Bosphorus Sunset Cruise

Price and booking: a private sunset yacht charter on the Bosphorus costs €150 per hour (2026 season, whole yacht — not per person) with a 2-hour minimum. Departure is from Karaköy, timed to that day’s sunset — roughly 20:00 in August, 19:15 in September. Book direct via WhatsApp or the form below; free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.

Private Bosphorus Sunset Cruise in Istanbul

The Bosphorus is beautiful at any hour, but the hour before sunset is when the city performs: the water turns gold, the mosques and palaces catch the last warm light, and the bridges switch on as the sky fades. On a private sunset cruise the whole yacht is yours for that show — no crowds, no shared deck, just your group and the skyline. From €150 per hour with a two-hour minimum, always priced for the whole yacht, never per person.

Timed to the Golden Hour

Sunset in Istanbul shifts through the year, so we time each departure to that day’s sunset rather than a fixed schedule. A typical cruise starts about an hour before sundown: you sail the European or Asian shoreline in full daylight, watch the sun go down mid-strait, and return under the lit-up bridges after dark.

Who Books a Sunset Cruise?

• Couples: the classic choice for a marriage proposal on the Bosphorus, an anniversary or a honeymoon evening.
• Small groups of friends and families: a calm alternative to a night out — a birthday on board at golden hour is a favourite.
• Photographers: the light one hour before sunset is the best natural light Istanbul offers for couple and portrait sessions.

Food, Drinks and Extras

The cruise price covers the private yacht and crew. Everything else is optional and itemized separately, so you build the evening you want: champagne or cocktail service, cheese and fruit platters, a full dinner menu, decoration, or a photographer. Tell us the occasion and we will suggest a setup — you approve the items and the price before anything is added.

Sunset Cruise or Dinner Cruise — Which One?

Big dinner cruise boats in Istanbul run on fixed schedules: shared tables, a stage show, a set menu. A private sunset cruise flips that — the yacht is yours, the departure is timed to golden hour, and the evening is whatever you make it: a quiet drink on deck, a proposal, or dinner arranged your way. For couples and small groups comparing a Bosphorus dinner cruise with a private yacht, the difference is simple: one is a ticket to a show, the other is your own evening on the water.

When Is Sunset in Istanbul?

A rough guide by season: June and July around 20:30–20:45, August around 20:00, September around 19:15, October around 18:15, and winter months between 17:35 and 18:55. We time your departure so you are on the water for the last hour of light — tell us your date and we set the slot for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does the cruise start?

It depends on the season — we schedule around that day’s actual sunset and confirm the exact boarding time with you.

Is the cruise private?

Yes. Every sunset cruise is the whole yacht for your group only.

Can we stay out after dark?

Yes — many guests extend to see the bridge lights; the cruise is priced by the hour, so extra time is simply extra hours.

Want a longer day on the water?

See our private yacht charter options for longer routes and bigger groups.

Are there any hidden fees, port taxes or fuel surcharges?

No. The hourly price covers the yacht, its crew and the fuel for your route. Extras such as catering, decoration or a photographer are priced separately and agreed before you confirm, never added afterwards.

Who operates the yacht, and are you licensed?

Constantine Yachts is the boutique yacht brand of AST Tourism, an Istanbul operator licensed by TÜRSAB (licence A-805) that has worked the Bosphorus since 1967. Every departure sails with a professional crew.

How will we find the boarding point on the day?

Boarding is at Karaköy on the European side, a few minutes from the Galata Bridge and the Karaköy tram stop. Once your date is set we send the exact map pin and photographs of the pier, so nobody is searching on the day. Other piers such as Kuruçeşme or Bebek can be arranged on request.

From how many guests is a private yacht cheaper than per-person tickets?

A two-hour private charter starts at €300 for the whole yacht. A seat on a shared sunset cruise costs around €34. From roughly nine guests upward the private yacht works out cheaper per person, and the yacht is yours alone.

Is booking directly with you cheaper than booking through a platform?

Yes. Platforms add their commission to the same departure; the last time we compared our own listing, the direct price was about 4% lower. You also speak to the operator rather than a call centre.

Can we check your reviews before booking?

Please do. We are rated 5.0 on Google from 259 reviews, with more than 700 guest reviews in total across Google, Viator and GetYourGuide.

How much deposit do you take, and how do we pay?

A 30% deposit holds your date; the balance is due before departure. Payments run through Stripe over a secure SSL connection, so your card details are handled by the payment provider and never stored by us.

Can a guest who uses a wheelchair come on board?

Unfortunately not. Boarding is from the pier over a gangway with a step, and we would rather tell you now than have someone turned away on the day. If a guest has limited mobility but can manage a step with help, write to us and we will talk it through honestly.

Can we bring our dog?

Yes, pets are welcome on board. Let us know in advance so the crew can prepare for them.

Do children pay the full price?

No. On the shared group tour children under 3 travel free and ages 3 to 7 pay a child fare of €15. On a private charter the price covers the whole yacht, so children add nothing to it. Tell us their ages when you book so the crew can prepare.

