Bosphorus Cruise with Dinner & Show

The dinner cruise, in short

Three hours on the water after dark, with dinner, live music and Turkish folk performance, sailing the stretch of the Bosphorus between the two bridges.

The city looks entirely different lit at night. Dolmabahu00e7e Palace, the Ortaku00f6y Mosque under the bridge, the wooden waterfront mansions and the fortress at Rumeli are all floodlit, and you pass them at walking pace.

What it costs

Booked separately, this runs to u20ac35 a head. Included on the pass.

What is included

A set menu with a choice of four main courses u2014 meat, fish, chicken or a vegetarian option u2014 served across multiple courses.

Live entertainment through the evening: Turkish folk dance, a belly dance set, and a band. The programme runs between courses rather than over dinner.

How long, and when

Around three hours from boarding to return. Boats leave in the evening, with the exact time shifting by season to follow sunset. Arrive 20 minutes early for boarding.

What you will see

Heading north from the pier: Dolmabahu00e7e Palace, u00c7u0131rau011fan Palace, Ortaku00f6y Mosque framed beneath the July 15th Martyrs Bridge, the yalu0131 mansions along both shores, Rumeli Fortress and Maiden's Tower on the way back. The yalu0131s are among the most expensive homes in Turkey, and several are 18th-century timber.

Worth knowing

Bring a jacket. Even in summer it is markedly cooler on deck once the boat is moving, and the best views are outside rather than through the saloon windows.