Best Cruises tours in Turkey

With its atmospheric coastal ruins and busy shipping lanes, a cruise will take you to the heart of old and new Turkey. Seeing parts of Turkey by water allows for interesting and new perspectives, along with a memorable experience. Explore the Aegean Coast, Mediterranean Islands or Bosphorus Strait by boat and marvel at the scenery. Alternatively, take a sunset or sunrise cruise along the Euphrates River and take in the ancient sites at a leisurely pace. If you’re interested in boat trips in Turkey or wish to see this beautiful region from the sea, read on for the best cruise ideas in and around Turkey.

Aegean Cruises

Turkey’s Aegean Coast is one of the country’s most spectacular. Dotted with cute fishing villages and ancient ruins, it has a long and storied history under Roman and Byzantine rule. This is where find the ancient ruins of Troy are found, located near modern-day Çanakkale. These antiquity sites make a popular cruise itinerary, taking in Lycian ruins like Patara and the ancient Roman cities of Ephesus and Pergamon.

Most 7- to 14-day cruises in the Aegean Sea are international in scope, exploring Turkey’s Turquoise Coast and Greece’s Dodecanese Islands, particularly Rhodes. However, there are plenty of trips along just Turkey’s section as well as traditional, small-scale gulet cruises for a more personal experience. Highlights include Marmaris, Kusadasi, Bodrum and İzmir, four of the most important departure ports for Aegean cruises.

Ephesus

Situated on Turkey’s Aegean Coast, Ephesus is a major cruise destination with sea-bound views of its sprawling ancient ruins. Ephesus is probably Turkey’s best-preserved ancient site, with an alluring history dating back from the cult of Cybele to Roman rule. Some cruise ships actually take over the grounds after hours. This gives an up-close and personal experience of the famed archaeological site free from the regular crowds. Ephesus cruises tend to start in Istanbul, with stops along the Aegean Coast before a long stop at Ephesus itself.

Bosphorus Strait Cruise

The Bosphorus Strait is the gateway to the Black Sea and a popular cruising spot. Most visitors take anywhere from a 1-hour to a 1-day river cruise along the Bosphorus from Istanbul, returning to the same port. Longer cruises give you a greater glimpse of this historical region, stopping at scenic Anadolu Kavağı, the last port before the Black Sea. The coastline offers plenty of sights after leaving Istanbul’s centre, from the baroque Grand Mecidiye Mosque to Rumeli Feneri Castle, which guards the Black Sea coast.

It’s also popular to cruise the Bosphorus Strait at night, with the bridge and city lights twinkling. Ideal for romantic Istanbul stays, you can pick from dinner and cocktail options with live entertainment on board, like belly dancing and music. Dinner cruises take anywhere from 3 to 5 hours, depending on the package.

Gallipoli

The Gallipoli Peninsula remains a popular cruise location due to its combination of ancient archaeology, idyllic beaches and harrowing, modern war history. A bloody campaign took place here during the First World War. There are numerous memorials to losses on both sides, the largest being the Çanakkale Martyrs’ Memorial and Helles Memorial. Located between Turkey’s Aegean Coast and the Dardanelles Strait, the peninsula was once protected by a single wall fortification. Cruises depart from Istanbul, and there are daily boat tours directly from the city of Gallipoli, too.

Mediterranean Cruise

Turkey’s Mediterranean Coast is its crowning jewel. Home to bustling cosmopolitan cities, traditional fishing villages and a wide array of dusty, captivating ruins, it’s a scenic coast to sail and explore. Most of the coast forms the fabled Turquoise Coast, Turkey’s major coastal resort area that’s beloved for its sandy shores and water sports. There are numerous ways to cruise the Mediterranean, from international cruises that sail the entire sea and last for 2 or 3 weeks to shorter, Istanbul-departing Turkish cruises heading for Kepez or Antalya. These can be 1-week, 10-day or 2-week cruises.

The best boat trips in Turkey are gulet cruises on this beautiful stretch of coastline from Kaş to İskenderun. They usually last about 1 week but can be extended depending on your chosen locations. Turkey’s Mediterranean boasts plenty of cultural sites, both popular and less well-known. These include crumbling ruins and towering fortifications like the Anemurium Ancient City, Kızkalesi Castle and Titus & Vespasian Tunnel in the less-travelled east.

Black Sea Cruise

The Black Sea provides historic charm and rustic coastlines that explores a different aspect of the country’s coastal history. Trips usually depart from Istanbul, taking in Byzantine monuments along the Bosphorus Strait. Most Black Sea-bound cruises stop at Bulgaria and Romania, offering a panoramic image of the region’s cultural history over 7 to 14 days. Highlights in Turkey include the charming port of Amasra, home to its Roman-era castle, among other ancient artefacts. Smaller-scale sailing expeditions from Zonguldak, Samsun and Trabzon offer a more intimate image of Turkey’s Black Sea heritage.

Euphrates River Cruise

The Euphrates is the longest river in Western Asia, originating in Turkey and flowing through the Middle East to the Persian Gulf. Cruises along this historic river unveil hidden secrets and breathtaking mountain vistas. Some cruises depart from Birecik Dam, taking in the ancient, abandoned cities of Zeugma and the more modern Old Halfeti and Kale Meydanı. These towns were submerged during flooding and remained a testament to the Euphrates’ power. Euphrates river cruises tend to last from 6 to 8 hours. Sunrise tours leave around 2 AM and return at 10 AM, while sunset tours leave around 2 PM and return at 10 PM.

Sea of Marmara and Islands

Turkey’s inland sea, the Sea of Marmara, is a small yet vibrant region for cruising and sailing. Home to numerous islands with a rich, classical history, the area is largely used by cruises leaving Istanbul for the Mediterranean. However, the Prince Islands (Adalar) provide an incredible excursion from Istanbul itself. Ferries and gulet boats ship passengers to the Prince Islands’ beautiful beaches of Büyükada and Heybeliada.