Enjoy the Bosphorus strait on Zoe Yacht. Get up close and personal, hearing the chink of each glass as you toast the sunset evening away. With a smaller passenger capacity the sunset cruises aboard a shared private yacht allow for greater intimacy at very affordable prices.
Zoe Yacht
During the 2.5-hour sunset tour, you’ll explore the exceptionally beautiful waterway that divides the Asia and European sides of Turkey.
As the sun sets across Istanbul, you will have plenty of opportunity for photos from all different angles.
Drinks and hors d’oeuvres are also included along with a guide who’ll explain all the iconic landmarks along the way.
Europe Side Highlights
As you depart and stick to the European coastline of Istanbul you will see the bridges that separate the two continents, as well as some of its most famous palaces.
Dolmabahce Palace
With its gardens spanning for a mile along the water’s edge, the palace grounds can almost be mistaken for a little town. During the Ottoman Empire, it was the main centre.
Ciragan Palace
The Palace ruins were built by Sultan Abdulaziz during the years 1863-1867 and are situated between Besiktas and Ortaköy. It resembles the Dolmabahce Palace with its outstanding architectural style and the front side spanning quite a distance.
Ortakoy Mosque
Officially known as the Buyuk Mecidye Camii in Besiktas its found on the waterside of the Ortaköy pier square and is one of the most popular places to visit in on the Bosphorus.
Bosphorus Bridge
Inaugurated on October 2, 1973, this magnificent suspension bridge spanning 1506 meters is the longest in Europe and 4th longest in the world.
Bebek
Ottomans aristocrats thought Bebek to be the ideal location to build their summer houses and palaces. Today, people still love its beauty as it has become a popular residential area.
Rumeli Fortress
Also known as the Rumelihisari Castle, it was built by the Conqueror of the European shore in March 1452 at the narrowest point of the Bosphorus river and used to control the passage of ships.
Faith Sultan Mehmet Bridge
Known as the Second Bosphorus bridge spans the Bosphorus strait. It was completed in 1988 and is the 24th longest suspension bridge in the world.
Asian Side Highlights
The tour circles back along the Asian side of Istanbul as you return to where you started while viewing more forts, palaces, towers, and mansions.
Kanlica Meydani
This is a neighborhood known for its specialty offering in local restaurants and cafés; yogurt topped with castor sugar.
Anadolu Hisari Fort
This romantic castle by the Göksu stream was built in 1395, named as “Guzelcehisar.” Mehmet, the Conqueror extended it, and today as the first possession, it serves as a landmark of Turkish Rule.
Kucuksu Palace
Sometimes called the Palace of Göksu is a summer Palace situated between the villages of Anadoluhisan and Kandilli.
Beylerbeyi Palace
The palace was built by Sultan Abdulaziz in 1865. It is the most extravagant royal house on which millions were spent. It is a white vision of a fairy tale and is situated between Kuzguncuk and Cengelköy.
Maiden’s Tower
180 meters away from shores of Üsküdar is a tower has two different names in that of Maiden’s and Leander’s Tower. The Europeans named it after wrongly thinking Leander drowned here while attempting to swim to Aphrodite.
Galata Tower
Is a medieval stone tower just north of the Golden Horn’s junction and is called the Christea Turris by the Genoese.
Galata Bridge
The famous bridge spans the Golden Horn and has appeared in Turkish literature from the end of the 19th Century.
Tour Inclusions
- Live tour guide commentary with valuable and insightful information on all that you are to see
- Complimentary delicious canapés, Hors d’oeuvres, and snacks which vary from boat to boat
- Complimentary drinks such as tea, coffee, bottled water, or tamarind sherbet (Demirhindi serbeti); a quintessential
- Ottoman recipe made using 41 different spices and herbs
- Remarkable views of the sun setting over Istanbul that you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere but on a boat
Exclusions
- Hotel transportation to and from the boat station
- Extra food and drink orders, beyond the complimentary items
- Tips and gratuities
Know Before You Go
- You will be boarding most sunset cruises at the Kabatas Iskelesi boat station which is easily accessible by tram or taxi from the city center.
- Private yachts are rarely wheelchair accessible. If you required, you’d be better off booking a dinner cruise on the larger boats.
- The smaller boats are also NOT recommended for pregnant passengers and while there you can usually bring baby stroller aboard, it must be stowed away during the trip and while infants must be safely secured on your lap at all times.
- While yacht capacity will differ with each boat they’ll usually have a maximum of 35 passengers and those with less tend to be more expensive.
- A minimum number of passengers (usually around 10-12) are required for the tour to commence, but outside of wintery cold or stormy days, there are not usually any cancellations.
- No matter the boat size, all cruises are weather dependent and may be rescheduled or canceled if there in stormy or rough waves conditions. In the case of any form of cancellation, alternative sailing dates or full refunds will be offered.