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Istanbul Insider Walking Tour: Uncover the Culture and History with a Local Guide
4.9
57 Ratings
Istanbul
Uncover the culture and history of Istanbul on a 6-hour insider walking tour with a local guide. Explore the unique land of contrast, art, gastronomy, and culture in the capital of the world, Istanbul.
Duration:
5 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Topkapi Palace - Topkapi Palace was the main palace of the Ottoman Sultans until 1856. Many famous exhibitions are housed in the palace. The Imperial Treasury is another part of the palace with an 86-carat diamond on display. We will have a splendid view of the Bosporus and the Golden Horn from the palace.
What's Included
- Exclusive private tour experience
- Expert guidance by a professional tour guide
- Included Topkapi Palace entrance fees
- Included Basilica Cistern entrance fees
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Transportation to/from attractions
- Harem entrance at Topkapi Palace.
Additional Information
Napoleon Bonaparte once remarked: ‘If the globe were governed by a single state, Istanbul would stand as its central metropolis.’ Istanbul is filled with an abundance of sights and activities. We aim to present the cultural and historical essence of Istanbul in an unforgettable manner. Distinguished from the usual tour providers, Private Istanbul Walking Tours offers specialized guided journeys and exclusive expeditions around Istanbul, revealing a fascinating realm of contrasts, artistic traditions, culinary excellence, cultural richness, and the ‘duende’ - delving into the depths of the Istanbul that remains unseen on a 6-hour intimate walking tour led by a native connoisseur.
- Please note that this tour does NOT include a visit to the Hagia Sophia and The Blue Mosque.
- At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
Location
Topkapi Palace
Cankurtaran Mahallesi, Gulhane Park, Near Sultanahmet Square
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(57 Ratings)
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Amira
May 26, 2024
10 out of 10! This is the best touring company in Istanbul! - 10 out of 10! Derya is exceptional. They know everything about the city, its history, and the best food. Derya worked at the Grand Bazaar for several years, so she knows the entire 4,000 shop complex inside and out! Our private tour of the Bosporous was beautifully guided and accompanied by chai, Turkish coffee and delicious baklava. My parents have been using Derya’s touring services for the past decade, but it was my husband’s and my first time to have the pleasure of working with her! Do not look any further if you want to truly discover the jewel that is Istanbul—Derya is ready to open its doors.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Frank
May 21, 2024
The best tour guide ever. - A friend highly recommended Furkan, and we engaged his services for our short weekend in Istanbul. On our first full day, we visited all the tourist sites in the old city, including the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, the Grand Bazaar and the Blue Mosque. It was an amazing day. On our second day, we enjoyed a delightful combination of food and a Bosporus tour. Furkan was knowledgeable about the culture, culinary delights, history, and current political situation in Turkey and the region. We had a great and very open minded conversation over some bubbly drinks. This was the best guided tour we have ever experienced. We learned a lot while falling in love with Istanbul. Thanks to Furkan and his professionalism.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
7839hwy
May 20, 2024
Istanbul/Ephesus/Sirince - We had an exceptional two days in Istanbul and one day in Ephesus with Furkan and Derya. We had a wonderful tour to the Topkapi Place, Blue Mosque and a private yacht tour on the Bosphorus and a great tour of the Basilica Cistern and full day in Ephesus.
Furkan and Derya listened to what we wanted and were flexible at some last-minute changes we requested.
We met Derya again in Ephesus and had a terrific day at the ruins, small village of Sirince and finished with a great lunch and some wonderful shopping. We spent just a brief amount of time at the Grand Bazar, but my husband thought it overwhelming. I highly recommend Private Istanbul Walking Tours, with Furkan and Derya for a private tour! It set our minds at ease being in the big, beautiful city of Istanbul. They really helped us have a wonderful experience in Turkey! Shawn - CA
Review provided by Tripadvisor
M79cjjaneth
Mar 30, 2024
The BEST way to see Istanbul - The most efficient way to see the sites of Istanbul. Our guide Derya is a wealth of cultural and historical knowledge and we learned far more than we could through books and videos. We appreciate the flexibility and custom tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Explorer41953134709
Feb 10, 2024
Family friendly tour guide. - Furkan did an amazing job leading my family and me through the old city. He was incredibly flexible, patient, and friendly with us. Furkan even got along perfectly with my kids and became their favorite guide. He showed us some of the most iconic landmarks in Istanbul, including Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, and Grand Bazaar. We enjoyed a delicious lunch at a local kebab restaurant, thanks to Furkan’s guidance. He also helped my wife with her shopping in the bazaar. We ended the tour at the Spice Market, and Furkan gave us many tips about the city that we could explore on our own. It was an unforgettable experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ronald_b
Jan 24, 2024
Wonderful Day in Istanbul - Our tour today with Furkan was wonderful! He made the city and its history come alive. He was flexible and took us to the Rustem Pasha and Zeyrek mosques, off the beaten path. But the highlight was a great tour of the Topkapi Palace. Thank you, Furkan, for a truly memorable experience!
Review provided by Viator
Joe_w
Nov 3, 2023
Could not have been better! - Furkan and Can were fantastic guides and very open to making changes to suit our needs.
They took us to two fantastic local restaurants in addition to the rest of the tour.
We would surely use them next time we visit Türkiye and would give them 6 stars if we could.
Review provided by Viator
Scott_l
Oct 14, 2023
Amazing experience!!! - I wish I could give more that 5 stars!!! Furkan is amazing. We had a blast with him. He is so knowledgable and passionate about the history of Istanbul. He spent time understanding what we were interested and tailored our time to that. And, he’s a GREAT photographer!!! We’ll definitely book with him on our next visit to Istanbul.
Review provided by Viator
Irishpac
Feb 20, 2023
Fantastic Istanbul - We were collected at our hotel by the guide from Private and Guided tours Istanbul. We visited the Topkapi palace, Hagia Sophia, Basilca Cistern, Blue Mosque, stopped for coffee, the Grand Bazaar, caught the tram for the ferry to the Asian side for lunch. The whole experience was amazing and the guides' knowledge, kindness and easy going manner made the holiday extra special!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Villaintimasea
Oct 3, 2022
My favorite tour guide EVER! - Absolutely fabulous tour! Daria was an absolute pleasure to work with. She intuitively understood our needs and guided us through the Topkapi palace avoiding every line. Her delight in showing us the underground cistern and her tips for getting the best photos was priceless. Her knowledge of Istanbul and the Ottoman Empire was astounding. She clearly loves her city and her country and embraced us as sisters. She took extra time out of her schedule to guide us through the grand bazaar a day after our tour. A genuinely nice person, she understands her city and it would be a mistake to miss this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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