Top Istanbul Private Sightseeing Tours

Songül, our guide was very efficient and well informed. She was able to tailor our tour to what we wanted to see and helped avoid some of the crazy long lines we experienced (though not all). Even though this tour was marked “skip the line” we were not actually able to skip any lines to enter, we just avoided the lines to purchase tickets. The line for the Hagia Sophia was so long, we actually ended up not going since it would entail waiting for more than half and hour in the rain and cold. Our guide was able to redeem those tickets for ones to the interesting but lesser known and less crowded Cistern of Theodisius instead. We also went to the Blue Mosque and the Topkaki Palace, the latter of which was essential to get a guide for since the complex is overwhelming without one. Songül found a great place for us to have lunch (you end up paying for the guide’s meal which we were not aware of) and then took us to a ceramics store where we purchased some nice handmade pieces after being given a demonstration by the owner. This seems to be the thing in Istanbul - everyone is trying to sell you something and it’s hard to walk away, especially in the Grand Bazaar which we could barely stand to spend 15 minutes in, the crowds were so dense and the pressure from salespeople so intense. A good tour, but unfortunately bad weather and way too many other tourists made it difficult to fully enjoy.

Mert , i believe was his name, met us right outside port and went over or day with us. He took us to everyplace we wanted to see and knew the history WELL. He even shared with us some Greek mythology about the peacock. We had just seen a peacock. He took us to a wonderful place for lunch. Ate everything but the table. Plus , We had ample time to shop. He was always willing to let us rest a minute or two as we were to senior ladies. He shared his umbrella and walked us right back to the ship terminal. He was the best tour guide i have ever had on VIAtor. We were lucky to have him. Well worth the money.

We had an excellent private tour with Belgin Karan. Although a bit shy at first she warmed up once she figured out we were interested in everything. She was a wealth of knowledge. It was so nice to have a guide to help you with the ins and outs. Istanbul is confusing and a bit stressful. She took us to a local eatery for lunch, a bit off the tourist district. You did have to stop at the pottery place and a rug gallery, part of the deal. I left without a rug, but did end up with a beautiful tile. The Basillica Cistern is amazing, the Blue Mosque wonderful, the H Sophia is under renovation, she did offer to take us there, but listening to others, they were disappointed and still had to pay, so we skipped (October 2026). Best money we spent in our two days in Istanbul for an initial overview.

We had a wonderful experience with Ipek as our travel guide in Istanbul. She was incredibly knowledgeable, kind and friendly, and did a fantastic job of including our children throughout the tour. She made the experience interesting and enjoyable for the whole family. We highly recommend Ipek and this tour.

I booked the tour very last minute at night for the next day. Communication took place without any problems via WhatsApp. Our guide Utku told us a lot about the history and landscape of Cappadocia. Thus the day ends with many impressions and photos. Overall, the tour lasted approx. 8 hours.

We had the best day in Istanbul, all thanks to our wonderful guide Beyhan. We were able to see a lot in just a few hours and cannot wait to come back! Beyhan was able to work with our requests to see certain sites and skip others and she even took us to a restaurant for lunch! The only thing to note is that the driver on the way back to the airport drove a bit too fast/recklessly so that can be improved upon. But the tour itself was phenomenal and I would highly recommend it if you have a layover in Istanbul.

This was the most amazing day! Kemal was the highlight of our stay in Istanbul. He listened to what we wanted to do and we had the perfect day tailored only to us. He’s funny, intelligent and someone we will not forget. Highly recommend doing this tour!

Having a guide who is both educated and fluent in English. Makes for a seamless and fun experience. She gave us a historical and regional overview that really adds to our understanding. We are viewing hundreds of years of history, so having it in manageable quantities, Helps to understand how and why people lived and built the beautiful world we live in. Zeliha Turkkan was really good no she was great!! This will be the highlight of my first trip to Istanbul. The memories will always be with us.