Read More »Luxury Travel Guide Awards 2017
Update: We have since won this category! We are happy to announce that Zoe Yacht Cruises has been shortlisted as a nominee for The Luxury Travel Guide Awards 2017! It’s nice to know that our efforts to provide a relaxing, unique and exclusive experience on the Bosphorus for our guests has been recognized. What is
Read More »Public Transportation in Istanbul
Guide to Transportation and Getting Around inside Istanbul Public transport in Istanbul has been revolutionized in the last decade with new networks and extensions from Metro to Tram, making the city easier than ever to get around. For visitors trying to explore the most famous sights of Istanbul, you’ll mostly be using the public transport
Read More »Environmental Protection & Stewardship of the Black Sea
The Plight Of The Black Sea Against Pollution Water pollution is threatening the marine equilibrium of the Black Sea, so much so that the very existence of marine life itself is under threat for survival. In this article, we’ll examine the effects of pollution in the Black Sea including examples relating to the Turkish Black
Read More »How to Find the Best Accommodation in Istanbul for Travelers
A Practical Guide to Unique Properties, Considerations and Advice The best accommodations are often those that offer something unique, desirable and memorable about your stay there, yet offer a convenient location and fulfill your practical needs. For Istanbul, this equates to those that will reflect an authentic experience of its history and character, an intriguing
Read More »Spectacular Sightseeing: Zoe Yacht on Justluxe.com
Our most recent guest post, published on Justluxe.com, explores in depth some of the gorgeous attractions you’ll see on one of our Bosphorus cruises. As you float down the Bosphorus Strait, the beauty of your surroundings is evident. From modern bridges to ancient fortresses, grand palaces to humble fisherman, every facet of Istanbul can be glimpsed
Read More »Where to Dine During Your Istanbul Incentive
There are a few main components to a good incentive trip: accommodation and venues for meetings, entertainment, shared experiences and – dining! An incentive trip that doesn’t please the palate is a partial experience. After all, a great deal of a culture is revealed through its eating customs, its meals, how food is prepared and
Read More »Istanbul Through the Eyes of Famous Writers | Zoe Yacht on TravelBlog
Our latest blog post ‘Istanbul Through the Eyes of Famous Writers‘ has been published on TravelBlog.org. As every great city, Istanbul and its landmarks have often inspired writers, poets, travelers and others to write about it, to praise or lament it, to reveal its mysteries or to chronic its events. Plenty of reads have been set
Read More »21 Instagram Cat Pictures That Will Make You Pack and Leave for Istanbul Today
Cats in Istanbul… they’re everywhere. And without them Istanbul just wouldn’t be Istanbul. To a newcomer the amount of cats and the freedom they enjoy may be strange, but it soon becomes obvious how inseparable felines are from this grand city. They inhabit the city with a sense of entitlement, they sneak and peek around, take a
Read More »3 Types of Camera Lenses you Need on Your Next Trip to Istanbul
If you’re into photography more than the regular tourist with their tiny digital camera, you probably plan well before you travel. Knowing which types of camera lenses to take with you, depending on what awaits you at your destination, is an important choice, given luggage limitations. After all, even the most committed among photographers need
Read More »5 reasons to choose Zoe Yacht for your Istanbul incentive Bosphorus cruise
You’ve planned an Istanbul incentive and you’re considering including a Bosphorus cruise in the package. But of course you want to be assured of the quality and professionalism of the company you’ll be working with. And quality can be measured in very concrete terms: the quality of the various services being offered, the company’s flexibility
Read More »Top 5 special occasions to celebrate on a Bosphorus cruise
Special occasions call for something more than a regular day’s menu or setting. They call for something exceptional and memorable that will have you looking back on the occasion for years to come. While spontaneous marriage proposals under the pouring rain or whilst stuck in traffic have their charm, imagine how nice it would be
Read More »Organizing an Istanbul incentive? Here’s why you should include a Bosphorus dinner cruise.
As an incentive travel planner, you are probably in constant search of the right mix of activities and experiences to include in the incentive trips that you offer. A well balanced and successful event is made up of a number of parts: choosing the right accommodation, picking exciting and varied activities, but also making room
Read More »Going on a Bosphorus Dinner Cruise? Look Out for These Famous Landmarks!
So you’ve come to Istanbul and you love it. You’ve been around the city, you’ve seen the museums, the galleries, the palaces and the mosques. You’ve been to the marketplaces, you’ve enjoyed a walk through the busy streets and have had a meal at one of the seafood restaurants along the Bosphorus. What more is
Read More »Istanbul Covered in Tulips: How Instagram Saw It
April is a special month for tulips in Istanbul, as we already described in our ‘Visiting Istanbul During the Month of the Tulips‘ blog post. We had so many of these gorgeous flowers, including different varieties, colors and planting arrangements, that you could literally see them from the Bosphorus. So now that this special month and the
Read More »Why is Istanbul the World’s Best Travel Destination? Come and See for Yourself!
Istanbul has just been announced the world’s top travel destination, according to TripAdvisor’s 2014 Travelers’ Choice awards. A skyrocketing 11 places up from last year, the city has had this recognition coming for a while now, and here it is. Last year, Istanbul was recognized as the best travel destination in Europe by European Consumers
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