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True Discovery: Full Day Tour and Cruise of Istanbul

8 Reviews 5.00 out of 5 stars Based on 8 reviews collected by City Balloon Tours and TripAdvisor |
Recommended by 100% of reviewers
100% of reviewers gave this experience a rating of 4 or higher.
| Istanbul, Turkey
Book online or call us

from $224.69 per person

Lowest Price Guarantee
Dolmabahce Palace Garden
Dolmabahce Palace
True Discovery: Full Day Tour and Cruise of Istanbul Image 3
Istanbul Histroical City Tour
True Discovery: Full Day Tour and Cruise of Istanbul Image 5
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 17 (0) days in advance.
9 hours (approx.)
Hotel pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Instant confirmation

Overview

Go beyond Istanbul’s top attractions and discover more of the city on this multi-faceted full-day Istanbul bus and boat sightseeing tour. The full-day tour and cruise of Istanbul includes an exploration of Dolmabahce Palace and the Bosphorus.
We first drive to Dolmabahce Palace, which is stuffed with lavish chandeliers, gold and marble, this ornate sultans’ residence will astound you with its opulence! Traveling between the sights by air-conditioned coach, visit Çamlıca Hill on the Asian side to witness the breathtaking panoramas over the Bosphorus.

Then, drive across the Bosphorus Bridge, the vast suspension bridge that connects Europe and Asia over the Bosphorus Strait. Heading to Pierre Loti Hill to see the city from a different angle, flying over by cable car afterwards.

Now time to enjoy the city by the sea, you will hop on board to have buffet lunch served on our boat. We will start cruising from Golden Horn and go all the way to the Black Sea throught Bosphorus.

What's Included

  • Lunch
  • Entrance ticket to Dolmabahce Palace
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Drinks
  • Gratuities
See 1 moreSee 2 more

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup point
Pickup details

All the guests can be picked up from hotels located in Fatih and Beyoglu areas.

OR
Meeting point

Vişnezade
Dolmabahçe Caddesi, 34357 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Türkiye

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

Ömer Avni
İskele Yolu, 34427 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye

Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

What To Expect

Book Online

Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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Pierre Loti Tepesi

Named after the well-known French novelist Pierre Loti, this hill offers perfect views of the Golden Horn. It’s also home to a famous café that bears the same name. Loti lived in Istanbul for many years and was a big fan of the city. The café is a meeting point for lovers and couples, and has featured in many Turkish romance films.
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30 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Eyup Sultan Mosque (pass by)

The Eyüp Sultan Mosque is situated in the Eyüp district of Istanbul, outside the city walls near the Golden Horn. The present building dates from the beginning of the 19th century
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Dolmabahce Palace

It stands on the European shore of the Bosphorus and the with its various dependencies forms almost a little town, its gardens extending for a mile or more along the water's edge. Though the exterior of the Dolmabahce Palace, built by Sultan Abdülmecit (1839-1861) exhibits a variety of architectural styles, mainly baroque, and is decorated with a profusion of ornament, the general effect is not unpleasing, and the site is remarkably well-chosen
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1 hour Admission Ticket Included

Bosphorus Bridge (pass by)

Which was inaugurated on October 29, 1973 on the fiftieth anniversary of the Turkish Republic, has the longest span in Europe and the fourth in the world. This suspension bridge has a total length of 1560 metres (1706 yards) and a width of 33.4 metres (110ft). The span between pylons is 1074 metres (1175 yards) and the clearance above sea level is 64 metres (210ft). The constrnction of the steel box-girder suspension was carried out by a British-german consortium. The second bridge to link Europe and Asia over the Bosphorus will be completed in 1989 between Emirgan and Kanlica.
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Camlica Hill

Çamlıca Hill, aka Big Çamlıca Hill to differentiate from the nearby Little Çamlıca Hill, is a hill in Üsküdar district of Istanbul, Turkey. Situated on the Asian part of the city at 268 m above sea level, Çamlıca Hill has a panoramic view of the southern part of Bosphorus and the mouth of Golden Horn
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45 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Halic (pass by)

The Golden Horn, also known by its modern Turkish name, Haliç, is a major urban waterway and the primary inlet of the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey.
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Bosphorus Strait

The Bosporus or Bosphorus is a narrow, natural strait and an internationally significant waterway located in northwestern Turkey. It forms part of the continental boundary between Europe and Asia, and divides Turkey by separating Anatolia from Thrace.
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4 minutes Admission Ticket Included

Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge (pass by)

The Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, also known as the Second Bosphorus Bridge, is a bridge in Istanbul, Turkey spanning the Bosphorus strait. When completed in 1988, it was the 5th-longest suspension bridge span in the world; today it is the 24th.
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Rumeli Fortress (pass by)

Rumelishisari Fortress - (Rumelihisari Castle) At the narrowest point of the Bosphorus stands the Rumelihisarr Fortress, built by Sultan Mehmet, the Conqueror on the European shore. The Sultan himself on the 26th day of March 1452 laid the foundation stone of the Fortress with a view to controlling the passage of the ships through the Bosphorus and using it as a base for his attack on the city.
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Anadolu Kavagi (pass by)

