Top Istanbul Private Sightseeing Tours

Betul was a wonderful guide with so much knowledge that she shared in a very enthusiastic way. She created realistic expectations for the way the day would go and worked around what I was most interested in seeing and not at all pushy towards anything I didn’t show interest in (like shopping). She found me a delicious place for lunch and kept me comfortable all day long. She is very smart, friendly and thoughtful and I would recommend her to anyone. Thanks again for a great day exploring Istanbul’s amazing history!

Really amazing tour with Anil! I know quite a lot about the history of istanbul, and Anil was a huge wealth of knowledge. We felt he really brought to life the history of istanbul, and the anecdotes and details he shared across all the various monuments and sights was really amazing. Having the guide made a huge difference - we had a great time. It was also really nice to have some choices between attractions, and where we could spend more or less time. The tour was flexible and we couldn't have asked for a better tour guide. Thank you so much Anil!

Best way to explore the highlights. We had a private tour, just the 2 of us, with a wonderful guide ( I’m trying to remember her name !). She was extremely personable, conversing everyday as well as historical information, giving us a feel for the city. With her we were able to move much more efficiently through the crowds and lines. Upon her recommendation we visited the underground water system, which was both beautiful and fascinating. Don’t miss this! She offered us the option of a leisurely several course meal or a quick bite at a local outdoor stand. We chose the later, and she joined us for some delicious lamb and chicken wraps All in all it was a really, really nice experience and one that I would highly recommend!

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.

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.

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.

I booked this private Istanbul tour TWICE for our pre-cruise group, with 10 people on each tour, and both groups had a fantastic experience! Both of our guides were superb—knowledgeable, personable and wonderful at showing our groups the history and beauty of Istanbul. Everyone came back raving about their day. One of the things I loved most was the ability to customize the itinerary. One group chose to include Topkapi Palace, while the other preferred spending their time exploring the bazaars and the incredible Basilica Cistern. Rather than following a rigid itinerary, each group was able to focus on the sights and experiences that interested them most. As a travel advisor organizing activities for a larger group, I really appreciated that flexibility and how smoothly everything worked. Istanbul has SO much to see, and having a knowledgeable private guide made it much easier to experience the city without feeling overwhelmed. Two tours, 20 happy travelers and two excellent guides—I would absolutely book this company again!

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.