Your own yacht for the evening, for up to 14 guests, with dinner on board and your own drinks welcome.
A private Bosphorus dinner cruise in Istanbul gives your group its own yacht for the evening: just you, your companions and the water, leaving at the time you choose between 18:00 and 21:30. Istanbul On Boat, our sister brand, offers it for up to 14 guests, charged by the hour with a two-hour minimum, plus a €50 Meat, Fish or Vegan menu per person, and you are welcome to bring your own drinks. Below: what is included, the cost for two to fourteen guests, the departure that catches the sunset each month, and extras for a birthday, anniversary or proposal.
DoInIstanbul is an Istanbul discovery guide, not a boat operator. The private dinner cruise on this page is offered and confirmed by Istanbul On Boat, our sister brand.
A private dinner cruise gives your group its own yacht on the Bosphorus for two hours or more, with a set menu and your own drinks. With Istanbul On Boat, the yacht starts at €150 per hour and each menu is €50 per person. That is from €400 for two people for two hours, or about €71 each for a group of 14.
| Privacy | Only your group on board |
|---|---|
| Group size | Up to 14 guests |
| Duration | Minimum 2 hours; book 2 to 12 hours, by the hour |
| Yacht price | From €150 per hour (from €300 for the 2-hour minimum) |
| Dinner | Meat, Fish or Vegan menu, €50 per person; each includes fresh seasonal salads and Turkish appetizers |
| Drinks | Bring your own alcoholic drinks, or Istanbul On Boat can organise them; wines listed at €20 each |
| Departure times | 18:00 to 21:30, every half hour |
| Hotel transfer | Available from central hotels; ask whether it is included in your quote |
| Extras | Belly dancer €100 · birthday cake €60 · English- or French-speaking guide €150 |
| Best for | Couples marking an occasion, families and groups of friends who want the boat to themselves |
| Boarding point and route | Confirmed by Istanbul On Boat when you book |
| Last verified | 1 Oct 2026 |
The yacht is booked for your group only, from two up to 14 guests. You choose the day, the departure time and how many hours you stay out, and everyone orders one of three dinner menus. It is a private dinner cruise in Istanbul in the simplest sense: a private yacht dinner on the Bosphorus, with nobody else on board.
Plan it as a budget for your group: the yacht (from €150 per hour) plus one €50 menu for each guest. The yacht price is shared by the group, so the cost per person falls as more guests join: from €200 each for two people to about €71 each for 14, for two hours with dinner.
| Guests | 2 hours: total | 2 hours: per person | 3 hours: total | 3 hours: per person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | €400 | €200 | €550 | €275 |
| 6 | €600 | €100 | €750 | €125 |
| 10 | €800 | €80 | €950 | €95 |
| 14 | €1,000 | ~€71 | €1,150 | ~€82 |
What changes through the year is the light when you leave. To watch the sunset from the deck, pick the departure 30 to 60 minutes before sunset; later departures sail after dark past the lit-up shoreline. Cloud can hide the sunset, so treat the times as a guide.
| Month (15th) | Approx. sunset | Departure to see the sunset on board | Later departures |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | ~17:59 | 18:00 starts at sunset — last light only | Dark, lit shoreline |
| February | ~18:37 | 18:00 | Dark from about 18:30 |
| March | ~19:09 | 18:30 | Dark from about 19:30 |
| April | ~19:43 | 19:00 | Dark from about 20:00 |
| May | ~20:14 | 19:30 | Dusk at 20:00–20:30, dark after |
| June | ~20:37 | 20:00 | Dusk at 20:30–21:00, dark after |
| July | ~20:35 | 20:00 | Dusk at 20:30–21:00, dark after |
| August | ~20:03 | 19:30 | Dark from about 20:30 |
| September | ~19:14 | 18:30 | Dark from about 19:30 |
| October | ~18:24 | 18:00 | Dark from 18:30 |
| November | ~17:46 | None — all departures after sunset | Dark, lit shoreline |
| December | ~17:36 | None — all departures after sunset | Dark, lit shoreline |
From November to January every departure is after dark, so the evening is about the lit-up shoreline rather than the sunset. Istanbul On Boat doesn’t list a fixed route for the private dinner cruise; if a particular landmark matters to you, ask when booking.
Istanbul On Boat lists three menus at €50 per person: a Meat Menu, a Fish Menu and a Vegan Menu. Each includes fresh seasonal salads and Turkish appetizers. Ask for the current menu when booking, and whether guests can choose different menus.
Istanbul On Boat welcomes your own alcoholic drinks, or can organise drinks for you. Bringing your own wine, rakı or champagne means you drink what you like, which suits a celebration. Wines are listed at €20 each: red — DLC-Shiraz, Kavaklıdere-Öküzgözü, Villa Doluca; white — Diren, Buzbag. Ask what soft drinks and water are included, and confirm any conditions when booking.
| Extra | Price (Istanbul On Boat) | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Birthday cake | €60 | Birthdays, anniversaries |
| Belly dancer | €100 | Celebrations, groups |
| Wine | €20 each | Toasts, anniversaries |
| English-speaking guide | €150 | Commentary on the Bosphorus |
| French-speaking guide | €150 | Commentary on the Bosphorus |
For a proposal, the private yacht gives you what matters most: no other guests, and a departure you can time to the sunset (see the table above). Istanbul On Boat doesn’t list decorations, flowers or a photographer, so ask when booking if you need them.
Have ready: date, departure time, number of guests and hours, each guest’s menu (Meat, Fish or Vegan), drinks (your own or wine), extras, your hotel name for the transfer and any note about the occasion. Read guest reviews on Istanbul On Boat’s site and major booking sites.
With Istanbul On Boat the yacht starts at €150 per hour, for at least 2 hours, and each menu is €50 per person. That is from €400 for two people for two hours, or about €71 each for 14 guests. See the cost table.
The yacht is yours alone, you choose the departure time and how long you stay out, and you can bring your own drinks. For six guests or more, two hours with dinner comes to €100 per person or less, and it is a quiet, uncrowded setting for an occasion.
Yes. Istanbul On Boat welcomes your own alcoholic drinks, or can organise drinks for you. Confirm any conditions when booking.
Transfer is available from central hotels. Istanbul On Boat confirms the boarding point when you book; ask whether transfer is included and whether your hotel is covered.
There is no show programme on the private yacht; you can add a belly dancer for €100. If you’d like a full Turkish night show with dinner, see our guide to Bosphorus dinner cruises.
No dress code is listed. Smart-casual works for dinner, and a light layer helps on deck after dark, even in summer.
