GetYourGuideFull day
Istanbul Old City Tour with Lunch and Bosphorus Cruise
4.5 (24)
from $54Check dates
ToursTours · a day with a boat
Full-day Istanbul tour with a Bosphorus cruise and lunch: what's really included
A full-day Istanbul tour with a Bosphorus cruise packs the Old City or the Asian hills, lunch and a 2-hour boat into 9–12 hours. The tour price is rarely the whole bill: check whether Topkapı (2,750 TL) and the Hagia Sophia gallery (€25) are inside it.
Boards at
Topkapı Palace
How far it goesTo the first bridge
- Length
- 7–12 hours, pick-ups around 09:00
- Price
- From about $54 (Old City + lunch + cruise)
- Best reviewed
- GetYourGuide 700768: 4.7 from 326 reviews
- The boat
- Usually a 2-hour shared tour boat; one tour uses a sunset glass yacht
- Often extra
- Topkapı 2,750 TL · Hagia Sophia gallery €25 · drinks · tips
- Closed
- Topkapı Tuesdays · Dolmabahçe and Beylerbeyi Mondays · Grand Bazaar Sundays
Updated October 16, 2026Facts checked against official sourcesContains affiliate links
Full-day tour + cruise: what you can book
9 options · Prices checked on October 17, 2026
Nothing with those filters.
GetYourGuideFull day
Istanbul: Full-Day City Tour with Bosphorus Cruise and Lunch
4.2 (22)
from $67Check dates
GetYourGuideFull day
Istanbul: European & Asian Sides Full Day Tour with Boat & Lunch
4.5 (47)
from $109Check dates
GetYourGuideFull day
İstanbul: Bus Tour with Cable Car, Bosporus Cruise, & Lunch
5.0 (1)
from $112Check dates
GetYourGuide1.5 h⚓ Kabataş
Istanbul: Bosphorus Cruise from Europe or Asia & Audio Guide
4.4 (425)
from $8Check dates
GetYourGuideFull day
Istanbul: Full-Day Tour with Dolmabahce & Bosphorus Cruise
4.2 (198)
from $184Check dates
GetYourGuideFull day
Istanbul: Europe and Asia Tour By Bus And Bosphorus Cruise
4.8 (80)
from $107Check dates
GetYourGuideFull day
Istanbul Port: City Sights Tour for Cruise Ship Passengers
4.5 (93)
from $95Check dates
GetYourGuideFull day
Istanbul Balat, Hagia Sophia, Bosphorus Cruise, Blue Mosque
4.3 (110)
from $64Check dates
See everything on GetYourGuide →See everything on Headout →See everything on Tiqets →
A full-day Istanbul tour with a Bosphorus cruise and lunch is the "I have one day" answer: a guide walks you through the big sights, you eat, and you finish on the water. Done well, it saves a first-timer a lot of planning. Done badly, it is a long day on a coach with a showroom stop and a boat ride you could have bought at the pier for 200 TL.
The format splits into two families that look alike in the listings: Old City days (Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı, the bazaars, then a cruise) and two-sides days (the Asian hills, Beylerbeyi Palace, Pierre Loti, then a cruise). This page compares both, shows what the gates cost on top, and lists what to check before you pay.
What a full-day tour with a Bosphorus cruise includes
Inclusions vary more than prices. Here is what the main listings say they include:
| Tour | Hours | Lunch | Hotel transfer | Entry fees | Boat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GetYourGuide 700768, two sides | 12 | yes | yes | Beylerbeyi | 2-h boat tour |
| GetYourGuide 498082, Europe & Asia by bus | 12 | yes | not listed | Beylerbeyi listed as a stop | cruise |
| GetYourGuide 698403, Old City | 9 | yes | not listed | check | cruise |
| Headout Istanbul in a Day | 10 | yes | no | no | 2.5-h sunset cruise, glass yacht |
| Tiqets SeaLand Old City & Bosphorus | 12 | yes | yes | Hagia Sophia ticket | boat with tea/coffee |
"Not listed" means the summary does not mention it; ask in the booking chat before you assume it. The two columns that change your real cost are Entry fees and Hotel transfer.
