Boat Rental in Istanbul: What You Are Actually Choosing Between

What “boat” means in Istanbul

Search for a boat in Istanbul and you will be shown three products that share a word and nothing else. The first is the public ferry or the large tour boat: a ticket, a fixed route, two hundred strangers. The second is a small motorboat or fishing boat hired by the hour from a pier, usually without a saloon, toilet or crew beyond the owner. The third is a private yacht with a professional captain and crew, chartered by the hour for your group alone. We do the third, and we run a shared version of it as a group cruise. This page explains the difference so you can compare prices for the same thing.

Why we say yacht, and why it matters for the price

Every vessel in our fleet has an enclosed saloon, an open deck, a toilet and a crew of at least two. That is what separates a yacht from a boat in practice, and it is why the hourly price sits where it does: from €150 per hour for the whole yacht, minimum two hours, with captain, crew and fuel included. There is no per-person fare, no port tax and no booking fee on top. Catering, drinks, decoration and music are add-ons quoted separately, so the base price is the vessel and the people who sail it.

A small motorboat will be cheaper per hour and will not have any of that. A tour boat will be cheaper per person and you will share it. Neither is wrong; they are different purchases. If you are comparing quotes, ask each operator the same question: is this the whole vessel, does it have a saloon and a toilet, and who is on the crew.

When a private yacht is the right call

Groups of twelve or more, any celebration, or any evening where you want to choose the time and the route. Private charter works by the hour: most parties run three to four hours, a sunset alone needs two. We match the yacht to your group size, from twelve guests to two hundred, and send a written price the same day: the hourly total, any add-ons as separate lines and a pier surcharge if you board somewhere other than Karaköy.

When the group cruise is the smarter buy

Two people, a tight budget, or simply the wish to see the Bosphorus at sunset without organising anything: take the shared sunset cruise. It sails daily from Karaköy on the same yachts we charter privately, lasts two hours and costs €34 per person in summer, €26 in winter, with snacks, tea and coffee included. It is the answer to “boat trip Istanbul” for most couples, and it is not a crowded tour boat.

What we do not offer

We do not rent boats without a captain, and we do not rent jet skis, speedboats or fishing boats. Every departure has a licensed captain and a crew, because we operate as a TÜRSAB-licensed agency (A-805) and have worked the Bosphorus since 1967. If you specifically want to drive yourself, we are not the right company, and we will tell you so.

How to book

Send us your date, guest count and occasion on WhatsApp. You get a yacht suggestion with photos and a written price the same day. A 30% deposit holds the date, the balance is due before departure, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before you sail.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to rent a boat in Istanbul?

A private yacht with crew starts at €150 per hour for the whole vessel, minimum two hours, with no port tax or booking fee. A seat on our shared sunset cruise costs €34 per person in summer and €26 in winter. Small motorboats from piers are cheaper per hour but come without a saloon, toilet or crew.

Can I rent a boat in Istanbul without a captain?

Not from us. Every yacht sails with a licensed captain and crew. We do not offer bareboat, self-drive or speedboat rentals.

What is the difference between a boat tour and a private yacht?

A boat tour sells you a seat on a fixed route with other passengers. A private yacht is the whole vessel for your group, at the time and route you choose, priced per hour rather than per person.

How many people fit on a private yacht?

We match the yacht to your group, from 12 to 200 guests. Tell us the number and we suggest the right vessel with photos.

Where do the boats leave from?

Karaköy, on the European side, a few minutes from Galataport. Private charters can also start at Kuruçeşme, Bebek, Beşiktaş, Kabataş or Kadıköy for a distance-based surcharge.

Is there a small boat for two people?

For two people the shared sunset cruise is the better value: €34 per person on a luxury yacht rather than a private hire. If you want privacy, a two-hour private charter starts at €300 for the whole yacht.