Where to Go When Renting a Boat from Arnavutköy?

Arnavutköy is the most characteristic face of the Bosphorus. With its lace-like wooden mansions (Yalı), narrow streets, and the famous "Akıntıburnu" (Current Point), this is both the most nostalgic and the most photogenic pier of the city.

Boarding a boat with Arnavutköy yacht charter is like stepping into a painting. The modern luxury of Bebek or the nightlife chaos of Kuruçeşme is not here. Here, there is the elegance of "Old Istanbul" and the wildest current of the Bosphorus. The moment you leave the pier, those colorful mansions lined up along the shore create a unique background for you.

Here are 3 aesthetic and delightful routes you can steer towards when you depart from Arnavutköy, the most photogenic pier of the Bosphorus:

1. The Mansion Line: The Most Beautiful Facade of the Bosphorus

Arnavutköy is the region where the most historical mansions are lined up side by side in the Bosphorus. When your boat gently glides from the pier towards Kuruçeşme (south), you feel like you are visiting an open-air museum. This route is a paradise for photography enthusiasts. Those white, red ochre, and green wooden mansions right on the sea create a magnificent decor behind you. Especially at sunset, the crimson light hitting the windows of the mansions creates the most romantic moments of your tour.

2. Akıntıburnu and Bebek Return: Adrenaline and View

The geographical fate of Arnavutköy is hidden in its name: Akıntıburnu (Current Point). This is that sharp curve where the Bosphorus current is strongest, flowing at a speed of 4-5 nautical miles. When you turn your route north, towards Bebek, your captain gives a little more power to the engines. You feel the boat cutting through the current. The moment you turn the cape, the view opens up; Bebek Bay and Rumeli Fortress appear in all their glory.

3. The Opposite Shore (Vaniköy and Kandilli)

Right across Arnavutköy are Vaniköy and Kandilli, the greenest and quietest line of the Anatolian side. When you cross to the other side with your boat, the iconic, fairy-tale towers of Kuleli Military High School welcome you. Especially in night tours, when Kuleli's lighting falls on the water, a fascinating image is formed. Kandilli shores are quieter; here you find a calm cruise opportunity where you can be alone.

Arnavutköy or Bebek?

These two districts are neighbors and it takes only 10 minutes by walking. However, their characters from the sea are very different.