- 1Hagia SophiaSightDirections ↗
- 2Topkapı PalaceSightDirections ↗
- 3EminönüPierDirections ↗
- 4KabataşPierDirections ↗
- 5Dolmabahçe PalaceSightDirections ↗
- 6Beylerbeyi PalaceSightDirections ↗
- 7Çamlıca TowerSightDirections ↗
- 8EyüpSightDirections ↗
- 9Pierre Loti HillHillDirections ↗
Old City days: Sultanahmet, lunch and a cruise
The Old City format spends the morning on foot around Sultanahmet and puts you on a boat in the afternoon.
Headout's Istanbul in a Day is the big seller (4.5 from 1,129 reviews, 10 hours). It includes an English-speaking guide, lunch, an Old City walk and a 2.5-hour sunset cruise on a glass-enclosed yacht that ends around 19:00, with baklava, fruit and soft drinks. It excludes hotel transfers, museum entrance fees, tips and shopping. The sights in the title are where you go, not tickets you hold. Add Topkapı (2,750 TL for foreign visitors) and the Hagia Sophia upper gallery (€25) if you want to go inside.
GetYourGuide 698403 is the cheapest serious option: about $54 for nine hours with lunch and a cruise, 4.5 from 24 reviews. At that price, assume entry fees are not inside unless the listing says so.
| Platform | Listing | Rating | Price | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GetYourGuide | Istanbul Old City Tour with Lunch and Bosphorus Cruise · Full day | 4.5 (24) | $54 Lowest | See on GetYourGuide |
| Headout | Istanbul in a Day Tour: Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar, Cruise & More · Full day | 4.5 (1,129) | $168 | See on Headout |
Lowest adult price per person in US dollars, checked on October 17, 2026. Boat, departure time and what is included differ between listings: open each one before you pay.
Two other Old City variants are worth knowing about. 417635 adds Balat to Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and a cruise (about $64, 4.3 from 110 reviews, 7 hours). 367230 swaps the standard boat for a luxury sunset cruise after the Old City (about $168, 4.5 from 21 reviews, 10 hours). On Tiqets, SeaLand Trip's 12-hour Old City and Bosphorus day includes hotel pick-up, a Hagia Sophia ticket, Süleymaniye Mosque, lunch, an English-speaking guide and a boat with tea and coffee. It had one review when we checked.
If you would rather buy the Old City tickets and the cruise separately and skip the guide, the Old City and cruise combos page covers the ticket + cruise products and the passes.
Two-sides days: Asian hills, Beylerbeyi and a 2-hour boat
The two-sides format uses a bus. The usual order is Çamlıca Hill and the Grand Çamlıca Mosque on the Asian side, Beylerbeyi Palace on the shore, lunch, Pierre Loti Hill with the cable car down to Eyüp on the Golden Horn, and a 2-hour Bosphorus cruise to finish.
- 700768, about $111, 12 hours, 4.7 from 326 reviews: hotel transfers, lunch, Beylerbeyi entry and a 2-hour boat. It has by far the most reviews of the day tours, and it is our pick.
- 498082, about $107, 12 hours, 4.8 from 80 reviews: Beylerbeyi, the Çamlıca mosque, lunch, the cable car and a cruise.
- 727763, about $109, 12 hours, 4.5 from 47 reviews: the Çamlıca Hill gardens, the cable car and Pierre Loti café, a cruise and lunch.
- 832569, about $67, 7 hours, 4.2 from 22 reviews: a shorter day with the cruise, Beylerbeyi, the Grand Çamlıca Mosque and lunch.
