Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Night Show

Dinner, a show and the city lights

The Bosphorus dinner cruise is the classic Istanbul night out. You are picked up from your hotel, welcomed on board with a cocktail, and seated at your own table, never shared with strangers. As the boat sails up the Bosphorus, dinner is served and the Turkish night show begins: whirling dervishes, folk dances from the Black Sea and the Caucasus, a henna night scene and, of course, belly dancers. Later in the evening the DJ takes over and the guests join the dance.

All the while the illuminated palaces, mosques and bridges of Istanbul slide past the windows. The cruise lasts about three and a half hours and ends at the pier around 23:30, where our team drives you back to your hotel. Looking for a quieter evening? Our private dinner cruise puts your group on its own yacht.

Dinner cruise highlights

• Turkish night showWhirling dervish, folk dances, a henna night scene and belly dancers.
• Three-course Turkish dinnerTen cold mezes, salad, a choice of main course, and baklava with fruit.
• Your own tableTables are never shared: private tables for couples and groups.
• Hotel pickup and drop-offIncluded from central hotels on the European side.
• Istanbul by nightThe lit Bosphorus Bridge, Dolmabahçe Palace and the old city skyline.
• Pay on the dayFrom €30 per person, with no prepayment.

How much is the Bosphorus dinner cruise?

The menu and the show are the same in every package; the price depends on your drinks and where you sit. The VIP table is on the top floor of the boat, with a 360-degree view of the Bosphorus, close to the stage, and comes with a wider choice of main courses.

Groups of 20 guests or more get a special group price: ask us when you book. Children up to 4 years are free and children from 5 to 7 years get 30% off.

How the evening goes

1. Hotel pickup, 19:00 to 20:00
   We tell you your pickup time when we confirm your booking; our guide meets you in the hotel lobby.
2. Welcome cocktail and mezes
   Board the boat, take your table and start with a welcome drink and cold starters.
3. Dinner as the boat sails
   The main course is served as you cruise past the lit palaces and under the Bosphorus Bridge.
4. The Turkish night show
   Whirling dervish, folk dances, Aşık Maşuk, a rhythm show and belly dancers, then the DJ.
5. Back at the pier around 23:30
   Our team drives you back to your hotel.

The dinner cruise menu

Every meal is prepared fresh on the day. You start with a welcome cocktail, ten kinds of cold Turkish mezes and a seasonal salad, then choose your main course: mixed grill, grilled fish, grilled chicken or Turkish meatballs, served with rice and potatoes. Dessert is baklava with fresh fruit, with unlimited tea and coffee. A vegetarian menu is always available, and with notice we prepare pasta, vegetable dishes or children's meals. The VIP menu adds hot starters and more main courses, including chicken with mushrooms, beef stir-fry and grilled sea bream.

The Turkish night show

Professional dance groups perform throughout the evening, with music and costumes from different regions of Turkey:

• Whirling dervishThe Sufi sema ceremony.
• Folk dancesFrom the Black Sea, Anatolia and the Caucasus.
• Henna night and Aşık MaşukTraditional wedding scenes.
• Belly danceSolo and group shows.
• Rhythm show and DJDance until the end of the cruise.

Want to know more before you go? Read what a Turkish night show is.

What is included in the dinner cruise

Good to know before you go

• Pickup is free from central European-side areas such as Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Eminönü, Laleli, Aksaray, Beyazıt, Karaköy, Taksim, Şişli, Nişantaşı and Kabataş. Your pickup may be up to 30 minutes after the stated time, depending on traffic.
• Staying on the Asian side? Take the ferry from Kadıköy and meet us at the pier; we recommend a taxi back, as the cruise ends late.
• Staying in an apartment? We pick you up from the nearest hotel within walking distance.
• Tell us about vegetarian or other dietary needs when you book.
• Bring a light jacket for the evening breeze, even in summer.

What our guests say about our cruises

Booking, payment and cancellation

1. BookingReserve here, on WhatsApp or by email. No prepayment.
2. ConfirmationWe confirm your seats and meeting time, usually within the hour.
3. On the dayPay in cash in euro, US dollar or Turkish lira, or by card.
4. 24+ hours beforeCancel or change your date free of charge.
5. Under 24 hoursLate cancellations and no-shows cannot be refunded.

If a cruise is cancelled because of bad weather or an official warning, you choose a new date or cancel at no cost. These terms are for shared cruises; private yachts have their own private tour terms.

Dinner cruise FAQ