Dolmabahce Palace and Bosphorus Cruise Private Day Tour

• Private tour: only you and your own group, with your own guide
• The Spice Bazaar, Galata Tower and Dolmabahce Palace, in one morning
• A Bosphorus cruise in the afternoon, on a small-group luxury yacht, about 2.5 hours
• Entrance tickets included for Galata Tower and Dolmabahce Palace
• Your guide meets you at your hotel if you are staying in Sultanahmet or Taksim, and the route starts from that side of the city
• The cruise ends at Kabatas at around 16:30, leaving your evening free
• Travel as the city does, on the tram and the funicular, with your guide leading the way

This is the other half of Istanbul, the side that grew up along the water after the old city. You start in the Spice Bazaar as it opens, while it is still quiet, then cross the Golden Horn and go up Galata Tower for the view back over the old city and the mouth of the Bosphorus. From there you follow the shore to Dolmabahce, the palace the sultans moved into when Topkapi began to feel old-fashioned, with its crystal staircase and the largest chandelier of its kind in the world. After lunch your guide walks you to the pier at Kabatas, where you board a small yacht for a cruise up the Bosphorus, past Ortakoy Mosque, Rumeli Fortress, the bridges and the Maiden's Tower. You are back on shore in the late afternoon, in the middle of the city, with the evening to yourself.

Places to visit

• Spice Bazaar
• Galata Tower
• Dolmabahce Palace
• Bosphorus cruise

What to expect

• This is a private tour. Only you and your own group take part, with your own guide.
• Entrance tickets are included for Galata Tower and Dolmabahce Palace.
• Your guide meets you at your hotel. The tour starts at 09:00.
• We travel by tram and funicular rather than by car. In the old city and along the shore this is faster than driving, and public transport tickets are included.
• If you are staying in Sultanahmet or Taksim, your guide comes to your hotel and starts the route from that side of the city: from Sultanahmet the day runs from the Spice Bazaar towards Kabatas, and from Taksim it runs the other way, starting at Galata Tower. If you are staying anywhere else, we meet at the Spice Bazaar in Eminonu, which is easy to reach by tram.
• Your guide is with you until the pier. The Bosphorus cruise itself is a scheduled departure and your guide does not join you on board.
• The cruise is a small-group luxury yacht, not a large sightseeing boat. It leaves Kabatas at 14:00 and returns at around 16:30.
• Lunch is not included. Istanbul has more good places to eat than we could put in a tour, so your guide will suggest somewhere near the pier.
• If you would like a Spanish or Portuguese speaking guide, please select this option when booking.

Good to know before you book

• Dolmabahce Palace is closed on Mondays.
• The order of the stops below is for guests staying in Sultanahmet. If you are staying in Taksim, the same stops run in the other direction, starting at Galata Tower.
• The tour ends at Kabatas after the cruise, not back at your hotel. Kabatas is central and well connected: the funicular takes you up to Taksim Square and Istiklal Street in a few minutes, if you would like to carry on there.
• If you would prefer a private yacht, or the sunset departure instead of the afternoon one, tell us and we will arrange it.

Pricing Information

According to the number of people participating in the tour, the total price is discounted. The total discount amount appears on the checkout page.

• 3 to 4  people -  15 % discount

• 5 to 6  people -  20% discount

• 7 to 8  people -  25% discount

• 9 to 10 people - 30% discount

If you are solo traveller, please contact us for our most reasonable offers.

Cancellation Policy

To receive a full refund, you can cancel up to 24 hours before the tour start date, in Istanbul local time. Cancellations made after that are non-refundable. For this purpose the tour start time is taken as 09:00.