Istanbul rewards those who see it with someone who knows it. A private guide in Istanbul turns a list of famous names into a story: why Hagia Sophia was the great church of Byzantium, how the Ottomans ran an empire from Topkapı Palace, and where locals really eat. Better still, your guide is licensed, speaks your language and plans the day around you.
A day with a private guide in Istanbul
A typical private day starts at your hotel and lasts about eight hours, although half days are just as common. First, the guide sets the order of the sights around opening hours, prayer times and the weather. Then you move at your own pace, stop for lunch and change the plan when something catches your eye. Before you book, read how to hire a guide in Istanbul.
For a first visit, the old city comes first: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Basilica Cistern, Topkapı Palace and the Grand Bazaar. On a second day, however, Istanbul opens up. Read how Sharon’s group spent five days in Istanbul with our guide Rubil. For a full day with a Mercedes Vito VIP or similar, a driver and a private yacht, see our Istanbul VIP tour.
Ideas beyond the classics
- Balat and Fener: colorful houses, then the Chora and the Golden Horn.
- Two continents: a ferry to Üsküdar and a walk through Kadıköy market.
- Sinan’s Istanbul: first the Süleymaniye, then the Rüstem Pasha Mosque and its İznik tiles.
- Food walks: breakfast, street food and meze, together with someone who knows the cooks.
- The Bosphorus: fortresses, palaces and villages along the strait.
How our guides walk the old city
- Pudding ShopOn Divanyolu since 1957, the café where hippie-trail travelers once pinned notes for each other on the way to India. Guides still tell its story over a rice pudding.
- Sefa RestaurantA simple lokanta on Nuruosmaniye Street, where Istanbul office workers eat home-style stews at lunch.
- Sultanahmet KöftecisiGrilled meatballs with white bean salad, a lunch tradition beside the square since 1920.
- The German FountainOn the Hippodrome, a gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II. Look up at the golden mosaics inside its dome.
- Arasta BazaarThe shopping street behind the Blue Mosque stands above the floors of the Great Palace, whose mosaics are in the museum next door.
Our suggestion Start at Hagia Sophia at opening time, keep Topkapı for the late morning, and save the Grand Bazaar for the afternoon, when the light in its streets is warmest.
Bespoke days, planned around your group
Every group is different. So tell us if you travel with children, older parents or someone who walks slowly, and we adapt the route. We also offer accessible tours for wheelchair users. For longer distances, add a driver, and for the water, a Bosphorus cruise.
Book a private guide in Istanbul
Send us your dates, the size of your group and what you enjoy. In return, we suggest a guide and a plan, and we keep adjusting until the day is right. Our Istanbul guides include Rubil Gündüz, Ömer Çelik, Tayfun Yalçın and Kardelen Uyar.
Before you come, read our guides to Istanbul and Sultanahmet. We arrange your museum entry and plan the day around the hours.
Who it is for
First-time visitors who want the classics explained, returning travelers looking for hidden corners, families, and anyone who wants Istanbul at their own pace.
Step by step
- Send us your dates, group size and interests
- We suggest a licensed guide and a plan
- We adjust the day together until it is right
- Your guide meets you at your hotel
What is included
- A licensed private guide for your group
- A plan built around prayer times and your pace
- Hotel meeting point
- Museum tickets, lunch and a vehicle on request
Where we arrange it
The old city, Beyoğlu, Balat and Fener, the Bosphorus shores and the Asian side of Istanbul.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a private day with a guide in Istanbul?
About eight hours, starting at your hotel, although half days are just as common.
What should we see first with a guide in Istanbul?
For a first visit, the old city: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Basilica Cistern, Topkapı Palace and the Grand Bazaar.
What can a guide show us on a second day?
Balat and Fener with the Chora, a ferry to Üsküdar and Kadıköy, Sinan's mosques, a food walk or the Bosphorus.
Can the guide adapt the day for older parents or children?
Yes. Tell us who is traveling, and we adapt the route; we also offer accessible tours for wheelchair users.