The 15 Best Istanbul Ferry Trips on the Bosphorus

1.Guided Food Tour with Ferry Ride and Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 770 reviews · 6 hours · from $115Our pick

Join an English-speaking guide such as Binnur, Önder, Salih, or Şenay for six hours of Turkish food in Istanbul. Start near the Spice Bazaar, cross to Kadikoy by ferry, sample breakfast, kebab, mussels, fish, künefe, and coffee, then finish with dessert in Karakoy.

“Excellent walking foodie tour around Istanbul, our guide Önder was an excellent host. We ate some delicious local food in about 9 different locations between the Europe and Asian sides - Turkish coffee, lahmacun, iskender kebab, mussels, kokoreç, fish wrap, künefe - and Önder had plenty of other restaurant recommendations for later along the way. Highly recommend doing this tour on your next visit to Istanbul!”

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2.Round-Trip Ferry Tickets to the Princes’ Islands

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 586 reviews · from $11Best value

Take a return ferry from Eminönü to Büyükada, the largest and most famous Princes’ Island. Use your phone ticket, listen to an optional audio guide, then explore at your own pace, from Trotsky’s former home and St. George Church to beaches, cafés, and grand wooden villas.

“more than one hour because the boat stops in every island but an overall great experience!”

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3.Asian Side Walking Tour with Ferry Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 224 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $29

Meet your English-speaking guide at Istanbul’s Spice Bazaar, cross to Kadıköy by public ferry, and spend an hour exploring its market, antique shops, bar streets, tram-lined avenue, and colorful side streets. Guides such as Haluk and Emre add local food and transport advice.

“very informative guide. the Asian side is very different and more relaxed than the European side.”

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4.Troy Full-Day Guided Tour incl. Transfer, Ferry Tickets w/Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 126 reviews · 17 hours (approx.) · from $151Top rated

Leave Istanbul before dawn for Troy by comfortable minibus, ferry, and road transfer. You’ll cross the Dardanelles, eat lunch in Eceabat, and explore Troy with an English-speaking guide. Guides have included Lev, Cindy, Burak, Aytac, Charlie, and Cagri. Expect a very long day with limited time at the ruins.

“The small group pick up and tour itself were really good however at the end of the tour we were given tickets to a public bus which took 8 hours to return to Istanbul and stopped everywhere en route. We were not advised of this prior to joining the tour and expected to return in group vehicle. Because of this we did not take passports and so we're challenged at every stop by police as had no ID to cross regions on public transport. Very poor communication. Would not recommend at all.”

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5.Troy Guided Bus Tour with Ferry Tickets & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 119 reviews · 16 hours · from $148

Leave Istanbul early for Troy with hotel pickup, ferry crossings, lunch in Eceabat, and a guided walk through the UNESCO-listed ruins. Guides such as Levant, Sandy, and Beyza bring the Iliad, Temple of Athena, Odeon, ancient walls, and Trojan Horse replica to life. Expect a long but rewarding day.

“I love a good old trip around classical cities and Troy did not disappoint, the ruins gave you a good idea about the various eras in Troy. The museum was really good and Duygu our guide was very knowledgeable. Early start and late finish but scratched my Homer Iliad itch!”

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6.Taste of Turkey with Europe & Asia by Ferry

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 52 reviews · 4.5 hours · from $81

Join a guide such as Erol, Kim, Gamze, or Tolga for a 4.5-hour food walk from Eminönü to Kadıköy. Expect breakfast, market tastings, Turkish tea and coffee, sweets, local dishes, and a round-trip Bosphorus ferry ride in a group of up to eight.

“Erol was an excellent guide! This was so much more than a food tour. Erol is very knowledgeable and taught us about Turkidh history and culture and how they connected to the food. We loved what we went to places in both the European and Asian sides of Istanbul and visited places we would not have found on our own. This was an excellent tour with the best guide and we highly recommend it!”

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7.Taste of Turkey in Istanbul’s Europe & Asia by Ferry Crossing

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 29 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $138

Spend about 4.5 hours tasting Turkish breakfast, market foods, coffee, and sweets while crossing from Eminönü to Kadıköy and back by ferry. Guide Erol Utgun adds useful context, answers sightseeing questions, and keeps the group to eight people.

“Erol Utgun our tour guide took us on an amazing tour that quickly gave us a better understanding of Istanbul by getting us better acquainted with its amazing culinary offerings. The streets of Istanbul are filled with interesting little restaurants, coffee, candy, spice souvenir shops but at first it can all feel a little overwhelming. Our Guide Erol Utgun carefully curated the tour allowing us to experience a wide variety of food and drink and gave us Insite to their origins in Turkish culture and their place in today's food scene. Erol not only gave us a feel for the food he answered all of our touristic questions and was…”

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8.Multi Cultural Istanbul: Galata Tower – Fener and Balat – Golden Horn by Ferry

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $79

Spend about four hours with a guide such as Erol, Gamze, or Can exploring Galata Tower, Fener, Balat, Orthodox churches, and the Golden Horn. Expect a small group, moderate walking, public transport, colorful streets, and strong cultural context. Select the all-inclusive option to cover the tower fee.

