Full-Day Istanbul Two Continents Tour: Beylerbeyi and Bosphorus Cruise
8 hoursIstanbulGroup tourDeparture days vary by option
- Direct operator priceBooked directly with us. We run the tour, so there is no commission on top.
- Starts and ends in IstanbulHotel pickup from about 08:30
- Moderate walkingUp to two to three hours on foot, with steps and uneven ground at some sites.
- Full dayApproximately 08:30–17:00
- Two continentsAsian shore and Golden Horn districts
- Land and waterBeylerbeyi admission, boat trip and cable car ticket included.
- Hotel transfersCentral pickup and return included
- Guided in EnglishAlso in Spanish and Italian on private tours.
- Group tourShared with other travellers, with a guide
Overview
See more of Istanbul beyond the Old City. Enter Beylerbeyi Palace, take in the views from Camlica and ride the Pierre Loti cable car above the Golden Horn. A Bosphorus boat trip, lunch and central hotel transfers complete the day. Show more overviewShow less
See Istanbul from both shores of the Bosphorus on a full-day tour that combines palace rooms, hilltop views and time on the water. Start on the Asian side at Camlica Hill and Grand Camlica Mosque, then enter Beylerbeyi Palace beside the strait.
A Bosphorus cruise gives you another view of the waterfront before the European-side visits around Eyup. See the city walls, visit the mosque and shrine, and ride the Pierre Loti cable car above the Golden Horn. Your guide accompanies the land visits, and the vehicle connects the different districts.
Hotel pickup and return, palace admission, the cable car, a boat trip and lunch are included, so you can cover both sides of the city in one arranged day.
Include this day with hotels and airport transfers in our 3-day Istanbul package with an Old City morning, or add Topkapi and the Harem on the 4-day Istanbul city break.
What is arranged for you
- Palace and cable car ticketsBeylerbeyi admission and the Pierre Loti ride are included.
- Boat trip and lunchGroup eats on the shared cruise; Private has a private boat and lunch ashore.
- Travel between the districtsYour hotel transfers and sightseeing transport are arranged.
Itinerary
9 places to visit
From Camlica to Beylerbeyi and the Golden Horn
Explore both shores with a palace visit, cruise and cable car ride
Schedule
- 08:30Leave your hotel for the Asian shore
The vehicle collects you from your central Istanbul hotel for the drive across the city.
Approximate start of the pickup round.
- 09:30Camlica and Beylerbeyi Palace
Take in the view from Camlica Hill, visit Grand Camlica Mosque and explore the palace beside the Bosphorus.
Visit order may change with traffic and opening arrangements.
Places you’ll visit
- Camlica Hill
- Grand Camlica Mosque
- Beylerbeyi Palace
- Bosphorus
- Golden Horn
- Istanbul city walls
- Eyup Sultan Mosque
- Abu Ayyub al-Ansari shrine
- Pierre Loti cable car
About these 9 places
- Camlica Hill
- Look across the strait from the Asian side to see how the hills, bridges and waterfront districts fit together.
- Grand Camlica Mosque
- Walk through the broad courtyard of this hilltop mosque and see its domes and tall minarets. Visits respect prayer times.
- Beylerbeyi Palace
- Visit the furnished rooms of the Ottoman summer palace beside the Bosphorus. The palace closes on Mondays; the booking calendar offers dates with this visit on an open day.
- Bosphorus
- Watch the waterfront neighbourhoods and bridges from the boat as it follows the strait between Europe and Asia.
- Golden Horn
- See the long inlet beside the historic peninsula, then look down over its waterfront from the Pierre Loti hillside.
- Istanbul city walls
- View sections of the old defensive walls along the road, with stone towers marking the historic city’s boundary.
- Eyup Sultan Mosque
- Visit the courtyard and mosque at the heart of Eyup’s religious district beside the Golden Horn.
- Abu Ayyub al-Ansari shrine
- See the shrine next to the mosque and hear why this companion of the Prophet Muhammad holds a special place in the district’s history.
- Pierre Loti cable car
- Ride between Eyup and the hill above it for a view along the Golden Horn and across the city’s rooftops.
- 13:30Bosphorus cruise and lunch
Group sails on a shared boat, with lunch aboard. Private takes a two-hour private boat trip and eats lunch ashore. The private boat has no guide aboard.
Shared cruise timing; the Private boat follows its confirmed schedule.
- 15:30Eyup and the hillside above the Golden Horn
See the old city walls along the route, visit Eyup Sultan Mosque and the adjoining shrine, then ride the Pierre Loti cable car.
Approximate; mosque visits take place outside prayer times.
