Uncover the best of Topkapi Palace the local Way

"We had a truly wonderful day in Istanbul with our private guide, Cengiz. As a group of eight women, we telt completely at ease from the very beginning. His deep knowledge especially of the city's social and political history brought everything to life in a way that felt both engaging and effortless. We visited the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace the Basilica Cistern, and the Galata Tower area, and even navigated the tram like locals in 8hours. In the Grand Bazaar, Cengiz offered genuine insider access: introducing us to a renowned textile and costume merchant, guiding us through the gold jewelry street, and showing us a silversmith transforming raw silver into an ingot. We even stopped at a currency exchange to get a behind-the-scenes understanding of how it all works. Cengiz is warm, personable, and in perfect tune with the rhythm of the city. He also took us to a delicious lunch spot near the Grand Bazaar. Thanks to him, Istanbul felt vibrant, immersive, and full of character. I would highly recommend him as a private guide"

"Anyone who is in Istanbul for any amount of time and wants to connect with a genuine, highly educated and experienced person - Esra is at the top of the list! She not only hits all the highlights at a pace you are comfortable with but is also super flexible, confident and easy to work with. Whether it’s spending more time with your questions or taking you to off the touristy areas, she is there for you! My wife and I have never been to Istanbul and the hustle and bustle, aggressive solicitations from vendors at every turn and so much to see…we would have been lost in minutes! She leads the way with confidence and her vast experience with fast tracking huge lines, ticket purchases and knowledge are invaluable. She goes out of her way and well beyond the expectations for the duration of the tour to provide guidance with best restaurants, reservations all to meet your highest expectations. A more engaging down to earth person who exudes a passion and enthusiasm for her city and country is hard to imagine. Don’t hesitate - book today! Jon and Jodi from BC, Canada 🇨🇦 I would have given /10 for price rating value but (personally) don’t like that the “Withlocals” takes such a high percentage/cut of the total rather than have more go directly to the guide…regardless, they are lucky to have her and so will you be if you book her."

"My husband and I did three individual tours with Ugur as our personal guide. On our first day in Istanbul, we did the City Kickstart Tour & then on the following day, the Explore Topkapi Palace & Surrounds, as well as the Highlights & Hidden Gems of Istanbul. They were two days very well spent. Ugur is a highly professional, experienced and talented guide. He is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about his city and his country’s history. He’s a fine storyteller with a sharp sense of humour and a quick wit. He’s also charming, personable and empathetic. He readily tailored the three tours to suit our special needs and interests. At the end of the two days, we felt we had a solid understanding of contemporary Türkiye and it’s magnificent past. We are so thankful we had such an exceptional guide and would unreservedly recommend Ugur to all. "

"We (couple) loved our all day tour with Emre. In the morning we went to The Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia and the first garden area of the palace (free part). Along the way we stopped in the Hippodrome and other interesting places in the Old City. Emre's presentation of the history of the City including stories was quite enjoyable. We then turned the afternoon over to Emre to show us places he thought we should see. He took us to the Taksim Square area. We walked and ate Turkish street food for lunch (best meal of our trip!). We rode three different versions of public transportation throughout the day. His personal stories were a highlight. Emre has a nice way about him and infectious love for his city and country. We thoroughly enjoyed our day with Emre."

"Esra saved our day, literally. It was our first full day in Istanbul, and we were more than a bit grumpy after a more than aggressive sales pitch from a local merchant who all but physically drug my wife into his shop. A tough first impression, and we were rattled. Then we met Esra. Everything got better from there. Kind, patient and so caring, she took us under her wing and showed us so many sights, filling us with information and maximizing our time. My wife's knees aren't great, and I am still recovering from two(!) broken legs, and Esra took pains to help us, even commandeering the wheelchair lift at the Sistern. Amazing! She was our advocate, and our friend. We toured the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sofia, the Sistern, ate a wonderful lunch at a cafe she recommended, and hit the Grand Bazaar -- all in one day! Esra even lined up an evening performance of the Whirling Dervishes at a nearby cultural center for us -- it was fascinating and so relaxing. Even after our tour was over, Esra kept the tips coming, suggesting an amazing Ottoman restaurant for dinner the following evening and scoring us a reservation. We felt like we made a friend. And we did far more than we could have on our own. The value of a guide like Esra can not be overstated. She's a true professional. "

"We had an absolutely wonderful experience with Esra as our city tour guide! We were a group of five friends from Germany, and she truly made our time unforgettable. Esra is incredibly friendly and welcoming, and her knowledge of the city is outstanding. She was able to answer every single question we had with ease and enthusiasm. What we appreciated most was her flexibility—she offered great suggestions and ideas but was never pushy, always adapting the tour to our wishes. A real highlight was when we ended the tour together in a cozy café, enjoying Turkish coffee and great conversation. Beyond the tour itself, Esra went above and beyond: she recommended an excellent restaurant near our hotel, called ahead for us, and even discussed a food intolerance with the manager to make sure everything would be perfect. She also suggested the ideal time for us to go so we could enjoy a beautiful sunset from the rooftop—and everything worked out flawlessly. Even after the tour, she checked in to make sure we were having a great time. You could truly feel how much she cares about her guests. We can wholeheartedly recommend Esra as a city guide—she is simply fantastic. Thank you so much for this amazing experience!"

"Our morning tour of the main sights of Sultanahmet, Istanbul, was with Latife, Dilek’s colleague. We were interested in the history behind the buildings and areas we visited, including the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, the Blue Mosque and the Basilica Cistern. Latife is intelligent, highly educated and incredibly knowledgeable about not only the particular sites we saw but also about the relevant history of Constantinople and Istanbul and Turkey, going back two thousand years. We booked three hours, but Latife stayed with us for over 4. Her English was perfect, she was funny, engaging, listened well. My wife and I could not have been more pleased to have had her as our guide and introduction to this fascinating city."

"Ayse deciphered what we were looking for and tailored the tour to fit as we had to walk very slowly. Her history and knowledge of the area was superb. We met near our cruise ship in Galataport and walked to nearby ferry in Karakoy. We slowly walked the shops in Kadikoy and sampled mussels and pickle juice. Per our suggestion, she found a great place for a lamb skewer, pita and cheeses. Lucky for us, we had not purchased our souvenirs yet and paid much better prices on this side of the Bosphorus. Although it rained the entire afternoon, we had a lovely experience. "