- 434024, about $56, 9 hours, 4.7 from 47 reviews: the Golden Horn, the cable car and the cruise; lunch is not in its summary.
| Platform | Listing | Rating | Price | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GetYourGuide | Istanbul: Europe and Asia Tour by Bus with Bosphorus Cruise · Full day | 4.7 (47) | $56 Lowest | See on GetYourGuide |
| Headout | Istanbul Europe & Asia Tour by Bus with Bosphorus Cruise · Full day | — | $77 | See on Headout |
| Tiqets | Istanbul: Two Continents Tour by Bus and Bosphorus Cruise · Full day | — | $90 | See on Tiqets |
Lowest adult price per person in US dollars, checked on October 17, 2026. Boat, departure time and what is included differ between listings: open each one before you pay.
The tours stop at the Grand Çamlıca Mosque, which is free. The Çamlıca Tower on the next hill is a separate ticket (900 TL for non-citizens), with an enclosed terrace sold in 1.5-hour slots, and the day tours don't include it. The cable car at Pierre Loti is usually one way. It stops automatically in strong wind, so that part of the day can drop out. The Asian side on your own is covered on the Asian side page.
What the day costs once the gates are paid
The official entry prices for foreign visitors, for the sights these tours use:
| Sight | Entry | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dolmabahçe Palace (Selamlık + Harem + Painting Museum) | 2,000 TL | Foreign visitors; one ticket valid 7 days; closed Mondays (open 10 Nov); free audio guide; Museum Pass not valid |
| National Palaces Full Pass (Dolmabahçe + all pavilions, not Topkapı) | 3,500 TL | Combined ticket I; valid 1 month, each place once; includes Beylerbeyi and Küçüksu |
| Yıldız Palace | 900 TL | Closed Wednesdays and on every public holiday; valid on the day of purchase |
| Topkapı Palace (Palace + Harem + Hagia Irene) | 2,750 TL | Run by National Palaces; closed Tuesdays; valid on the day of purchase; Museum Pass covers the palace but not the Harem or Hagia Irene |
| Topkapı Harem (for Museum Pass holders) | 1,050 TL | Hagia Irene is also 1,050 TL on its own |
| Hagia Sophia upper gallery (visitor route) | €25 | Foreign visitors since 15 Jan 2024; entry to pray is free; not in any Museum Pass; covered shoulders and knees, headscarf for women |
| Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum | €25 | A separate museum in another building on At Meydanı — not the mosque; not in Museum Pass |
| Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıcı) | unconfirmed | Management passed from İBB to the Directorate of Foundations in June 2026 and a court stay was reported; the last İBB price was 1,950 TL (day) — check on the day |
| Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii) | Free | Active mosque; visits between prayers; modest dress, shoes off |
| Museum Pass İstanbul (Ministry of Culture) | €105 | 5 days from first entry; covers Topkapı, Galata Tower, Maiden's Tower, Rumeli Hisarı; not Hagia Sophia, Dolmabahçe, Beylerbeyi or any cruise |
| Galata Tower | €30 | Daily 08:30–18:30, night museum 18:30–22:00; Museum Pass valid only until 18:14 |
| Maiden's Tower (Kız Kulesi) + boat | €27 + 110 TL boat | Daily 09:00–18:00; boats from Salacak (Üsküdar) and Karaköy; Museum Pass covers the entry, not the boat |
| Rumeli Hisarı (Rumeli Fortress) | €6 | 09:00–18:00, last ticket 17:00; closed Mondays; in Museum Pass İstanbul |
| Beylerbeyi Palace | 800 TL | Closed Mondays; gardens only 100 TL; Museum Pass not valid |
| Küçüksu Pavilion | 300 TL | Closed Mondays; picnic area separate (500 TL) |
| Çamlıca Tower observation terrace | 900 TL | Non-citizen tier on the official booking form (citizens 390 TL); enclosed terraces, 1.5-hour slots, no tripods or backpacks |
| Pierre Loti cable car (TF2 Eyüp–Piyer Loti) | 46.20 TL | İstanbulkart fare (single ticket 65 TL); winter 08:00–22:00, summer 08:00–23:00; stops in strong wind |
| Istanbul Tourist Pass (commercial) | €149–299 (1–7 days) | Its Bosphorus cruise is one round trip on the Dentur Avrasya boat from Kabataş |
| Istanbul E-pass (commercial) | €125–245 (1–7 days) | Its Bosphorus cruise is the Turyol hourly boat from Eminönü |
Official prices checked on October 16, 2026.
