Top Istanbul Historical Tours

Mert was the best tour guide we have ever had! He was so knowledgeable about the locations, their history, the architecture, the cultural impact, and had interesting facts galore. His english was incredible. Our tour ended up being a group of 3 (which then turned into a group of 2) and he tailored the experience to us and our interests. We had such an incredible time, I recommend this tour to anyone looking to visit Istanbul.

Muzaffer was an amazing host. Meet us at the pier and served a wonderful breakfast of fresh baked Turkish breads. Ram was the tour guide who gave us so much information on the sights and Turkish history. Both were so kind. The yacht tour was so impressive. We road up the Bosphorus right to the bridge that opens up to the Black Sea. We stopped at a palace, a fortress and a quaint fishing village where we had a fabulous fresh fish lunch by the Bosphorus. Absolutely loved the entire experience

The half day tour was just enough for us. Baris our guide was extremely knowledgeable the tour did run over time and sadly we had to leave due to other commitments. There was great communication beforehand about the extra costs and dress code for ladies at the mosque and meeting place.

We had a great time with Ezgi in Istanbul! Her knowledge about the history and architecture of the various places we visited was impressive and made the excursion all the more enjoyable. She was able to steer us away from some of the more obvious tourist traps and used her experience and connections with some of the local vendors to get us into places faster and easier. She was even willing to indulge us by waiting in a lengthy (but fast moving) line to see the Blue Mosque. I’ll never forget her quick thinking when we started getting hounded by all the rug merchants in the Grand Bazaar. I had just purchased a rug from a trusted vendor outside the market and the bag they gave me made it obvious to all the other vendors at the Bazaar that I had just bought one. They were eager to help me buy more when Ezgi had the brilliant idea to put the bag inside another one to disguise it. She also made an excellent suggestion for lunch at Rumeli Kebab & Steak House. Not only was the food delicious but the waitstaff were funny and engaging. Highly recommended Ezgi for your future Istanbul tours and Rumeli for the food and atmosphere.

I felt like a 1 million bucks afterwards. With this being the first time I have had this “ritual” experience… It would’ve been nice to be told ahead of time what the process entailed at the time instead ok sit here sit there.(yes I know it’s in the description)

We had a great experience with Melissa exploring the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. We only had a short layover in Istanbul, so this was a great way to see these sights. Melissa was very knowledgeable and she did a very good job setting the pace for our small group during the excursion.

My guide, Muzaffer, was incredibly resourceful and kind. He made me feel genuinely welcome in Turkey and led a wonderful tour, sharing thoughtful historical insights about each place we visited. Throughout the day, he was flexible, patient, and very attentive to ensuring a great experience. Among all my days in Istanbul, the day I spent touring with him was the one I enjoyed the most. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and warm guide. 😊

Our day trip to Troy was excellent. Although it’s a long day, the organisation made it feel smooth and relaxed, with thoughtful breaks along the way and a very good lunch. The ferry crossing was beautiful and added a lovely change of pace. The tour of Troy itself was fascinating — rich in history, well explained, and far more atmospheric than we expected. A truly rewarding experience and well worth the journey.