Is it safe to bring young children?

Yes. The Bosphorus is sheltered water rather than open sea, so the crossing is calm. Life jackets are on board including children’s sizes, and the crew is told in advance how many children are aboard. On a private charter you also control the pace and the route.

Will anyone get seasick?

Very unlikely. The Bosphorus is a strait, not open sea, and the water is calm for most of the year. In years of hosting, seasickness has almost never been an issue — and if someone in your group is worried, we can keep the route close to the shore.

Do you sail in winter, and is it worth it?

Yes, year-round. Every yacht has an enclosed saloon as well as an open deck, so a cold evening does not cancel anything. Winter has fewer boats on the water, sharper light and, on the shared sunset tour, a lower fare — €26 instead of €34 from 3 November to 18 March.

What happens if the weather cancels our departure?

If the captain calls off a departure for safety, you choose: another date or a full refund. Cancellation is also free up to 24 hours before departure, so a bad forecast never costs you anything.

What safety equipment is on board?

Life jackets for every guest, including children’s sizes, and a professional crew on every departure. We operate as AST Tourism under TÜRSAB licence A-805 and have worked the Bosphorus since 1967.

Can you arrange halal, vegetarian or vegan catering?

Yes. Catering is quoted separately and built around your table, so halal, vegetarian, vegan and allergy requirements are straightforward — tell us when you enquire rather than on the day.

Can we bring our own music or a DJ?

Yes. On a private charter the sound system is yours: bring a playlist or bring a DJ. Tell us in advance if you are bringing equipment so the crew can plan the power and the setup.

How do we get to Karaköy for boarding?

Karaköy is one of the easiest points in Istanbul to reach. The T1 tram stops at Karaköy, city ferries call at the Karaköy pier, and the M2 metro at Şişhane is a short walk up the hill — as is the Tünel funicular from Beyoğlu. From Sultanahmet it is two tram stops. Once your booking is confirmed we send the exact map pin and photographs of the pier.

Is an overnight stay on the yacht possible?

Yes — that is a separate product. On an Istanbul yacht stay you sleep on board for two to four nights and the yacht becomes your hotel as well as your transport, from €1,400 per night for the whole yacht.

What does a family of four actually pay?

On the shared sunset tour: two adults at €34 and two children aged 3 to 7 at €15 comes to €98, and under-3s are free. A two-hour private charter is €300 for the whole yacht regardless of how many of you there are — which is why larger families usually end up chartering.

Where should we sit for the sunset itself?

The open deck, and we position the yacht so the sun goes down behind the European skyline rather than into your eyes. The captain knows where the light lands at each time of year and turns the yacht for it – one of the things that is simply not possible on a fixed-route boat.

How far up the Bosphorus does a two-hour sunset cruise go?

Down past Dolmabahce Palace and the Ortakoy Mosque under the first bridge, usually as far as Bebek or the fortress at Rumeli Hisari, then back with the shoreline lighting up behind you. Three hours takes you comfortably past the second bridge.

Is it cold on deck in spring and autumn?

Evenings cool quickly from October onwards and again until about mid-May. The yachts have an enclosed saloon you can move into, so an autumn sunset cruise usually means an hour outside for the light and the rest inside with the city going past the windows.

Which months have the best sunsets?

September to November are the ones photographers ask for – clear air, long colour after the sun goes, and the water calm. Midsummer sunsets are late, around 20:30 in June, which makes them a good end to a full day rather than an evening on their own.

Can dinner be served during the sunset cruise?

Yes – anything from a meze table to a seated dinner is arranged and priced before you confirm. Alternatively the crew can drop you at a restaurant on the Bosphorus after the sunset and collect you afterwards.

What is the difference between this and your shared sunset tour?

This is a private charter: the whole yacht is yours, from 300 EUR for two hours, and the route and departure time are set with you. The shared tour is a seat on a fixed two-hour route at around 34 EUR per person. From roughly nine guests the private yacht is the cheaper of the two.

Book Your Sunset Slot

Sunset departures are the most requested slot of the day, especially on summer weekends. Message us on WhatsApp with your date and group size, and we will confirm availability and a clear whole-yacht price.

Moments from Our Sunset Cruises

Route reading: our Bosphorus landmark guides cover each palace, mosque and fortress you pass — and where the light falls on them.

Booking direct — no agency in the middle. Booking sites do not sell what is on this page: they sell seats, we charter you the whole yacht. Write to us and no reseller takes a commission out of your budget, and your request does not pass through a middleman who flattens it into a standard package. Constantine Yachts is run by AST Turizm — TÜRSAB licence no. A-805, on the Bosphorus since 1967. Your date, your boarding time, your route and your extras are agreed with the same people who prepare the yacht.

Booking and cancellation. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure — any prepayment is refunded in full. Inside 24 hours, contact us and we will try to move you to another slot. If the captain cancels a departure for safety, you choose: another day or a full refund. Full terms in our FAQ.