Yacht Rental in Istanbul: How Renting a Private Yacht Works

Short answer: To book a yacht rental in Istanbul, tell us the date, the number of guests and the occasion. We suggest a yacht that fits and send a written quote the same day. The yacht is yours for the booked hours, from €150 per hour with a minimum of two hours, and the crew handles the route. If you searched for a boat rental on the Bosphorus, this is the same thing with a proper yacht: an enclosed saloon, an open deck, a captain and a crew. Bookings go through our private yacht charter page or on WhatsApp.

How yacht rental works in Istanbul

You hire the whole yacht, not a seat on it, and the price is set per hour. Rates start at €150 per hour and the minimum is two hours. There is no per-person fare: a group of 12 and a group of 40 on the same yacht pay the same hourly rate, and the larger group adds a one-off €25 for each guest above 12; beyond that, what changes with the group is which yacht we suggest. No port tax and no booking fee are added.

We do not sell from a catalogue. You tell us how many guests you expect and what the occasion is, and we match the yacht to that. Across the fleet we take groups up to 200 guests; our yachts page shows the range. “Charter” and “rental” mean the same thing here; charter is simply the industry term.

What the crew does

Every yacht sails with a captain and crew. They plan the route with you before departure, handle the navigation and mooring, and time the departure to that day’s sunset if a sunset is what you want. You never steer; the crew’s job is to let you concentrate on your guests.

What is included and what is extra

The hourly fare covers the yacht and the people who run it; anything that depends on your taste is priced separately.

Alcohol is not included in any fare. On a private rental soft drinks are included, and alcoholic drinks can be arranged as an add-on and appear on the quote as their own line. Halal, vegetarian and vegan menus are available on request. For what moves the price up or down, read the Istanbul yacht rental prices guide; to see how our rates sit against other operators’ published rates, use the comparison page.

Choosing the length: 2, 3, 4 hours, full day, overnight

Two, three or four hours

Two hours is the minimum and the most common choice. From Karaköy it covers the lower Bosphorus: the palaces, the first bridge, Bebek and the fortresses at the second bridge, then the return past the Maiden’s Tower. Three hours lets you linger at the fortresses by the second bridge and suits a seated dinner on board; see the private Bosphorus dinner cruise. Four hours is for an event with a meal and music afterwards.

Full day

A full-day charter is quoted per day and combines the Bosphorus with the Princes’ Islands, with swimming stops in season. See the full-day yacht charter page.

Overnight

An overnight yacht stay means 2 to 4 nights on board, from €1,400, with breakfast, fuel and mooring included. It is a different product from an hourly rental: Istanbul yacht stay.

Where you board

The standard pier is Karaköy, on the European side where the Golden Horn meets the Bosphorus: T1 tram, ferries, or a walk across the Galata Bridge from Eminönü. For private rentals we can also collect you at Kuruçeşme, Bebek, Beşiktaş, Kabataş or Kadıköy on request; the yacht travels to reach you, and that distance is priced as a surcharge you see in writing before you confirm. Each pier is described on our boarding points page.

What the route looks like

From Karaköy the yacht heads up the European shore past Dolmabahçe Palace, then Ortaköy Mosque with the first bridge behind it. Beyond the bridge come the waterfront yalıs and, still within a two-hour rental, the fortresses of Rumeli and Anadolu facing each other across the strait. The return runs down the Asian side and past the Maiden’s Tower. A two-hour rental covers the lower Bosphorus up to the fortresses at the second bridge; three hours gives you time to slow down and go further north. Nothing is fixed; tell us where you want to linger when we plan the route.

How to rent: step by step

1. Tell us the date, the number of guests, the occasion and, if it matters, the pier. Use the quote form on the private yacht charter page or write on WhatsApp to +90 536 399 14 42.
2. We reply the same day with a written quote: the yacht we suggest, the hourly total, add-ons as separate lines and any pier surcharge.
3. Adjust what you like: length, catering, decoration, music.
4. Confirm the booking. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure.
5. Receive the meeting pin on WhatsApp and share it with your guests.
6. Arrive 10 minutes before departure.

Constantine Yachts operates under AST Turizm, TÜRSAB licence A-805, in tourism since 1967. As of October 2026 we hold more than 800 verified guest reviews on Google, Viator and GetYourGuide at 4.8 to 5.0; read them on our reviews page. Booking direct also costs less than a platform: on our shared sunset tour we measured €34 direct against €35.37 on a platform. When you are ready, request a quote.

New: the Bosphorus is not the only route. Our Golden Horn yacht tour page describes the calm-water route past Fener, Balat and Eyüp on a private charter.

Searching for a boat rather than a yacht? Our boat rental in Istanbul page explains what the word covers on the Bosphorus and when the €34 group cruise (€26 in winter) beats a private hire.

For routes and departure times alongside the rental logic, read the Bosphorus yacht tour page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it a boat or a yacht?

A yacht. Every vessel we rent has an enclosed saloon as well as an open deck, a toilet, life jackets, and a captain and crew. We use the word that describes what we operate.

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

Rates start at €150 per hour with a two-hour minimum, for the whole yacht. No per-person fare, no port tax, no booking fee. Soft drinks are included; catering, alcoholic drinks, decoration and music are quoted separately, and a pier other than Karaköy adds a distance-based surcharge.

Can I rent for one hour?

No. The minimum rental is two hours, the time it takes to cover the lower Bosphorus from Karaköy and return past the Maiden’s Tower without rushing.

Is alcohol allowed?

Yes, on a private rental. Soft drinks are included, but alcohol is not included in any fare; alcoholic drinks can be arranged as an add-on and appear on your quote as a separate line.

How many guests can a rented yacht take?

We host groups up to 200 guests and match the yacht to your group size and occasion, so the number of guests is the first thing to tell us.

Can I cancel a yacht rental?

Yes. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure. Let us know on WhatsApp or by replying to the quote and the booking is released without charge.

Is there a Russian-speaking guide or a Russian audio guide?

Yes. A free audio guide, including Russian, is available on every cruise. On a private charter we can also arrange a live Russian-speaking guide for an extra fee, quoted at booking.