Top Istanbul Day Trips

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.

This is a great way to see Istanbul- Relaxing, informative and enjoyable. Murat was an excellent history teacher and we really enjoyed the background on what we were seeing. My only advice, if you’re wearing short pants or shorts, watch out for the steps up inside - both my friend and I got burns on our legs from the sandpaper-like surface. But I would highly recommend!

Had an incredible Troy tour with Hasan! His storytelling really stood out, blending history, mythology, and archaeology in a way that made the site come alive. The long journey was absolutely worth it, and the ferry ride added a fun touch along the way. Everything was seamless from start to finish, from the early hotel pickup to all the transfers and the drop-off at the end of the day. It is a full-day experience, I was picked up at 6am and returned around 9:30pm, with a well-paced itinerary that included lunch in Eceabat and a few hours exploring Troy itself. Highly recommend booking this tour instead of going on your own, Hasan’s expert guidance truly elevates the whole experience.

It was an amazing day! The ruins at Ephesus are truly spectacular! Our guide Osman was great! He was full of interesting information and very enthusiastic and knowledgeable and brought the ruins to life. It would not have been anywhere as good doing it on our own. The other sights are interesting to see but the ruins at Ephesus are truly awesome. Our driver Ömür was great - very friendly and helpful. It’s a long day but worth it. Would definitely recommend this trip!

My friend and I had the most wonderful day within Nehed! Thank you so much to our brilliant guide who expertly guided us through all of the beautiful and important landmarks of Istanbul. She took the time to tell us all of the history in great detail and made us feel very welcome in this beautiful city. She took us to a beautiful place for lunch where we had fabulous food, an amazing view fed the seagulls and even saw dolphins and other marine life. It was very sad to part with her as we felt like she became our new friend during the day. If you have limited time in Istanbul, this tour with the lovely Nehed is an absolute must as you get to see everything the city has to offer and more!

A awesome little outing with the family. Guides were very informative. Great knowledge of the area. Great views of the bosphorus and surrounding areas. Prompt start and came back in perfect time. Great sunset views. Bring something warm to cover up with. It’s cold on the water. A shell or a cardigan is recommended.

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!

Be prepared to eat! You will try a whole lot of different Turkish food and you won’t be disappointed or hungry. There is a fair amount of walking so it balances out the day-long eating extravaganza. Ali was an excellent guide with a great knowledge of food and history. Well worth the time and the price.