Istanbul Asian Side Highlights

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.

Family of 4, kids ages 9 and 12. We almost didn't do the Asian side because it sounded "off the beaten path" with kids. So glad we did. Ali made it accessible and engaging for everyone. The ferry over was a hit with the kids. Üsküdar's mosques were beautiful and Ali shared history in a way both adults and kids could follow. Kuzguncuk was a colorful dream and the kids loved poking around the little shops. Best day of our 9 days in Istanbul.

Three sisters in our 30s and 40s, came to Istanbul for a girls week. Did this tour on our second day and it set the bar very high for the rest of the trip. Ali was kind, funny, and clearly knew every corner of these neighborhoods. Kuzguncuk made us all gasp when we walked into it, the colors, the houses, the cafes. Üsküdar was grand and peaceful at once. Ali pointed out little details we would have missed entirely. Best activity of the whole week.

Took my 70 year old mom to Istanbul for her birthday and we did this tour together. Ali was warm and gentle with her, paced everything to her speed, and the conversations they had during the walks were so sweet. Kuzguncuk reminded her of an old neighborhood from her childhood in another part of Turkey and she got emotional in the best way. Ali noticed and took us to a quiet cafe so she could sit and process. Üsküdar's waterfront and the Maiden's Tower views were the cherry on top. I'll remember this day forever.

We did a walking tour with NUR, it was an incredible guide and amazing tour. Everything was explained detailed.