Istanbul Asian Side Highlights

Public transport can be significantly off on timing by GPS maps. Allow significant extra time or you could miss your tour as we did. No refunds.

The Guide Ali was good and knowledgeable . but the logistics and the itinerary left much to be desired. It was a large group and we waited for 30 min at the ferry terminal before leaving while the pick up was already 15 min before the tour. So with the ferry duration and wait basically the tour length was only 2 hours if at all while it’s advertised as 3 hours. The first stop was a coffee experience which was way too long. The rest of the tour seemed rushed. There wasn’t much to truly experience in these two towns in the hour or so we got. Mostly saw a bunch of buildings from outside. Also transportation on return and within the town is on your own expense. I feel more thought needs to go into planning and showcasing the area culture

My booking was canceled by the operator due to an unexpected delay. Although they offered several alternative dates, unfortunately, none worked with my schedule. I truly appreciate their flexibility, excellent customer service, and professionalism in trying to accommodate me. Despite the cancellation, I had a very positive experience with their team. I look forward to booking this experience again in the future and would definitely recommend them to others.

My 20 year old daughter and I came to Istanbul together for a week. We wanted one day that felt different from the typical tourist routine. Ali was perfect for it. He picked up on our dynamic, gave us space to chat while he led the way, and added the right amount of context. Kuzguncuk was a highlight for my daughter, who's into design and art. Üsküdar felt special to me. We ended with the best Turkish breakfast either of us had ever had. I'll treasure this day with her forever

Grandparents, parents, two kids ages 10 and 13. Ali somehow kept all of us happy which is a feat in my family. The neighborhoods we visited (Üsküdar and Kuzguncuk) were different enough that everyone found something they loved. My mother in law actually cried looking at the Maiden's Tower from the waterfront because she'd seen it on so many postcards growing up. The kids loved Kuzguncuk's colorful streets. We all loved the Turkish breakfast Ali took us to. Best day of the whole trip.

Met up with two friends from college in Istanbul, hadn't all been together in 10 years. We wanted something to do together that wasn't just food and drinks, and this tour was the answer. Ali let us catch up while he led, jumped in with context at the right moments, and treated us like he'd known us forever. Kuzguncuk was the highlight, we couldn't stop taking photos. Üsküdar was peaceful and beautiful. Best afternoon of the whole reunion week.

Solo female traveler in my 30s, this was day 3 of my trip. Ali made me feel welcome immediately and the small group felt friendly and easy. Üsküdar and Kuzguncuk felt like completely different worlds from the European side I'd been staying on. The pace was relaxed, the views were beautiful, and Ali gave me a list of places to come back to on my own. I went back to Kuzguncuk the next day for dinner and it was magical. Best day of my Istanbul trip.

Five of us, mostly architects and designers in our 30s, came to Istanbul for a week. We'd done the European side and were honestly thinking we'd seen enough. Then Kuzguncuk happened. The wooden Ottoman houses, the painted facades, the way the streets curve up the hill, it was a masterclass in vernacular urbanism. Ali knew so much about the history of these buildings and the families that built them. Üsküdar's mosques showed us another side of Ottoman architecture too. We would have missed all of this without this tour and that's almost a tragedy as designers

Six of us across three generations. The moment Ali walked us down the Kuzguncuk street where the mosque, the church and the synagogue all sit within sight of each other, my mother in law actually teared up. She said she'd lived 70 years and never seen anything like it. That single street told us more about Turkish history and coexistence than any book we'd read. Üsküdar was beautiful in its own way, more traditional, more grand. Without Ali we would never have crossed over, and that thought is genuinely sad to me now

Four of us, all in our late 20s, traveling together for the first time. We're the type who'd usually skip a guided tour but our friend insisted on this one. Best call she ever made. Ali didn't just walk us through Üsküdar and Kuzguncuk, he gave us context for everything we were seeing, why this side feels different, who lives here, how communities have evolved. By the end we understood Istanbul as a real city with real people, not just a list of tourist attractions. We'd have honestly missed the soul of Istanbul without this tour.