Private Yacht Charter in Istanbul: Costs and How to Compare (2026)

Searching for a private yacht on the Bosphorus is confusing for one reason: almost nobody publishes a price. You send a form, you wait, you get a number you cannot compare to anything.

Short answer: a private yacht charter on the Bosphorus with Constantine Yachts costs from 150 euro per hour (1 November–31 March: from 125 euro) for the whole yacht, with a two-hour minimum (from 300 euro; winter from 250 euro). The rate covers up to 12 guests; each guest above 12 adds 25 euro, once per charter. To compare any offer, check four things: whole yacht or per person, hourly or fixed package, how many guests the price covers, and what is left out of the number.

Disclosure, because it matters: this guide is written by Constantine Yachts, so the only prices on this page are ours. We operate under AST Turizm, licensed by TÜRSAB (A-805) and working on the Bosphorus since 1967. We have tried to be useful rather than flattering: the checks below work on any offer, ours included, and we tell you plainly when a private yacht is the wrong choice.

This page is a guide to comparing offers. If you only want to know what a charter with us costs and what changes the price, that is set out on our Istanbul yacht rental prices page.

How to read a Bosphorus charter price

Four things decide what you pay, and mixing them up is where most confusion starts.

Whole yacht or per person. A private charter means the yacht is yours: you and your guests, nobody else on board. A shared cruise sells you a seat. Per-person prices look cheaper because they are a different product.

Hourly rate or fixed package. Some companies quote by the hour with a minimum. Others sell a fixed two-hour or three-hour package. An hourly rate that looks low can end up higher once the minimum, the fuel surcharge and the return time are counted.

How many guests the price covers. A whole-yacht rate can include a set number of guests, with a charge for each guest above it. Two offers for the same yacht and the same hours are only comparable at the same head count, so ask where that line is.

What is not in the number. Ask specifically about port fees, fuel, service charge, boarding at a different pier (extra sailing time and docking fees), and whether food, drinks, music and decoration are extra. The gap between a quoted price and a final invoice is almost always here.

The kinds of offer you will meet

Prices change, so compare written quotes rather than screenshots. Ours comes the same day with the extras named; a deposit of at least 30% confirms the date, and the balance is paid on the day of the cruise.

Constantine Yachts — hourly, whole yacht, boarding at Karaköy

Published rate: 150 euro per hour (1 November–31 March: 125 euro), two-hour minimum, so a standard private Bosphorus charter starts at 300 euro (winter 250 euro) for the whole yacht (full details: private yacht charter in Istanbul). Boarding is at the Karaköy pier, in central Istanbul. Across our own yachts and partner fleet we run groups from a couple of guests up to large events of 200. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. The rate covers up to 12 guests; each guest above 12 adds 25 euro, once per charter, not per hour. Soft drinks are included; catering, alcohol, decoration and musicians are quoted separately, in writing. No port tax, no booking fee and no service charge added at the end.

Best for: people who want the whole yacht for a couple of hours without buying a fixed package, and for groups too large for a single small yacht.

Not for you if: there are only two of you and the budget is tight. The Şehir Hatları public ferry crosses the same water for the price of a coffee, and the view from the deck is genuinely the same view. A private charter buys you privacy, timing and the deck to yourselves — not a better Bosphorus.

Fixed packages

Some operators sell set programmes instead of hours: typically a two-hour sightseeing cruise, a two-hour sunset cruise or a three-hour dinner cruise, each at one price.

Best for: people who want a fixed, all-decided package and do not want to think about hours.

Not for you if: you want to pay only for the time you actually use. Put the package price next to an hourly rate for the same hours and see what the difference buys you.

Hourly bands by yacht class

Some sites publish hourly bands rather than one number, often marked as approximate, for standard yachts, luxury yachts and larger reception yachts. Worth knowing when you compare: a band that starts low is a starting point for the smallest yacht in the class, and the final figure still depends on the yacht, the hours and what is added on top.

Best for: anyone who wants to choose the yacht class first and knows exactly which yacht they want.