So the real budget for Headout's 10-hour day is the tour price plus 2,750 TL for Topkapı (Palace, Harem and Hagia Irene on one ticket) plus €25 for the Hagia Sophia gallery, plus drinks and tips. The Blue Mosque is free. The Basilica Cistern changed management in June, so check its current price at the gate.
Two ticket details matter on a day tour. Topkapı tickets are valid only on the day you buy them, and the palace is closed on Tuesdays. The Ministry's MuseumPass İstanbul (€105) covers Topkapı itself but not the Harem or Hagia Irene (budget 1,050 TL each if you want them), and it does not cover the Hagia Sophia gallery. On a two-sides day the big ticket is Beylerbeyi at 800 TL; the better-reviewed tours include it.
A full-day tour with a cruise, hour by hour
Here is how the Old City format usually runs, built from the listings' own inclusions:
Hotel pick-up or meeting point in SultanahmetPick-ups collect from several hotels; be in the lobby early
Hagia Sophia and the Blue MosqueGallery €25 if not included; visits pause around prayer times; cover shoulders and knees, women cover their hair
Topkapı Palace2,750 TL; closed Tuesdays
LunchDrinks often extra
Grand Bazaar or Spice BazaarGrand Bazaar closed Sundays
Bosphorus cruise: 2 h on a shared boat, or 2.5 h at sunset on Headout's glass yachtBack around 19:00 on the sunset version
Drop-off, if transfers are includedHeadout's tour has none
On the two-sides format the cruise usually comes last as well, after Pierre Loti. Late in the year that puts it in the late-afternoon light. In mid-October the sun sets around 18:25, and in early November around 18:00.
Day of the week: the closed sights
A day tour has to work around the closures, and the cheaper ones don't always say how:
- Monday: Dolmabahçe, Beylerbeyi, Küçüksu and Rumeli Hisarı are closed. A two-sides day without Beylerbeyi loses its palace.
- Tuesday: Topkapı is closed. An Old City day will show you the outside only.
- Sunday: the Grand Bazaar is closed (it also closes on the first day of religious holidays).
- First day of a bayram (religious holiday): Dolmabahçe and Beylerbeyi close; Topkapı closes only on the first day of Ramazan Bayramı.
National Palaces publishes the current hours and prices on its Topkapı page and its Beylerbeyi page. If your only free day is a Tuesday, book a two-sides day. If it is a Monday, book the Old City.
Private tours and tours for cruise-ship passengers
Big cruise ships berth at Galataport, between Karaköy and Tophane, and do not sail up the strait. For a one-day call, a tour is the simplest way to fit in both the Old City and the Bosphorus. GetYourGuide has two products built for them: 412232, a shared city tour for cruise-ship passengers (about $95, 4.5 from 93 reviews, 7 hours), and 153822, a private full-day tour from Karaköy (about $353, 4.9 from 20 reviews). The Karaköy and Galataport waterfront is busiest from May to October, when most ship calls fall.
For a private day with a cruise, 34009 (private Old City tour with a Bosphorus cruise, 4.9 from 33 reviews) starts at about $98. Check whether a private tour's price is per person or per group before you compare it with the shared tours.
Before you book a full-day tour
Five checks before you pay
- Entry fees: find the word "admission" or "entrance" in the includes list. If it is missing, add Topkapı 2,750 TL, Hagia Sophia €25 or Beylerbeyi 800 TL.
