Istanbul Old City Highlights and Hidden Gems Tour

My three-day private tour of Istanbul with Eylem was pure perfection. I had the holiday of a lifetime thanks to her. Everything was thoughtfully curated and executed to perfection. Eylem knows every corner of Istanbul and carefully tailored the itinerary to suit my activity level and personal interests, particularly ancient civilisations, the Ottoman Empire and traditional hammam culture. The entire experience was completely stress-free because every detail, from A to Z, was handled with exceptional care. At the main tourist attractions, there were no queues, as tickets had been arranged in advance, allowing us to make the most of every site. Alongside the iconic highlights, including Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Basilica Cistern, Eylem introduced me to Istanbul’s true hidden gems and showed me how to experience the city like a local. Some of my favourite moments were taking the ferry across the Bosphorus at sunset, enjoying a freshly baked Turkish simit, and simply soaking up the atmosphere. Seeing Istanbul through the eyes of a local made the experience even more special. The number of places we visited over the three days was remarkable, yet the pace never felt rushed or overwhelming because Eylem had planned the itinerary, transport and rest breaks so thoughtfully. Three days was the perfect amount of time to experience the incredible diversity of the city. Among the many places we visited were the Süleymaniye Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, Eminönü, Kadıköy, Ortaköy, Üsküdar, Eyüp, Fener, Balat and Karaköy, as well as memorable ferry crossings between the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. The tour also included plenty of opportunities to enjoy Turkish coffee, tea, delicious street food and local delicacies. It happened to be my birthday during the trip, and Eylem surprised me with a thoughtful birthday treat. I was genuinely touched by her kindness. As a solo female traveller, I felt completely safe, comfortable and well looked after throughout the tour. Eylem made sure I was collected from and returned safely to my hotel each day, advised me which areas to avoid when exploring alone, and was always happy to answer my questions and provide excellent recommendations for shopping, restaurants and hammams. Her attention to detail was second to none. By the end of the three days, I felt as though I had known Eylem for years. She is an exceptional guide whose warmth, professionalism and passion for Istanbul made this one of the best travel experiences I have ever had. I cannot recommend Eylem highly enough and will most definitely book another tour with her when I return to Istanbul, which I hope will be very soon. Istanbul was truly a magical experience thanks to Eylem. Teşekkürler!

Eylem is everything you want in a guide: friendly, knowledgeable, flexible, organized & fun! We spent the day with her in Istanbul & could not ask for anything more! We saw everything we hoped to see, visiting all the iconic sites & some extra surprises we hadn’t counted on. She not only toured us through the sites but answered all our questions, had the best connections for shopping & even arranged a special anniversary treat for us during lunch. Her relatable vibe, kind spirit, infinite patience & multiple academic degrees all combined to give us a wonderful anniversary gift to be able to experience this incredible place with an insider who understands the culture, history & people. 5 stars! Highest recommendation!

My girlfriend and I spent a full day exploring Istanbul with Eylem, and it was easily one of the highlights of our trip to Türkiye. We visited some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, including Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Basilica Cistern. What made the experience special was not just seeing these incredible places, but understanding their history, culture, and stories through Eylem’s engaging explanations. She has a remarkable ability to make centuries of history feel interesting, accessible, and fun. Throughout the day, she answered all of our questions with impressive depth and knowledge while keeping the tour relaxed and enjoyable. It never felt like a lecture. Instead, it felt like exploring Istanbul with a knowledgeable friend who genuinely loves sharing the city with visitors. One of our favorite parts was taking breaks for authentic Turkish coffee and delicious baklava at excellent local spots that we would never have discovered on our own. Those small touches made the experience feel even more personal and memorable. My girlfriend was visiting Türkiye for the first time, and Eylem helped make her first experience in Istanbul unforgettable. We learned a lot, laughed a lot, and came away with a much deeper appreciation for the city’s incredible history and culture. If you’re looking for a guide who is knowledgeable, friendly, professional, and genuinely passionate about Istanbul, I highly recommend Eylem. She made our visit both educational and memorable, and we would gladly book another tour with her on a future trip.

We booked a private one-day tour of Istanbul’s Historic Peninsula as a birthday surprise for my wife, based on a recommendation from a close friend, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip. I’m currently studying tour guiding, while my wife is a medical doctor with a strong interest in history and culture, so keeping both of us engaged is not always easy. Our guide did exactly that. The information was insightful and well balanced—never overwhelming, but never superficial either. She shared fascinating details about places like Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Basilica Cistern, and was always happy to answer our questions in depth. What we appreciated most was how natural the experience felt. At times it felt like exploring the city with a knowledgeable friend; at others, like having an archaeologist or historian walking alongside us. She managed to combine expertise, storytelling, and a great sense of humor throughout the day. Her recommendations for food and her knowledge of the area were excellent as well, which made the whole experience even smoother and more enjoyable. We finished the day having learned a lot, laughed a lot, and enjoyed every minute. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a fun, informative, and memorable way to experience Istanbul.

We had an absolutely wonderful experience with Eylem as our tour guide in Istanbul. From the very beginning, she was incredibly knowledgeable, warm, and accommodating—but what truly set her apart was how genuinely caring and flexible she was. On the morning of our tour, our daughter became sick, and Eylem immediately reworked the entire plan without hesitation. She thoughtfully slowed the pace, adjusted the itinerary, and made sure we visited one site at a time so our daughter could stay comfortable and enjoy the experience. Her empathy and professionalism in that moment meant the world to us. Beyond that, her deep knowledge of Istanbul’s history, culture, and hidden details brought every site to life. She struck the perfect balance between informative and engaging, and we never once felt rushed or stressed. This was one of those rare travel experiences where you feel truly looked after. We are 100% looking forward to booking with Eylem again on our next visit to Istanbul and would recommend her without hesitation to anyone traveling with family, especially those who value flexibility, kindness, and an exceptional guide. Thank you, Eylem, for making our trip so memorable!

Because it was our first time in Istanbul, Turkey, we had no concept of this ancient and great city. Luckily we met Elyem, who was knowledgeable, well prepared and very patient. It left a lot of good memories of our trip. Thank you.

Eylem Yalcinkaya is a brilliant gem of a tour guide. Recommended to us by a friend, she responded quickly and clearly to an inquiry and within a few days sent us an itinerary with costs. She kept in touch when we arrived in Istanbul. The tour itself was excellent. She met our small group and spent the day with us. She quickly understood who we are and morphed the day to meet our curiosities and energy levels. Certainly it was great to skip the lines at the main tour sites but even better was the insights and deep understanding Eylem was able to impart on us as we immersed ourselves into the rich historical landscape of Istanbul.

Eylem is an amazing guide and is the best I have ever had in over 85 countries she is warm, kind and knows so much about Turkish history and culture. Book her immediately if you can. She is great and uses photo aids and other tools to make sure you really appreciate this amazing city

Eylem is absolutely amazing… she is knowledgeable, fun, and very flexible. My friends and I really enjoy the Istanbul tour and can’t wait to go back to see the rest of the city and explore more with Eylem. She went above and beyond to make sure we enjoy our tour and see as many places as possible in the short time we had. THANK YOU

We spent two wonderful days with Eylem in Istanbul. It was money well spent. She has a great grasp of relevant historical information and skillfully tailor’s it to her guests needs and wants. She provided well organized days of activities at the depth we were looking for. She is flexible and quick to adjust plans. She met up with us at our hotel and delivered us back at the end of the day, teaching us how to navigate public transit, local neighborhoods, and beyond. Did I mention shopping? So helpful. Highly recommended!