Boarding Points for Bosphorus Yacht Charters: Karaköy and Beyond

Short answer: Karaköy is where we are based and where boarding is simplest — tram, ferry and metro all land within a short walk. If you are staying elsewhere, a private charter can start closer to you: Kuruçeşme or Bebek on the upper European shore, Beşiktaş or Kabataş in the middle, Kadıköy on the Asian side. The yacht comes to you, and the extra distance is priced as a distance-based surcharge, quoted in writing before you decide.

Karaköy — the standard boarding point

Constantine Yachts is based in Karaköy, and it is the pier we recommend for almost everyone. The T1 tram stops here (about 15 minutes from Sultanahmet, two stops from Kabataş), the M2 metro is a ten-minute walk down from Şişhane through Galata, ferries arrive from Kadıköy and Üsküdar in about 20 minutes, and from Eminönü you simply walk across the Galata Bridge. Drivers use the paid car park at Galataport. Our office is at Arap Cami, Üsküfçüler Sk., 34445 Beyoğlu, a few minutes on foot from the tram stop and the piers.

The full route-by-route guide, including the Tünel funicular for the climb back up to Beyoğlu, is on our Getting to Karaköy page.

Alternative piers for private charters

A private charter means the yacht is yours for the booked hours, so where it collects you is a planning question, not a fixed rule. These are the piers guests ask for most often, and what each one is good for.

Kuruçeşme and Bebek — the upper European shore

Both sit north of the first bridge, on the stretch of shore where the waterside cafés and the historic timber yalıs are. Boarding here suits guests staying in Bebek, Arnavutköy or Etiler, or a group meeting at a restaurant on the water. Neither has a tram or ferry timetable to plan around; coastal buses run along the shore road from Kabataş and Beşiktaş, the M6 metro reaches the hill above Bebek, and a taxi from Taksim takes about 20 minutes outside rush hour. Parking is very scarce, so arrive by taxi. Practical detail, including bus lines, is on Getting to Bebek.

Beşiktaş and Kabataş — the middle of the European shore

These two are the easiest alternatives to reach. Kabataş is the end of the T1 tram line and the bottom of the funicular from Taksim, with sea-bus and ferry piers beside it. Beşiktaş, a few minutes further north, is one of the city’s busiest ferry hubs, with boats from Kadıköy and Üsküdar and buses from every direction. Both are a short hop from Karaköy by water, so the surcharge is modest, and both work well for guests staying around Taksim, Beşiktaş or the Dolmabahçe hotels.

Kadıköy — the Asian side

If your group is staying on the Asian side, or half your guests live there, boarding at Kadıköy saves everyone a ferry crossing before the cruise. Kadıköy is the Asian shore’s main transport hub: ferries from Karaköy, Eminönü and Beşiktaş, the M4 metro and Marmaray close by. The yacht crosses to collect you and the route is planned from there, so tell us early — an Asian-side start changes the order in which the landmarks appear.

Anywhere else on the shoreline

Because the charter is private, most piers along the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn can be arranged: a hotel with its own jetty, a restaurant pier, a marina. Ask when you request your quote. We will tell you whether the pier suits the yacht you have chosen and what the distance surcharge comes to, and treat it as set only once it is confirmed in writing.

The piers side by side

Surcharges are quoted per booking, in writing, before you confirm. They cover the yacht’s extra running time to and from the pier — nothing else is added.

How to ask for a different pier

Mention the pier when you request your quote, together with the date and the number of guests. We reply the same day with the price for the charter, the surcharge for the pier as a separate line, and a note on whether the pier changes the route. Once you confirm, the meeting pin follows on WhatsApp. If you have not yet chosen, our private yacht charter page explains hourly pricing, and the yacht rental prices guide shows what changes the final number.

New: staying in Sultanahmet, Taksim, Beşiktaş or on the Asian side? From your hotel to the yacht gives the best route from each district, with approximate times.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do Constantine Yachts cruises depart from?

Karaköy, on the European side where the Golden Horn meets the Bosphorus. It is our base and the standard boarding point for every tour and charter. The exact pier pin is sent on WhatsApp once your booking is confirmed.

Can a private charter pick us up somewhere other than Karaköy?

Yes. Kuruçeşme, Bebek, Kadıköy, Beşiktaş and Kabataş are the piers guests ask for most, and most other piers along the Istanbul shoreline can be arranged. Tell us when you request the quote.

How much is the surcharge for another pier?

It depends on how far the yacht has to travel from Karaköy to reach you, so it is quoted per booking rather than as a fixed list price. You see it as a separate line in the written quote before you confirm, and nothing else is added on the day.

Can the Sunset Group Tour board at Bebek or Kadıköy?

No. The shared group tour always departs from Karaköy. Alternative piers are available for private charters only, because there the yacht and the route are yours.

Does boarding on the Asian side change the route?

Yes — the yacht crosses to collect you, and the landmarks then appear in a different order. The cruise is the same length; only the sequence changes. We plan it with you when the pier is confirmed.

How early should we be at the pier?

About 15 minutes before departure, whichever pier you use. That leaves time to find the meeting point and board without rushing, which matters most on sunset cruises timed to that day’s actual sunset.