Tours and Tickets to Experience Dolmabahce Palace (Dolmabahce Sarayi)

The tour was confusing at first because a different tour guide met us instead of the one we were texting back and forth. However, Ipek was excellent.,We also misunderstood that the transportation was on city trams and not personal vehicles so this should be stated more clearly in the tour description. Ipek was full of information about each site, was very friendly and even loaned me a head scarf. She gave us some short rest breaks and even bought us some waters. We toured the Dolhambache Palace including the harem where she told us all about the former residents and history of Turkey. Then we went on a cruise on the Bosphourus and she pointed out what most of the buildings were on the shoreline.,We went into a Mosque with even bluer tile than the Blue Mosque! Then we went through the Spice Bazaar which was so crowded due to some large tours going through. Our access onto numerous trams was very smooth. I would highly recommend Ipek to you and hope we encounter her again someday. You may be quite tired at the end of the tour, but we are older!

Everything went well, comprehensive explanation at the Palace, and excellent boat ride at the Bosphorus. The only thing is that between the Palace tour and the boat we had to wait a lot. Need to adjust timing.

First time in Istanbul. Emel was our guide and gave us a private tour. She was informative and friendly.