Bosphorus Lunch Cruise
A delightful way to explore Istanbul’s top landmarks
If you want to enjoy Istanbul in a unique and memorable way, consider a Bosphorus Lunch Cruise. The Bosphorus Strait, a significant waterway for centuries, offers a scenic route through the city's history. On a lunch cruise, you'll pass by many famous landmarks and picturesque neighborhoods along the water. The view of Istanbul from the Bosphorus is stunning, whether it's during the day or when the city is illuminated at night.
Keep reading to learn more about Bosphorus lunch cruises, the different types of yachts available, timings, and other useful information for a delightful and smooth trip.
Overview
What is included?
Extra services
Lotus Yachts: Reviews of Bosphorus Lunch Cruises
Why go on a Bosphorus Lunch Cruise?
Scenic Beauty
Enjoy breathtaking views of Istanbul's iconic landmarks and beautiful waterfront neighborhoods in the daylight during Bosphorus Lunch Cruise.
Flavors of Turkish Cuisine
Savor authentic Turkish flavors, such as mezes, meats, and seafood, prepared by local restaurants using fresh ingredients.
Personalized Experience
To enhance your Bosphorus cruise experience, you may customize it with various add-on options that allow you to tailor your trip to your preferences.
Historical Landmarks
Bosphorus cruise provides a unique perspective of Istanbul’s iconic landmarks, such as the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Blue Mosque.
Relaxing Atmosphere
Bosphorus lunch cruise offers a peaceful escape from the busy streets of Istanbul, allowing you to relax and enjoy the serene waters.
Photographic Opportunities
The ever-changing scenery and iconic landmarks provide excellent opportunities for photography, capturing memorable moments of your trip.
Why Lotus Yachts?
Private Rental
Our private yacht trips are just for you and your friends or family. You can enjoy the sea without any interruptions!
Personalized Services
You can make your cruise just how you want it. We offer lots of customization options so your trip can match exactly what you're looking for.
Easy and Safe Booking
Our online system makes it simple and safe to book, allowing you to quickly secure your spot on the yacht of your choice.
Experienced Team
With over 1,500 yacht tours conducted in the past 5+ years, the Lotus Yachts team is here to ensure your Bosphorus cruise is smooth and enjoyable.
5-star Guest Reviews
People love our yacht tours and have given us 5-star reviews. They've had amazing experiences and repeatedly choose us for new adventures.
Menu Options for Bosphorus Lunch Cruise
When booking a yacht through our reservation system, you have the flexibility to choose a menu that suits your tastes.
It's essential to note that each boat features distinct menus, ingredients, and pricing. Some yachts offer menus with either limited or unlimited alcohol, while others only provide soft drinks. You can always add more alcohol after selecting a menu.
Our tours can cater meals for groups of up to 120 people, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience. For more details or any specific questions, please contact us. We are here to help you create a memorable and personalized experience.
Please contact us to get more information about the menu options of each yacht.
Mezze Menu
Enjoy our Mezze Menu, featuring five types of Turkish Mezze that offer a delightful array of traditional flavors. Complement your meal with included soft drinks and tea for a refreshing experience.
Meat Menu
Enjoy our Meat Menu, a culinary journey through Turkish flavors. Start with 4-5 types of Turkish Mezze, followed by a refreshing seasonal salad. The main course features a mix grill plate with a succulent variety of grilled meats. Finish with a shared plate of the season's freshest fruits. Soft drinks and tea are included.
Fish Menu
Savor the flavors of our Fish Menu, starting with 4-5 types of Turkish Mezze and a refreshing seasonal salad. Enjoy the main dish of grilled seasonal fish, perfectly cooked to highlight its natural flavors. End your meal with a shared plate of the season's freshest fruits. Soft drinks and tea are included.
Beverages
Explore our diverse beverage options, including soft drinks, bottled beer, and a selection of local wines and sparkling wines. For a premium experience, choose from bottles of gin, vodka, whiskey, or indulge in a bottle of Moet & Chandon.
Customize your Bosphorus Lunch Cruise Experience
What to see during a Bosphorus Lunch Cruise
During Bosphorus Lunch Cruise, you will be able to enjoy the views of;
What is an ideal Bosphorus Lunch Cruise itinerary?
Please note that depending on sea and weather conditions, captains may decide to change the route.
Bosphorus Lunch Cruises: Frequently Asked Questions
We provide a range of meal options including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. You can select your preferred food and beverage options when you make your reservation.