Anadolukavağı, also known as Anadolu Kavağı, is a neighborhood of Beykoz district in İstanbul Province, Turkey. "Anadolu" is the Turkish name for Anatolia, and "Kavak" means "control post" in Ottoman Turkish referring to the strategical position of the location on the Bosporous.
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Yavuz Sultan Selim Koprusu (pass by)

The Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge is a bridge for rail and motor vehicle transit over the Bosphorus strait, to the north of two existing suspension bridges in Istanbul, Turkey. It was initially named the Third Bosphorus Bridge.
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Beykoy

Beykoz, also known as Beicos and Beikos, is a district in Istanbul, Turkey at the northern end of the Bosphorus on the Anatolian side. Beykoz includes everything from the streams of Küçüksu and Göksu up to the opening of the Bosphorus into the Black Sea, and the villages in the hinterland as far as the river of Riva.
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30 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Beylerbeyi Palace (pass by)

Situated on the Asiatic shore of the Bosphorus between the villages of Kuzguncuk and Cengelköy, the palace was built by Sultan Abdülaziz in 1865. Beylerbeyi Palace seen from the Bosphorus floats like a white vision in a fairy tale. It is the most extravagant royal house of the 19th Century on which millions were spent. It is built completely of marble, surpassing all the Palaces of European Kings. Empress Eugénie, during her visit of 1869 stayed in this palace as well as Czar Nicholas Il of Russia.
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Kucuksu Pavilion (pass by)

The summer Palace of Kucuksu, sometimes called the Palace of Göksu, is situated between the villages of Anadoluhisan and Kandilli on the Asiatic shore of the Bosphorus. The Kucuksu Palace was first built by Mahmut I in 1749. Later it underwent a restoration during the reigns of Selim Ill and Ahmet Il. It was renovated by Sultan Abdülmecit in 1857. Sultan Abdülaziz gave the palace a new face-lift and had it refurbished and redecorated. It is a small but elegant edifice, stretching along the lip of the Bosphorus, surrounded by intricately cast iron railings. Waters and waves of the Bosphorus wash its terraces of glittering marble and sometimes penetrate their latticed and mysterious recesses.
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KIz Kulesi (pass by)

About 180 metres away from the shores of Üsküdar stands this tower which bears two different names. Europeans who named it the Leander's Tower thought that it was here where Leander was drowned while attempting to swim the Bosphorus to reach his beloved Hero, the priestess of Aphrodite.
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Show 14 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 75 travelers

Frequently Asked Questions (9)

Q: Will I get seasick on True Discovery: Full Day Tour and Cruise of Istanbul?

A: If you have any doubts about becoming seasick on the water, we recommend taking a Dramamine® Motion Sickness Relief tablet the night before your trip. Some people recommend taking it the night before your cruise and then again that morning so you will not feel so drowsy. Read more Feb 2023

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-229049P3

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.00
8 reviews

Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 8 traveler reviews collected by City Balloon Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
8
4 stars
0
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 17 (0) days in advance.
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Frequently Asked Questions (9)

Activity name

The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from City Balloon Tours customers.

Filter by:

Q: Will I get seasick on True Discovery: Full Day Tour and Cruise of Istanbul?
A:

If you have any doubts about becoming seasick on the water, we recommend taking a Dramamine® Motion Sickness Relief tablet the night before your trip. Some people recommend taking it the night before your cruise and then again that morning so you will not feel so drowsy.

Feb 2023
Q: What is the cancellation policy for the True Discovery: Full Day Tour and Cruise of Istanbul?
A:
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (+03).
  • This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
Apr 2025
Q: What's included in the price?
A:
The following is included:
  • Lunch.
  • Entrance ticket to Dolmabahce Palace.
  • Air-conditioned vehicle.
  • Cable car tickets.
The following is NOT included:
  • Drinks.
  • Gratuities.
Apr 2025
Q: What is the weather cancellation policy?
A:

This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Apr 2025
Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
A:

There is no minimum age for this tour, so bring your wee one along for an adventure. This tour requires at least one adult to accompany children..

Apr 2025
Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
A:

If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

Apr 2025
Q: Is this an accessible tour?
A:

Accessibility information for the True Discovery: Full Day Tour and Cruise of Istanbul is as follows:

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Apr 2025
Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?
A:

Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for True Discovery: Full Day Tour and Cruise of Istanbul will be included in your confirmation email from City Balloon Tours. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

 

 

Mar 2024
Q: How long does a refund take to reach my card, and can I get it faster?
A:

Once your refund is processed, it usually shows on your card statement within 5–10 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank or card issuer.

Want it sooner? When you cancel, choose Receive a refund to my wallet instead. The credit is in your Wallet straight away and is applied automatically at checkout on your next booking when you’re signed in with the same email. You can see your balance any time in My Wallet.

If you paid part of your booking with Wallet credit, that part always goes back to your Wallet. Trip protection isn’t refundable.

Oct 2026

What's Included

Activity name

  • Lunch
  • Entrance ticket to Dolmabahce Palace
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Cable car tickets
  • Drinks
  • Gratuities

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 75 travelers

Report Product Issue

Activity name