- Pick-up: transfers cover central European-side hotels only (Sultanahmet, Taksim, Şişli, Beyoğlu, Sirkeci, Aksaray, Karaköy, Kabataş). Hotels in Kadıköy, Üsküdar or near the airport are not covered.
- Showroom stops: some group day tours include a leather or carpet showroom stop. Ask the operator in writing before you book.
- Weekday: no Topkapı on a Tuesday, no Beylerbeyi or Dolmabahçe on a Monday, no Grand Bazaar on a Sunday.
- Cancellation: GetYourGuide allows free cancellation up to 24 hours on most listings. Headout and Tiqets set it per listing, so read it before you pay.
None of the Tiqets day tours is marked wheelchair-accessible, and most shared boats are not either. Ask the operator before you book if anyone in your group needs step-free access. Carry some TL cash for drinks at lunch, tips and small purchases. Bring a layer for the boat: the open deck is windy even on warm days.
If a 10–12-hour day sounds like too much, split it: the Old City on foot one day, then a short cruise from Eminönü or Kabataş on your own (see the sightseeing cruise guide), or a hop-on hop-off bus with a cruise. Every kind of cruise-plus-city tour is compared on the Bosphorus tours page.
GetYourGuideFull day
Istanbul: Full-Day 2-Sides City Tour with Lunch & Boat Tour
4.7 (326)
from $111Check dates
GetYourGuideFull day
Istanbul: Europe and Asia Tour By Bus And Bosphorus Cruise
4.8 (80)
from $107Check dates
GetYourGuideFull day
Istanbul Port: City Sights Tour for Cruise Ship Passengers
4.5 (93)
from $95Check dates
GetYourGuideFull day
Istanbul Balat, Hagia Sophia, Bosphorus Cruise, Blue Mosque
4.3 (110)
from $64Check dates
GetYourGuideFull day
Istanbul: Europe and Asia Tour by Bus with Bosphorus Cruise
4.7 (47)
from $56Check dates
See everything on GetYourGuide →See everything on Headout →See everything on Tiqets →Prices checked on October 17, 2026
Full-day Istanbul tour FAQ
Does the Istanbul in a Day tour include entrance fees?
Headout's Istanbul in a Day tour excludes museum entrance fees, hotel transfers and tips. Topkapı (2,750 TL) and the Hagia Sophia gallery (€25) are paid on top. Other tours differ: Tiqets' SeaLand Old City day includes a Hagia Sophia ticket, and several two-sides tours include Beylerbeyi.
What is the best full-day Istanbul tour with a Bosphorus cruise?
By reviews, GetYourGuide 700768 (4.7 from 326) with hotel transfers, lunch, Beylerbeyi entry and a 2-hour boat. For an Old City day with a sunset cruise, Headout's Istanbul in a Day has the most reviews (1,129), but budget for the entry fees.
What time do full-day Istanbul tours start?
Pick-ups usually start around 09:00 and collect guests from several central European-side hotels, so the first hour can be spent on the road. Tours run 7 to 12 hours.
Is lunch included on full-day Bosphorus tours?
On most of them, yes: GetYourGuide 698403, 700768, 498082 and Headout's Istanbul in a Day include lunch. Drinks at lunch are often extra. GetYourGuide 434024 does not mention lunch in its summary, so check before booking.
Can I visit Topkapı Palace on a Tuesday tour?
No. Topkapı is closed every Tuesday, and its ticket is valid only on the day you buy it. On a Tuesday, choose a two-sides tour (Çamlıca, Beylerbeyi, Pierre Loti) instead, but not on a Monday, when Beylerbeyi is closed.
Is the Grand Bazaar open on Sunday?
No. The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays and on the first day of religious holidays. If a tour lists it and your date is a Sunday, ask the operator what replaces it.