- 17:00Return to your Istanbul hotel
Finish the day with the arranged hotel transfer after the last visit.
Approximate return; city traffic can affect arrival.
Take this itinerary with you.The full day-by-day plan as a PDF, by email or straight to your device.
What's included
Included8
- Central Istanbul hotel pickup and return
- Transport between the listed land visits
- Licensed guide for land sightseeing
- Beylerbeyi Palace admission
- Pierre Loti cable car ticket
- Group: shared Bosphorus cruise with lunch aboard. Private: two-hour private boat trip and lunch ashore
- Visits to Camlica Hill, Grand Camlica Mosque, Eyup Sultan Mosque and the shrine, with city-wall and Golden Horn views
- Local taxes and service charges
Not included4
- Drinks with lunch and on the boat
- Breakfast and dinner
- Personal expenses
- Hotel accommodation and airport transfers
Compare packages
Choose the Asian shore and Beylerbeyi Palace, spend the day among Sultanahmet’s monuments, or explore Balat and Galata before a Bosphorus sailing.
Swipe across to compare packages.
| Comparison | This tourFull-Day Istanbul Two Continents Tour: Beylerbeyi and Bosphorus CruiseVisit Camlica and the Asian waterfront palace, then see the Bosphorus, Eyup and the Golden Horn in the same day. | 1-Day Istanbul Old City Tour with Topkapi Palace and HaremChoose Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi’s palace grounds and Harem for a day focused on the Old City. | Full-Day Istanbul Tour: Balat, Galata and Bosphorus with LunchKeep a boat trip and lunch, but spend the land portion at Yedikule, Galata and Balat instead. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main route | Camlica Hill and Mosque, Beylerbeyi and Eyup | Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome and Grand Bazaar | Yedikule, Galata, St Anthony Church and Balat |
| Palace or fortress admission | Beylerbeyi Palace included | Topkapi Palace and Harem included | Yedikule Fortress included; no palace visit |
| Bosphorus boat trip | Included | Not included | Included after the land route |
| Cable car | Pierre Loti ride included | Not included | Not included |
| Usual timing (the same in every package) | About 08:30–17:00 | About 08:30–17:00 | About 08:30–17:00 |
| From price | €54per person | €128per person | €51per person |
| View tour: 1-Day Istanbul Old City Tour with Topkapi Palace and Harem | View tour: Full-Day Istanbul Tour: Balat, Galata and Bosphorus with Lunch |
Rows set in grey are the same in every package; the rows in black are what separates them.
Prefer a shorter time on the water?
Half-Day Bosphorus Lunch Cruise in Istanbul with Hotel TransfersTake the standalone lunch cruise without the full-day palace and Two Continents sightseeing itinerary.
Good to know
A few practical details for your day on both sides of Istanbul.
Please note
- Group has a shared cruise with lunch aboard. Private has a two-hour private boat and lunch ashore, with no guide or meal aboard. The timeline gives shared-tour times; the Private boat follows its confirmed schedule.
- Cover shoulders and knees for mosque visits. Women should bring a headscarf, and shoes are removed inside prayer areas.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a light layer for the boat.
- Pickup, boarding and return times are approximate; traffic and opening arrangements may change the order of visits.
Show 2 more notesShow fewer notes
- Available departure dates follow the selected option in the booking calendar.
- Beylerbeyi Palace is closed on Mondays; the calendar offers only start dates that keep the palace visit on an open day.
What to bring
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Headscarf for mosque visits
- Light layer for the boat
Questions travellers ask
Which stops are on the Asian side?
Camlica Hill, Grand Camlica Mosque and Beylerbeyi Palace are on the Asian shore. Eyup and the Pierre Loti cable car are on the European side, beside the Golden Horn.
Do I need to buy palace or cable car tickets?
Both tickets are included. Beylerbeyi Palace is closed on Mondays, so the booking calendar offers dates that place the palace visit on an open day.
Where is lunch served, and is the boat private?
Group has lunch aboard a shared cruise. Private includes a two-hour private boat trip and lunch ashore. There is no guide or meal aboard the private boat. Drinks cost extra in both options.
What should I wear for the mosque visits?
Cover shoulders and knees, and bring a headscarf if needed. Shoes come off inside prayer areas. Comfortable walking shoes are useful for the rest of the day.
Does the tour return to my hotel?
Yes. Central Istanbul hotel pickup and return are included. The day runs approximately 08:30–17:00, with traffic affecting the return time.
Which languages and tour types is this tour available in?
| Guide language | Group tour | Private tour |
|---|---|---|
| English | Available | Available |
| Spanish | Not offered | Available |
| Italian | Not offered | Available |
Pick the combination that suits you when you check availability.
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