De Must See Old City Tour in Istanbul

Our private tour of Istanbul exceeded every expectation. Sinan was absolutely incredible from start to finish. His knowledge of the city, its history, culture, and food was remarkable, and he brought every place we visited to life with fascinating stories and insights. What truly set this experience apart was how thoughtfully he curated the entire day for my mother. She cannot walk long distances and needs frequent breaks, and Sinan planned everything perfectly around her needs. We never felt rushed, pressured, or like we were missing out on anything. He struck the perfect balance between seeing all the must-visit sights and ensuring the pace remained comfortable and enjoyable. The food recommendations were outstanding, and every detail of the day felt carefully considered. Throughout the tour, we felt completely safe, well taken care of, and genuinely welcomed. It was clear that Sinan wasn’t simply showing us Istanbul, he was sharing a city he truly loves. If you’re looking for a personalized, stress-free, and unforgettable experience in Istanbul, I cannot recommend Sinan highly enough. This was easily THE highlight of our trip.

We had the pleasure of touring Istanbul with Öykü during our honeymoon, and it was truly one of the highlights of our trip. She created a personalized and intimate experience that allowed us to explore the city in a much more meaningful way. Öykü thoughtfully tailored our itinerary to include iconic landmarks like the Blue Mosque and Basilica Cistern, while also helping us experience Istanbul like a local. We used public transportation, including the tram and ferry, to move between the European and Asian sides of the city, which made the experience feel authentic and immersive. What stood out most was Öykü’s depth of knowledge. She shared the history of Istanbul in a way that was engaging and easy to follow, while also giving us insight into the culture, daily life, and traditions of the city. Overall, it was a wonderful experience that we would highly recommend to anyone looking to explore Istanbul beyond the typical tourist route. Touring with Öykü made the city feel more personal, and we’re so grateful for the memories we created with her.

We had the BEST time with Öykü ! We did about a 6 hour walking tour around the old town on our first day in the city and it felt so customized and personal. She knew all the best spots, how to avoid the lines, and gave us so much history about the city of Istanbul ! Plus she took us to easily the best kebaps we’ll have all trip. Can not recommend a tour with her enough !!

We had a great time with Oyku during the tour. All the info provided was very valuable, and she shared all of her historical knowledge with us. The tour was 7+ hours, allowing to cover various points at your own pace.

We spent two days with Sinan and Öykü and it was amazing. Sinan took us around the old town giving details you just don’t get without a personal guide. The entire tour was catered to our pace and at a level of comfort you’d expect when traveling with friends. Even though our day in old town was wrapping up Sinan gave us a quick tour of the Asian side of Istanbul and it was one of the highlights of our trip. The next day Öykü met us for a food/bazaar tour and again the comfort of traveling with a friend was a highlight. Walking the bazaars can be hectic but doing so with Öykü was calm and relaxing. Every place we stopped for a bite was fantastic and a place I’d recommend to a friend if they came to Istanbul but not before I would recommend booking tours with Öykü and Sinan!

The tour was thoughtfully personalized to suit our needs and pace. We were able to choose the historical monuments and places we wanted to visit, which made the experience even more special. Our guide was incredibly patient, polite, and attentive, always keeping our preferences in mind. She provided detailed answers to all our questions and ensured we felt comfortable throughout. We did two tours with her — a 3–4 hour food tour and a 6–7 hour walking tour. During our time together, we visited the Bosphorus cruise, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, and the Spice Market. She also kindly took us to some of her trusted local shops for ceramics, Turkish towels, and spices at our request after the tour. It was truly a wonderful experience from start to finish. I can’t recommend her highly enough!

We had an amazing two days with Öykü as our tour guide! After finding her Instagram from recommendations, we contacted her and booked both a food tour and a walking tour of Istanbul. On the food tour, Öykü met us at our hotel, guided us around the city, and arranged public transport. The tour was fantastic; we tried many dishes we wouldn’t have known to order on our own. My friend is a vegetarian and Öykü had no problem accommodating her; she was full by the end of the tour (realistically about halfway 🤣). The walking tour was just as excellent. We told her the different spots that we wanted to go, and she was more than happy to help us. We were picked up at the hotel in the morning and went on a Bosphorus tour, then visited the Grand Bazaar, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Basilica Cistern. She was thoughtful enough to take us back to the Grand Bazaar at the end of the day so we could find the same shops again, something we definitely would have struggled with on our own. I’m still amazed at how much history and information she shared about each site, and how she answered all of our random questions. She paced the day around our needs and reminded us we could stop for coffee (and make coffee predictions!) whenever we felt tired. Thank you so much, Öykü, for two unforgettable days, a highlight of my trip to Istanbul. Hopefully, we’ll see you someday in China, India, New Zealand, or back in Istanbul. x

We had one of the best tour guides, Sinan. Beyond his impressive knowledge, Sinan is incredibly personable, kind, and thoughtful. He made the tour feel relaxed and engaging, always happy to answer questions and tailor explanations to our interests. We couldn’t recommend him more highly!

My husband and I had an incredible walking tour of Istanbul with Sinan, and it was truly one of the highlights of our trip. Starting at the Hippodrome, he guided us through Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and ended at the breathtaking Basilica Cistern—an unforgettable finale that left us in complete awe. Sinan brought history to life with his knowledge, passion, and personable attitude. He was kind, patient, and genuinely interested in getting to know us as well as making sure we had a great experience. After the tour, Sinan exceeded our expectations by sending my husband and I a personalized list of restaurant, bazaars, and a few other places and activities with locations as well. We are forever grateful that we found Öukü otherwise we would have never met Sinan! If you’re visiting Istanbul and want a guide who is knowledgeable, warm, and genuinely invested in making your experience special, Sinan is the guide you’re looking for. We highly recommend him! 100/10

I had a 14 hour layover in Istanbul and decided to see the city as much as I could in my time frame. So, I booked this tour and asked ahead to make sure I’ll be done in time to catch my flight. My guide Ugur was super nice, accommodating to my wishes and concerns. He showed me around all of the main attractions, giving a detailed description of each one and more. He also introduced me to a couple of the hidden gems, which was great! His passion for history, helping people and pride for his beloved Turkey and Istanbul in particular made the experience so much more memorable and enjoyable! Plus, he is a great photographer!!! Thank you so much! Highly recommended!!!