Experience Art & Culture tours in the best of
Istanbul with Withlocals

"We had the best tour with Alp - he kept a diverse group engaged and had a huge knowledge of food and street art in Kadikoy. He was also very generous in helping us work out the ferry, and altering restaurant reservations. Alp is friendly and smart, structuring a tour with the right amount of breaks/ food for kids and content for adults. Recommended without hesitation! "

"We had a great tour with Aysa which was fun and educational! She provided great historical and political context to the sites we visited and the kids loved listening to her! Highly recommend her 👍🏽"

"Our first impression with Dilek was positive. She personified our experience by focussing on what we wanted to gain from the tour. Her knowledge of history of this historical site is detailed and impressive. In addition we gained local knowledge for example how to use public transportation, and food recommendations. And a local guide has preferred access meaning you skip those long queues."

"Friendly and knowledgeable."

"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. "

"A fantastic tour and guide. I suggest your trip will not be complete without doing this tour. We saw so many murals, and some sculptures. Also learned the background of each, and the meaning behind the elements of the mural. Also learned much about the neighborhood. His restaurant and coffee recommendations turned out to be great. Highly recommended. "

"What a super guide. Knew all the answers to my questions before I'd asked them. I enjoyed discussing obscure parts of the Bible with her. Would thoroughly recommend !"

"We had a date with Mine to see the Grand Bazaar to get our bearings, and she showed us around everything. The highlight was meeting a coppersmith on the 2nd floor and seeing him at work. Afterward, we went to other places, including a small, but beautifully tiled mosque above the shops. She had loads of information and was happy to send us directions for recommended restaurants. She is a real plus in Istanbul for getting to know the city!"

"Our tour with Alp was nothing short of fantastic. We did the street art tour of Kadıköy, with no experience and no understanding of the language or culture. Alp guided us through the streets, translated for us and went out of his way to help us search for special items we were having trouble locating. He was friendly and easy to talk to, made us feel at home. Months later he even helped with a special request and was so kind and helpful. Highly recommend!"

"Cengiz was an absolutely exceptional guide in Istanbul. From the moment we met, he was warm, personable, and incredibly knowledgeable. His depth of historical and cultural insight truly brought the city to life, but what set him apart was how far he went beyond any reasonable expectation of his job. He was thoughtful, attentive, and genuinely invested in making the experience meaningful and memorable. I cannot recommend Cengiz highly enough. If you are even considering a private guide in Istanbul, hire him as quickly as possible and get on his calendar. He is very busy—and for very good reason—but he is absolutely worth it. Highly, highly recommended."