9 Wine Tastings in Istanbul Worth the Money

1.Istanbul Bosphorus Sunset Cruise with Wine on a Luxury Yacht

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 198 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $24Our pick

Spend about two hours on a small luxury yacht, sailing past Ottoman palaces, mosques, fortresses, bridges, and waterfront mansions. An English-speaking guide provides commentary while you enjoy two glasses of wine, soft drinks, snacks, and sunset views. The boat holds no more than 25 people.

“Great way to spend a couple of hours on the Bosporus ! Little chaotic at meeting as none of us could use our phones , guides super friendly , bring a few beers of wine not your thing”

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2.Small Group Yacht Tour with Unlimited Wine

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 101 reviews · 2 hours · from $57

Cruise Istanbul’s Golden Horn and Bosphorus with Simon or Georgina, passing palaces, mosques, bridges, and waterfront mansions. The small yacht carries a limited number of people, with unlimited Aegean wine, fruit, nuts, and English commentary. Sunset departures add beautiful light, but bring warm layers for wind and spray.

“Very fun tour! Because it is a small group, it is very personal. Tasty wine, beautiful views and interesting explanations from guides Georgina and Simon.”

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3.Private Yacht Voyage : Music, Wine & Snacks for Groups

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 33 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

You’ll cruise Istanbul’s Bosphorus for about two hours aboard a private yacht for up to 12 people, passing Ortakoy Mosque, Ciragan Palace, Bebek, Emirgan, Besiktas, and Uskudar. Faruk and his team provide music, snacks, drinks, and photo help, with sunset departures especially appealing.

“I booked this experience for my boyfriend as a birthday gift, was amazed! Everything was perfect! Perfect communication, polite stuff! Would recommend 100%!”

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4.Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $214

Walk from Galatasaray High School to Şişhane with Andrea, an award-winning Turkish wine author, stopping at three local wine bars. Taste red, white, rosé, and orange wines while exploring Istiklal, Galata, Cihangir, and Karaköy.

“My sister and I recently participated in a private wine tasting tour in Istanbul, led by Andrea, who was indeed a delightful guide. Unfortunately, the charm of our guide could not compensate for the overall dismal quality of the tour, which cost us €458. The tour took us to three wine bars, all of which were hidden in dreary back alleys that one could hardly associate with a premium experience. The establishments were not only lackluster but shockingly subpar, especially when considering the hefty fee. The supposed highlight, a “rooftop bar,” was merely a cramped balcony overlooking grimy buildings, far from the enchanting city vistas one might expect. Reflecting on…”

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5.Bosphorus Sunset Cruise with Snacks and Wine

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 21 reviews · 2 hours · from $24

Spend two hours on a small-group Bosphorus sunset cruise with an English-speaking guide, two glasses of wine, Turkish coffee, tea, lemonade, water, and light snacks. Mert has guided some departures, with commentary on both European and Asian shores.

“A highlight of my Istanbul trip. The sunset views were stunning, the wine plentiful.”

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6.Street Food & Wine Pairing Kadikoy Evening Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $198

Join guides such as Aysenur or Sinan for a private evening walk through Kadikoy, Moda, Yeldegirmeni, and the open market. Taste four Turkish wines with local foods, watch the sunset by the sea, and learn how Istanbul’s Asian side blends neighborhood life, art, history, and good eating.

“Sinan was awesome! This was our third food tour and it had the two tastiest meat wraps so far! Sinan adjusted the area we went to since we had already gone to the original plan area so he completely adjusted to give us the best tour!”

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7.Full-Day Wine Tour from Istanbul

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 9 reviews · from $457

Travel from central Istanbul to Kirklareli with a guide such as Ozzie, stopping at Chamlija, Vino Dessera, and Chateau Nuzun. Taste Turkish wines, walk through Poyrali, see vineyards near the Strandja Mountains, and learn about Thracian wine traditions. Expect a scenic but very long day.

“A really awesome tour! Something different to do in Istanbul. You get to not only taste the wines but see the vineyards and how the wine is made. Enjoyable for those who know a lot about wine and those who don't. I would highly recommend to anyone!”

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8.Istanbul Art Escape Wine and Paint at Local’s Home

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $48

Join artist and host Ecem in her Istanbul home for a 2.5-hour English workshop blending abstract painting with Turkish fabrics. Enjoy tea or Turkish coffee, snacks, and two glasses of local wine while creating art in a group of no more than six.

“The abstract painting workshop with Ecem was a delightful dive into Istanbul's creative scene. It's rare to find such a hands-on experience where you can relax with a glass of wine and create art with recycled fabrics. A perfect way to discover local life and get to know a fantastic local artist!”

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9.Bosphorus Private Sunset Cruise on a Yacht with Wine

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.)

Set out from Istanbul’s Egyptian Bazaar at 5 pm for a private 2-hour-15-minute yacht cruise along the Bosphorus. You’ll pass Dolmabahçe Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, and Galata Tower while sharing two included bottles of wine with your group of up to six. Ozden may host the experience.

“Ozden was amazing! We had a wonderful cruise on the Water. The boat was amazing - very large for big groups”

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