Please click on the "Book Now" button. Then, select duration, date, and time. Next, select the food and beverages you wish to have on board from the Extra Services section.
We also cater to dietary preferences, including vegetarian and vegan meals. Please let us know in advance if you have any specific dietary requirements.
Bosphorus lunch cruises depart from popular Bosphorus regions. Those are Bebek, Arnavutköy, Kuruçeşme, Karaköy, or Galataport. Each yacht has a different departure point, which you can view on the yachts' booking page.
The cost of a Bosphorus lunch cruise varies depending on the duration, yacht, and extra services. Please click on the "Book Now" button to check the prices or contact us for detailed pricing information.
Yes, upon request, we can arrange a knowledgeable tour guide for your cruise. The guide will provide insights into the landmarks you will see. An English-speaking crew member can also assist you throughout your yacht cruise. These services are available for an extra cost. You can add extra services while making your reservation.
Cancelling your reservation: We understand that plans can change. For a full refund, you can cancel your booking up to 7 days before your departure time.
Changing your reservation: At latest 1 day before your reservation, you can change the tour start time based on availability. You can extend the duration with hourly charges upon availability.
The Bosphorus has strong currents that can be challenging, even for experienced swimmers. It is only possible to swim at the designated areas.
Please check the swimming tours if you wish to swim at the Bosphorus.
Swimming tours are between 10:00 and 18:00 for 8 hours, which take place at Beykoz, 3rd Bridge or Princes’ Islands.
Generally, weather conditions do not impact the Bosphorus yacht tours.
Our yachts are equipped with protective covers for rain and wind. This ensures that the tours proceed as scheduled, even in the event of rain or snow.
However, in the rare instance of a strong storm, captains may suggest rescheduling.
Tour postponement is only considered if the captain deems it unsafe to proceed. Otherwise, the tours continue as planned.
We recommend you wear comfortable, casual clothing with comfortable shoes. Depending on the season, you may bring a light jacket or sweater. Sunglasses, hats, and sunscreen are also advisable for daytime cruises.
Yes, we recommend you book your Bosphorus lunch cruise in advance to ensure availability. Especially during peak seasons and weekends, it is better to book 2-3 weeks in advance.
Safety measures include;
- life jackets for all passengers,
- first aid kits,
- fire extinguishers,
- and trained crew.
The yachts are regularly maintained and inspected to meet safety standards.
You may request a different pick-up or drop-off location than the original location of the yacht. Please note that there is an extra cost for changing the original location. You can see these locations and the associated costs below:
Restaurants
You may request pick-up or drop-off from these restaurants only if you are a guest there. Additional charges may apply.
- Uskumru Restaurant
- Lacivert Restaurant
- Olea Bosphorus & The Bar
- Hakkasan Istanbul
- Novikov Istanbul
- Oligark Istanbul Restaurant
- Ali Ocakbaşı
Restaurants Close to the Piers
These restaurants are close to the piers where we can pick up or drop off. Additional charges may apply.
- Arnavutköy Balıkçısı
- Sur Balık
- Chacha
- Del Mare
- Bebek Balıkçısı
- Park Fora Fish & Seafood Restaurant
- Alaf Kuruçeşme
- Feriye
Hotels
You may request pick-up or drop-off from these restaurants only if you are a guest there. Additional charges may apply.
- Çırağan Palace Kempinski
- Four Seasons Bosphorus
- Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus
Other Locations
You may request pick-up or drop-off from these locations. Additional charges may apply.
- Bebek
- Arnavutköy Pier
- Kuruçeşme
- Ortaköy Pier
- Karaköy Pier
- Galataport
- Kandilli Pier
- Kuleli
Extra Charges for Requested Pick-up and Drop-off Location
If you want a different pick-up location than the original one, extra charges apply. Here is how we calculate the extra cost for a different pick-up or drop-off location:
- Travel Time Addition:
The time it takes for the yacht to arrive at your requested pick-up location will create an extra cost. For example, your yacht departs from Bebek but you want to board from Uskumru Restaurant. It will take 30 minutes for the yacht to arrive at Uskumru Restaurant. So, the pick-up price will include the 30-minute rate for the yacht you choose. If you also want to end the tour at the same place, the return travel time will double the price.
- Boarding Fees:
Some marinas or piers require a boarding fee. This amount creates an extra charge for the guests. All marinas and most piers used by ferries have a boarding fee.
Yachts have limited availability. Please check with our guest support team if you want to change the pick-up or drop-off location. This option is only available based on the yacht's availability.
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