Top Istanbul Historical Tours - page 2

Had a great experience with Tunç going around the important monuments in Istanbul : Hippodrome, Blue mosque, Hagia Sophia, basicila cistern, bazaars, etc. The cistern has been renovated and looks spectacular- the highlight of the tour. He was very good in explaining the history and answering all our queries. The included lunch was very good. In total it was about 7 hours. Thanks Tunç for a great tour.

Oğuzhan was an amazing tour guide for the day! There was only one other person on our tour, making 3 total so it felt like a private tour! We loved visiting all of the places. Oğuzhan made sure to tell us when he could not guide us (govt/site regulations) but would tell us about what to see and look for and why it was important. I'm glad we did this tour as we were able to see most of the big sites in Istanbul all in one day! Topkapi palace seems like it would be overwhelming without this as we saw the highlights, but it never felt rushed. I loved visiting Hagia Sofia to learn about the history of the site but also how its evolved and its role in politics. On the tour, it wasn't just about visiting the sites but appreciating the culture! The lunch felt very local and was super tasty! It was worth seeing every site and I'm glad we chose to take this tour! I loved the walking aspects of this, and even though we are fit, I think its a walk that anyone would be able to do!

We had a wonderful walking tour, made truly exceptional by our guide, Ismail Mert. He is extremely knowledgeable, engaging, and passionate about the history and culture of the city. His explanations were clear and insightful, and he made the tour enjoyable for both adults and children. Highly recommended—Ismail is a very, very good guide and made our experience memorable.

We had an absolutely fabulous tour experience! We pretty much had half a day available to see some sites in Istanbul before boarding our cruise at 2 p.m. The tour was a small group of about 12 people, which was great. Our guide was super knowledgeable and very accommodating to everyone's needs. We loved the added stop at the cistern and the Turkish rug presentation. We cannot wait to visit Istanbul again in the future!

My guide Ugur was very informative, receptive to any questions that arose, and conducted the tour at very appropriate pace taking into consideration that my 80 year old self had to rest a bit on the staircases in the Hagia and the Cistern. He managed working our way through the Sunday crowds very skillfully and pointed out the highlights of the places we visited. I could not have asked for a better guide!

We appreciated this trip because it was smaller, more detailed, longer and more personal than a ferry ride. There were eleven people in our group, ranging in age from mid-20s through 70s. Our guide, Khalid, was knowledgeable about the four stops we visited, as well as about the political and cultural situation of modern-day Turkey. His narration was interspersed with personal anecdotes that gave us insights into Istanbul life and customs. The lunch was quite nice and freshly prepared, with a variety of typical Turkish elements. Though we had anticipated going slightly into the Black Sea, we were told that only special-visa passengers were allowed to do that. We did approach and see the border between the Bosphorus and the Black Sea, though. Two of our four stops were on the Asian side of the Bosphorus. A lovely way to view and learn about both sides of Istanbul.

Excellent guide who gave much information that we would have missed out on if we had gone alone. Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque are so overwhelmingly beautiful and inspiring. Warning: dress code is very strict..my dress was below knee when still but considered unsuitable when walking so had to purchase a full length coverall with hood for TL3.00 before I could enter Mosques. I appreciated there was an option as would have been devastating to miss out. Pick up was easy, straight across road from the terminal exit. Most of the tour is walking. The Grand Bizarre is another fabulous experience, but be prepared to say no to the many sales people who approach you...not aggressively though. We loved this tour, and thought Istanbul was amazing

My wife and I cannot say enough about the experience of visiting this incredible historic treasure. We spent a week in Istanbul and for me the palace was the most memorable highlight. I highly recommend a visit to this international historic treasure.