Experience the best of
Istanbul with Withlocals

"Cengiz was a wonderful guide during our time in Istanbul. He chose the sights with a lot of care, especially since we were a hard to manage crowd of ppl, and shared just the right amount of background to make everything come alive. It was amazing to visit e.g. Basilica Cistern and the blue mosque with his knowledge and background information. His food/ bar recommendations were a real highlight — some of those places are very hard to access without pre-booking, and thanks to his local connections we experienced spots we never would have found on our own. What stayed with us most, though, was his warm and genuine way of taking care of us. Spending the day with him felt easy, personal, and welcoming. Very happy to recommend him!"

"Emre is historical knowledge, supreme organizational skills, and caring warmth all wrapped up in an energetic smile. He was amazing in his ability to personalize our touring such that every moment supported what we had hoped to see, do and experience. His English language skills were amazing and he eagerly supported our own interest for learning some basics of the Turkish language. Our food experiences were tasty ventures into out of the way nooks that only a local would know. Our historical site visits were massively informative. Together we navigated the public transit system with precision. This was a superbly delivered tour experience. Simply - in our opinion - Emre is the best of the best. "

"An incredible, authentic day in Istanbul! Lorena showed me both the local side and the city’s rich history — from ferry rides to markets, amazing food, and heartfelt stories. I made a very last-minute booking with Lorena, and she still created the most wonderful day for me. She picked me up from my hotel and we caught a taxi to the ferry, where she explained the fascinating history between the Asian and European sides of Turkey as we cruised across the Bosphorus. We explored stunning mosques, wandered through the lively Bazaar, and visited local markets where I truly felt like a local. Lorena also took me to a hidden lunch spot that served incredible traditional food — followed by Turkish coffee and baklava that I even got to take home! What made the day unforgettable was Lorena herself — warm, interesting, and so passionate about her city. She continuously shared stories and insights that brought Istanbul’s culture to life. I absolutely loved every minute and will definitely reach out to Lorena again when I return!"

"Emre took my husband and I on a food and historical adventure in the old town of Instanbul. Without his knowledge of the area and his navigation skills we never could have tried local dishes like we did. Emre was so nice and thoughtful and was mindful of my food preferences. And, for us older folks, he set his pace to accommodate. We recommend that you choose Emre if you are interested in trying local Turkish food and having a pleasant experience."

"Esra knows really a lot - starting in the past and ends in the now. Time (3 hours) was running very fast. Thank you very much for this great experience!"

"Faruk was a fantastic guide and host, very knowledgeable, willing to share and go the extra miles (literally) to accommodate us. We scheduled our tour for the night of our arrival thinking it would be a great introduction and that’s exactly what we got. Faruk met us near our hotel in the Old City on a rainy eve of Republic Day and we soaked all it in. I only wish we weren’t as tired from our journey, would have loved to stop for tea, ice cream or a quick bite with Faruk. Next trip!"