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Since 1967Family business on the Bosphorus
Free cancellationUp to 24 h before departure, refunded in full

In short. Bebek is a waterfront neighbourhood on the upper European shore, about 7 km north of Karaköy. Our tours and charters depart from Karaköy as standard — Bebek boarding is available on request for private charters, depending on the yacht.

  • Metro M6: Boğaziçi Üniversitesi station, then a steep 15–20 minute walk down to the water.
  • Bus: coastal lines such as 22, 22RE and 25E run along the shore road from Kabataş and Beşiktaş.
  • Taxi: around 20 minutes from Taksim outside rush hour; the shore road is slow on summer evenings.
  • Parking: very scarce in Bebek — if you drive, allow extra time.
  • Boarding: private charters only, on request; the exact pin is shared on WhatsApp once the pickup is confirmed in writing.

Bebek sits on the European side of the Bosphorus between Arnavutköy and Rumeli Hisarı, wrapped around one of the prettiest bays on the strait. It is a place of waterfront cafés, a small park and moored boats rather than transit hubs — no tram, no ferry timetable to plan around. That quiet is exactly why some guests staying on the upper shore ask to board here instead of coming down to Karaköy.

By Metro (M6)

The M6 line runs from Levent to Boğaziçi Üniversitesi station on the hill above Bebek. From the station it is a 15–20 minute walk down to the waterfront. The way down is pleasant; the way back up is genuinely steep, so most people take a taxi or a coastal bus for the return.

By Bus

Coastal buses such as 22, 22RE and 25E run along the shore road through Bebek, connecting it with Kabataş and Beşiktaş in one direction and the upper Bosphorus villages in the other. From Kabataş allow roughly 25–35 minutes depending on traffic. Bebek has a historic pier, but scheduled ferry calls are limited — don’t plan your arrival around a ferry.

By Taxi or Ride Apps

Tell the driver “Bebek” — like Karaköy, everyone knows it. From Taksim allow about 20 minutes outside rush hour, and noticeably more on summer evenings and weekends, when the single shore road carries all of the Bosphorus café traffic.

Parking

Street parking in Bebek is very scarce, and the shore road fills early on sunny days. Some restaurants offer valet to their own guests. If you are driving to a charter pickup, budget extra time for parking — or better, arrive by taxi.

Boarding & Meeting Point

All our tours and private charters depart from Karaköy as standard — the full guide is at Getting to Karaköy. For private charters, boarding in Bebek can be arranged on request, depending on the yacht and the day’s schedule: mention it when booking, and treat it as set only once it is confirmed in writing. The daily sunset group tour always departs from Karaköy — Bebek boarding is not available for the group tour.

When a Bebek pickup is confirmed, we send the exact meeting pin on WhatsApp. Please arrive about 15 minutes before departure. From the bay, Rumeli Fortress is only about a kilometre north — our Rumeli Fortress guide covers what you’ll see from the water, and pricing for private charters is laid out in the yacht rental prices guide.

Bebek and neighbouring Arnavutköy hold the densest run of historic timber waterfront houses on the strait. If you want to know what you are looking at, our guide to the Bosphorus yalıs explains what makes a yalı, why so many are painted oxblood red, and which of them you can actually go inside.

Your date, your yacht — one fixed price

Tell us the day and how many guests. You get a written quote the same day. No port tax, no booking fee.

    Cruise date

    Group size

    Occasion



    Prefer to chat? WhatsApp us — free cancellation up to 24 h before departure.

    New: Karaköy is the standard pier, but a private charter can also board at Kuruçeşme, Bebek, Kadıköy, Beşiktaş or Kabataş. How each one works, with transport and surcharges, is on our boarding points page.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where is Bebek?

    On the European shore of the Bosphorus, between Ortaköy and the fortress at Rumeli Hisari, about seven kilometres north of Karaköy. It sits around a small bay, which is why the waterfront curves and why the cafés along it have the view they do.

    Can we board the yacht at Bebek instead of Karaköy?

    Yes, on request. Our standard departure is Karaköy, but other piers including Bebek and Kuruçeşme can be arranged when you book – useful if you are staying on that stretch of the shore or meeting guests there. Tell us early, because the pier affects the route planning.

    How do we get to Bebek from the old city?

    There is no metro to Bebek. The realistic options are a taxi along the coast road, roughly twenty to thirty minutes from Karaköy depending on traffic, or a bus running north along the shore from Kabataş. Allow more time on a Friday evening or in summer, when the coast road is slow.

    Is there parking in Bebek?

    Very limited, and it is the main reason guests arrive by taxi. If you are driving, plan on street parking some distance back from the waterfront and a walk down – or board at Karaköy, where the transport links are far better.

    What is there to do in Bebek?

    It is mostly a place to sit. The bay is lined with cafés and restaurants, there is a small park along the water, and the walk north towards Rumeli Hisari follows the shore the whole way. From the water it is one of the prettiest stretches of the lower Bosphorus, which is why most cruises pass it.

    Do your cruises go past Bebek?

    Every one of them. Even a two-hour sunset cruise from Karaköy reaches Bebek and the fortress at Rumeli Hisari before turning back – it is the point where the strait narrows and the two fortresses face each other across the water.