Top Istanbul Private Sightseeing Tours

Turkan, our private tour guide, made the tour very special and shecustomized it to our desires. We saw Hippodrome - Chariot races and Obelisks, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Gülhane (National Park) - The private courtyard of the palace. Then we went to the Spice Market, where she showed us the best places to buy spices, tea, and coffee. We ended up eating lunch in a local restaurant Ocakbaşı, which was fabulous.

Ulku was an incredible guide- she sent text messages before our tour so we quickly located her the am of the tour. She was so knowledgeable about history, culture and architecture! We enjoyed every minute of a beautiful tour of Istanbul. She listened to our preferences and took us exactly where we wanted to go.

This is a walking tour. You will do a lot of walking throughout the city. Our guide Savas was an amazing young man. He had passion for his city and was an absolute pleasure. We visited during a religious holiday so many attractions were closed or had extensive waiting lines. He was flexible with the plans and was extremely accommodating for any requests we had. He also respected any additional cost that we could incur for bypassing lines or having lunch. We could not recommend this guide any more!

What a fantastic day - Hamide was the best guide we have had the pleasure of meeting. We first went to Haggia Sofia and there was a long queue - immediately offered us the choice of skipping to the Cistern and returning later after queue reduced. That pattern repeated all day - something that is impossible on large group tours. It was like walking around the city with a knowledgable friend. We are so pleased we decided to go with this tour and guide. Worth every penny !

We had the best guide ever, for our 2 day tour of Istanbul. Kenan was the ultimate guide for our private tour. Professional, accommodating, and very knowledgeable. I would love to do another tour with him. Be prepared for a lot of walking. We did over 20000 steps the first day. A hat, or umbrella, comfortable footwear, sunscreen, and water are a must. We were there in late April, and it was quite warm.

This is why you need to book this tour. It is private so you don’t have to wait or share with strangers. Since it is private you can start at anytime and go at your own pace. J was awesome. He let us at the Intercontinental Hotel and taught us how to use the metro to get to all the sites. For some reason our credit cards didn’t work and he paid for us which was so nice. He was super well informed on his history and taught us a lot about the sites and the history and the different religions. We landed the night before and were super jet lagged during the tour and I needed a break with a little food so we stopped to get a tea and a snack. J was awesome. Thank you so much for a great tour!

I had a lovely tour with Zel who was informative and tailored the tour as it was just me. She collected me at my hotel and gave me information on tram stops and tips about the area I was staying in. She is passionate and knowledgeable about all aspects of Istanbul and Turkey and I liked her immediately. She gave me plenty of photo opportunities and became my photographer for certain photos! We toured the Blue Mosque, the Topaki Palace, the Hippodrome, the Grand Bazaar, & had lunch. I would 100% recommend Zel on this tour as your guide. Thank you Zel.

Our private walking tour in Istanbul in June, 2025, with Eylem was hands down one of the highlights of our trip! From the moment she met us right outside the cruise port, we knew we were in great hands. She was warm, organized, and immediately made us feel like we were exploring the city with a close friend rather than just a guide. Eylem thoughtfully planned the perfect route, taking us to the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Mosque, the Underground Basilica Cistern, the Grand Bazaar, and several other incredible sites — all in an order that helped us avoid the biggest crowds. That alone made such a difference in our experience. Pro tip: make sure to bring a cover-up to enter the mosques — Eylem helped guide us through the etiquette and made everything seamless. What really stood out was how she brought Istanbul’s rich history to life. As we explored, she wove together stories of the Byzantine, Roman, and Ottoman Empires in a way that was engaging, easy to follow, and fascinating. We didn’t just see the sights — we understood them. She also expertly navigated the city using a combination of walking and the metro, which let us cover more ground comfortably and efficiently. Along the way, she treated us to food and water from local street vendors (such a thoughtful touch!) and later took us to a wonderful restaurant with a huge selection of absolutely delicious food (at our own expense). It felt like we were getting the true local experience. Eylem was happy to take photos and videos and knew all the good angles for getting great pics and memories. By the end of the day, Eylem didn’t feel like just our tour guide — she felt like a sister from another mister. Her kindness, knowledge, and genuine care made our day in Istanbul unforgettable. If you’re visiting and want an experience that’s insightful, smooth, and full of heart, book with Eylem. You won’t regret it!