Istanbul Off the Beaten Path Tour with Guide, Lunch and Transfers
Description
How about uncovering the hidden gems of Istanbul—places where locals go and tourists often miss? On this tour, you’ll see the city through the eyes of a local, hopping on trams and ferries to explore its fascinating mix of history and modern life. Starting in the vibrant Karaköy neighborhood, you’ll uncover Istanbul’s secrets, experiencing its rich past and lively present together. Along the way, you’ll immerse yourself in the daily life of Turkish people, visiting the old Greek and Jewish districts, the bustling Tahtake market, the majestic Süleymaniye Mosque (Istanbul's largest historical mosque), the charming second-hand bookseller's market, and much more. This is a chance to dive deep into the heart of Istanbul and see it like never before!
Tour Options
Itinerary
We'll begin our tour in Karaköy, offering a chance to see Istanbul from a more local viewpoint. After your guide gives a brief introduction to both Istanbul and Karaköy, we'll head to Balat, enjoying freshly bought bagels or pastries along with Turkish tea during our ferry ride.
In Balat and Fener, former Greek and Jewish districts, we’ll explore the buildings that have outlasted the communities once living within them. As we trace the rich, cosmopolitan history of Istanbul—shaped by Christian and Jewish cultures alongside their neighbors until the 1960s—we'll reflect on the shift from the past to the present. Walking through side streets greeted by clotheslines, we'll reminisce about the lost neighborhood culture and ponder the meaning of events that once unfolded here. Today, Fener and Balat are vibrant with colorful cafés, antique shops, and a diverse mix of people, offering us a unique glimpse into this evolving neighborhood. After exploring this fascinating area, we’ll hop on the tram and make our way to Eminönü.
Located in one of the oldest parts of Istanbul, in Fatih, the Cathedral Church of Saint George is a Greek Orthodox Church which is still in working order
We’ll take a quick look at the Egyptian Spice Market, popular with tourists, before heading to the Tahtakale Market, where locals do their shopping. This is also where we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch, immersing ourselves in the vibrant atmosphere of the area.
Vividly coloured spices are displayed alongside jewel-like lokum (Turkish delight) at this Ottoman-era marketplace, providing eye candy for the thousands of tourists and locals who make their way here every day.
After lunch, we’ll indulge in some Turkish delight at a local spot, with no pressure to shop, and take in the grandeur of the Süleymaniye Mosque. We’ll also learn more about the Islamic faith, gaining insight into its teachings and significance.
Next, we'll learn about the Turkish education system as we explore the area around Istanbul University.
We’ll also visit the historic bookstore market where has been a book and paper market since Byzantine times.
An old madrasah which turns into a coffee shop
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Minimum capacity is 2 persons. We reserve the right to cancel a tour due to insufficient reservations. We will do all we can to reschedule your tour or a refund will be provided.
- A maximum of 12 people per booking
- Our tours are done by public transportation and walking so if you have any serious mobility issues, we advise you to book a private tour
- Parents of children under 6 years are advised to book a private tour
- On Religious Fests Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar are closed.
- On Sundays: Grand Bazaar is closed.
Reviews(242)
Very interesting tour that showed us lesser known sites and experiences. Our guide was knowledgable, friendly and engaging. Only two of us on the tour so we got very personal attention. Highly recommend this tour to expand your Istanbul experience.
We have been to Istanbul several times before. This time we came to areas that we did not know. Our guide was very good and explained a lot to us.
The Jewish quarter was nice to walk through and different to other parts of Istanbul. You also see other parts of the city away from the old town which is also very worthwhile.
This is certainly for travelers who do not like to conform - we were staying next to the Topkapi palace and decided to do this, and were so glad we did. Our guide was impressive - the rainy day did not stop him from spending the entire day with us, longer than he was booked for. We got to see the bazaars, got good advice about what to buy, ate in a hole-in-the-wall restaurant which was amazing, rode public transit and hit some insta spots too as an added bonus. Well worth it!! A priceless gem if you truly want to learn about the culture.
Fantastic Not able to find all the spots I was taken to on my own without living in Istanbul for a while
The many glowing reviews for this tour are on point: It was a delightful and very informative experience, led skillfully by the wonderful tour guide Ozge.
This was so very interesting and totally different than the standard tour. While I certainly saw a number of key sites and learned a great deal of history and culture this was the by no means a 'standard' tour. My tour guide was honest and open about the culture, the history, the city and anything that I asked. Additionally, I have to say, the lunch he took me on was one of my absolute favorites. It was clear why the locals ate there and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
Great experience to visit the lesser known highlights of Istanbul. Doing the ferry for some good views of the city, walking nice streets, an amazing lunch and we had a great tour guide with Ozge
This was by far the best excursion I did in Istanbul. Our guide Ozge was wonderful, very patient and accommodating and shared so much information about each stop. We were a very small group which made for a great experience. We got to move away from the crowds and explore a calmer side to the city. I loved seeing the Fener and Balat districts, the St. George church, Rustem Pasha mosque, and the Book Bazar. The lunch and little treats along the way were delicious! Would recommend 100%.
This was a fabulous tour of some of the less-travelled areas of Istanbul (Fener and Balat) as well as the spice market and portions of the Grand Bazaar. We were the only people on the tour so our guide, Mohammed was able to make a few modifications to accommodate my wife who uses a car. He was very knowledgeable about the history of this area of the city, the peoples who once lived there and the architecture. The tour also included the Greek Orthodox Cathedral, the spice market and areas around the Grand Bazaar. I would highly recommend this tour