“A super tour with Erol that gave me a view of Istanbul I might not have discovered on my own. From start to finish this was a wonderful tour of Istanbul, beginning at Galata tower, learning it's history and that of the area surrounding it, seeing the beautiful views from the top of the tower; exploring the charming neighborhoods of Fener and Balat, enjoying delicious Turkish desserts and tea at a local cafe; relaxing on the final leg on the ferry ride home. I would highly recommend this tour to everyone, it was such a pleasure and Erol is incredibly knowledgable and easy to be with.”

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9.Guided Food Tour with Ferry Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 13 reviews · 5 hours · from $135

Spend five hours eating across Istanbul with an English-speaking guide such as Tayfun or Feyza. Start with Turkish breakfast, browse the Spice Bazaar, cross by ferry, and taste kokoreç, lahmacun, mezes, Turkish coffee, and sweets in Kadıköy and Moda.

“best food tour ever. I got a private tour because 5 other people cancelled the day before - they did the tour anyway. we had lots of great local authentic food and also some info about the history of turkey. we even crossed the bosporus from the European part to the Asian part. 5 hours of pure joy. additionally I got lots of insider info about places to try. they speak perfect English and are very polite. thanks a lot to feyza and the team.”

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10.Galata Tower – Fener and Balat – Golden Horn by Ferry

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 12 reviews · 4 hours · from $81

Join guides such as Kim or Erol for a four-hour walk from Galata Tower through Karaköy, Fener, and Balat. You’ll see churches, old community quarters, colorful streets, and the Golden Horn by ferry, with tram and bus transport included.

“Errol was extremely knowledgeable, personable, flexible and fun during this walking tour. Modes of transportation included a tram and ferry. We learned many new facts and explored the back streets of the Asia portion with ease. Highly recommended.”

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11.Galata Tower – Fener-Balat Neighborhoods & Golden Horn by Ferry

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $66

Spend four hours with an English-speaking guide such as Erol or Hüseyin, moving from Galata Tower and Kamondo Stairs to Balat’s colorful lanes, the Iron Church, Orthodox Patriarchate, city walls, and the Golden Horn by ferry. The group is limited to eight.

“Despite the rain our guide Erol made this a really enjoyable experience. He is so knowledgeable, engaging and helpful. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour of the Galata tower and surroundings (with many gorgeous photos) and then our journey to Balat and Fener. The churches are stunning and it was particularly beautiful to see the architecture, interior decor and many relics. The neighbourhoods of Balat and Fener are very charming with their colourful houses. We stopped for tea and cookies in a local cafe recommended by Erol. Erol was a super guide and I would highly recommend this tour.”

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12.Princess Island Tour with Lunch & Ferry Ride

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 8 reviews · from $32

Leave Istanbul at 8:30 am for Büyükada, the largest Princess Island. Your Arabic and English-speaking guide points out Topkapı Palace, Kız Kulesi, Taksim Square, and other sights from the boat. On the island, ride by horse-drawn carriage, eat lunch, and enjoy beach time before returning by ferry.

“They really need to improve many things: 1. The wait at the time of pickup was delayed, without explanation and without communication. I never informed if they would be delayed or if there was some problem why they did not arrive on time aRead more”

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13.Soap Opera tour: Golden Horn via Public Ferry – Half Day

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 7 reviews · 5 hours · from $145

Spend five hours tracing Istanbul soap opera settings by public ferry, on foot, and cable car. Visit St. George’s Cathedral, Balat, Ahrida Synagogue, a film-friendly cafe, and Pierre Loti Hill with an English-speaking guide. Expect history, photo stops, and Golden Horn views, but not a full TV production tour.

“Selin,my tour guide,was a great pleasure to meet.I had a fantastic day out”

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14.Istanbul Bites and Sights : Mosques, Markets & Ferry to Asia

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · from $95

Walk Istanbul’s Old City with a small group of up to 10, tasting Turkish coffee, delight, spices, simit, meze, pickles, and lahmacun before crossing to Kadıköy by ferry. Guides such as Isil and Ozge add history, local context, and photography stops.

“The guide was knowledgeable and friendly. He explained in details historical spots. He did extra to take us to excellent photography spots.”

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15.Hidden Gems of the Istanbul: From Galata Tower to Balat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6 reviews · 4 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $105

Follow an English-speaking guide from Galata Tower and the Kamondo Stairs to SALT Galata, Balat, the Bulgarian Iron Church, the Golden Horn, and the Egyptian Bazaar. The 4 to 6-hour private tour includes ferry transport, church donations, and Turkish dessert and drink tastings. Galata Tower admission costs extra.

“We had a wonderful Galata, Fener, and Balat tour. Enru- our guide was extremely knowledgeable, very patient, and accommodating to our schedule. It made the experience relaxed and enjoyable. Highly recommended.”

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