Afternoon Bosphorus and Black Sea Cruise

Your Afternoon Bosphorus and Black Sea Cruise begins with pickup from selected centrally located hotels.

Exact pickup times vary according to your hotel location and Istanbul traffic.

Transfer toward the Rumeli Hisari area, where the sightseeing boat is scheduled to begin the afternoon journey.

The main cruise program starts at approximately 1:30 PM.

Board the sightseeing boat in the Bosphorus area close to Rumeli Fortress.

The impressive 15th-century Ottoman fortress stands at one of the narrowest points of the Bosphorus and provides a striking setting for the beginning of the cruise.

Please note that this tour does not include an interior visit to Rumeli Fortress.

The fortress is viewed from the surrounding waterfront and boat as the cruise begins.

Settle into the cruise and begin sailing north through the Bosphorus.

As Istanbul's waterfront passes by, your guide provides commentary about the landmarks, neighborhoods and historic structures lining the strait.

Depending on the operating route, views may include:

• Rumeli Fortress
• Anadolu Fortress
• Bosphorus bridges
• Historic waterfront mansions
• Bebek
• Kandilli
• Kanlica
• Upper Bosphorus villages

Lunch is served on board during the journey.

The standard meal normally includes Turkish meze, grilled chicken or a similar main course, accompaniments, soft drinks and fruit.

A vegetarian alternative can be arranged when requested in advance.

Continue north beyond the most frequently visited central sections of the Bosphorus.

The surrounding landscape gradually changes as densely developed neighborhoods give way to forested hills, smaller settlements and wider stretches of water.

This section is one of the main differences between the Afternoon Bosphorus and Black Sea Cruise and shorter sightseeing cruises that turn back within central Istanbul.

Relax on board while enjoying views from both the European and Asian shores.

Continue toward the northern entrance of the Bosphorus, where the strait opens toward the Black Sea.

Pass through a landscape of green hills, fishing communities and increasingly open water.

Depending on weather, maritime traffic and navigation conditions, the boat continues into or toward the Black Sea section of the route.

The northern Bosphorus offers a noticeably quieter atmosphere than the waterfront around central Istanbul.

During the warmer months and when sea conditions permit, the cruise stops in the Poyrazkoy area for approximately one hour.

Located in Beykoz on the Asian Side near the Black Sea entrance of the Bosphorus, Poyrazkoy is surrounded by green hills and open water.

Guests can enjoy the scenery and, when the captain confirms that conditions are safe, take the opportunity to swim.

Swimming is completely optional.

If you would like to swim, please bring your own swimwear and towel.

Guests who prefer not to enter the water can remain on board and relax.

Depending on the operating route, enjoy views toward or time around Anadolu Kavagi, one of the last waterfront communities on Istanbul's Asian shore before the Bosphorus opens into the Black Sea.

The village belongs to Beykoz and is known for its fishing-village atmosphere and location beneath the hills around Yoros Castle.

The exact form and duration of this part of the itinerary may vary according to navigation, pier availability and the swimming program.

Reboard or settle back into the boat for the return journey through the Bosphorus.

Enjoy the upper Bosphorus scenery from a different direction as the boat travels south toward central Istanbul.

The return journey provides additional views of the bridges, waterfront mansions and historic neighborhoods along both continents.

The cruise returns to the central Istanbul waterfront in the late afternoon.

Guests included within the scheduled transfer service will then be returned to their selected centrally located hotels.

The complete experience lasts approximately 4.5 hours, although the exact finishing time may vary according to maritime traffic, weather, swimming-stop duration and road traffic.