Not for you if: you need to know the final figure before you start. A range is a starting point, not a quote.

Price on request

Many operators, including some with large fleets, publish no rates at all: you send your date and group size and wait for a quote.

Best for: unusual requirements — a specific yacht type, an overnight, a large production.

Not for you if: you want to compare numbers this evening without a phone call.

Booking marketplaces

International booking platforms that list local yachts and boats. Useful for browsing, with one caveat that catches people out: the platform adds a service fee on top of the owner’s rate, and you are booking a listing rather than a company with a local licence and a local phone number.

Best for: browsing what exists and comparing types visually.

Not for you if: something goes wrong at the pier. A local licensed operator answers the phone in Istanbul; a marketplace opens a support ticket.

Renting a yacht for a corporate event in Istanbul

Company events change the maths, because the constraint stops being price and becomes capacity, timing and paperwork.

Capacity is the first filter. Most private charter yachts in Istanbul comfortably handle somewhere between twelve and forty guests. Above that, you are either splitting the group across two yachts or moving to a larger vessel — and both need to be arranged in advance, not on the day. Across our own yachts and partner fleet we handle events up to 200 guests.

Invoicing matters more than you expect. Many finance departments require a proper corporate invoice. Ask about this before you fall in love with a yacht.

Timing beats everything. Sunset slots on summer weekends are the first to go. For a fixed date and a fixed hour with a specific yacht, earlier is safer, and this is truer for company events than for couples who can shift a day.

If a corporate evening is what you are planning, our corporate event page covers the practical side, and we quote in writing so it can go straight to finance.

What we would actually tell a friend

If you are two people and mainly want the view, take the public ferry and spend the difference on dinner. If you are a small group who want the deck to yourselves for a sunset, an hourly private charter with a two-hour minimum is usually the cheapest honest way to do it. If you want everything decided for you and the budget allows, a fixed package removes decisions. If you are twenty or more people, start with capacity and licence, then talk about price.

And whoever you book with, get the price in writing with the extras named. That single habit prevents nearly every bad Bosphorus story we have heard.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a private yacht charter cost on the Bosphorus?

With Constantine Yachts, a private charter costs from 150 euro per hour (1 November–31 March: from 125 euro) for the whole yacht, with a two-hour minimum (from 300 euro; winter from 250 euro); the rate covers up to 12 guests and each guest above 12 adds 25 euro, once per charter. Other offers are priced by the hour, as fixed packages or as bands by yacht class, and many operators do not publish prices at all, so compare written quotes for the same hours, guest count and extras.

Is a private charter better than a shared Bosphorus cruise?

It is different, not automatically better. A shared cruise sells a seat and costs far less per person; a private charter gives you the whole yacht, your own timing and no strangers on board. For two people, a shared sunset cruise or even the public ferry is often the sensible answer.

How many guests can a Bosphorus yacht take?

Most private charter yachts handle anything from a couple up to about forty guests comfortably. Larger events need either a bigger vessel or more than one yacht, arranged in advance. We handle groups up to 200 across our own yachts and partner fleet.

Where do Bosphorus charters depart from?

Departure points vary by operator and are worth confirming before you book, because a pier on the wrong side of the city can add an hour to your evening. Our departures are from Karaköy, in central Istanbul; other piers, such as Bebek, Kuruçeşme or Beşiktaş, are possible on request, with a distance-based surcharge stated in the written quote.

How far in advance should we book?

Sunset slots on summer weekends fill first. For a specific date, hour and yacht, earlier is safer. Off-season midweek dates can often be arranged at short notice.

Are prices per person or for the whole yacht?

For a private charter, the price should be for the whole yacht. If a quote is per person, you are being offered a shared cruise, which is a different product. Ask explicitly.

New: if you are still deciding what kind of trip you want, our Bosphorus yacht tour guide covers the route, how long it takes and what the three tour types cost.

New: not sure how renting a yacht works here? Our yacht rental in Istanbul guide walks through the hourly model, what is included and how to book.