Private Ebru and Calligraphy Workshop in Istanbul
Two Turkish arts on the UNESCO list, with local masters: ebru marbling on water, and hüsn-i hat, the art of calligraphy.
Photo: Dosseman / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Duration
- Half day (about 4 hours)
- Region
- Istanbul
- Walking
- Easy
- Starts
- Morning, from your hotel
Best for Families · Returning visitors
Tour code IST-H35
The essence
A private ebru and calligraphy workshop in Istanbul brings you to two arts that UNESCO lists as heritage of humanity. With an ebru master, you sprinkle colors onto water and lift the pattern onto paper. Then a calligrapher shows you the reed pen and the letters, and you try them yourself.
Highlights
- Ebru, marbling on water
- Your own marbled sheet
- Hüsn-i hat, the art of calligraphy
- The reed pen and ink
- Two arts on the UNESCO list
Program
-
Morning
Ebru on the ebru and calligraphy workshop
Marbling with an ebru master, arranged on request.
-
Late morning
Calligraphy
A calligrapher, the reed pen and the letters, arranged on request.
-
Midday
Back to your hotel
Your guide takes you back, with your work.
In depth
Two Turkish arts on the UNESCO list are still taught by masters in Istanbul. A private ebru and calligraphy workshop takes you to them, with your own guide.
Ebru on the Ebru and Calligraphy Workshop
Colors on water
First, you meet an ebru master, whom we arrange for you on request. In ebru, you sprinkle and brush colors onto a pan of oily water, and then you lift the pattern onto paper. UNESCO listed the art in 2014.
From our guides
Our suggestion Film the moment your ebru pattern lifts from the water onto the paper.
Your own sheet
Then you try it yourself, and your sheet dries while you move on.
Calligraphy
Next, a calligrapher shows you the reed pen, the ink and the letters. Since 2021, hüsn-i hat, the traditional calligraphy of Islamic art in Turkey, has also been on the UNESCO list. So you try a few letters with the master beside you.
After the Ebru and Calligraphy Workshop
Finally, your guide takes you back to your hotel, with your work. For the great calligraphy of the past, see our Islamic arts museum tour. Would you like to try two Turkish arts? Colors on water, then the reed pen: you leave the workshop with your own sheet, on whatever day you book.
What’s included
Included
- A professional licensed guide, in the language you ask for
- The workshops with local masters, arranged on request
- A 10 GB eSIM for one traveler in your group, our gift, valid for 30 days (data only)
Not included
- Anything you buy
- Tips
“From the pick up to the drop off, the entire experience was top notch”
From your guide
What to wear
Clothes you do not mind getting paint on.
Best time
All year; a good plan for a rainy day.
Photos
Film the moment the pattern lifts from the water onto the paper.
Practical
Updated:
- Starts
- Morning, from your hotel
- Ends
- Your hotel
- Meeting point
- Your hotel in Istanbul
- Walking
- Easy: indoor workshops.
- Accessibility
- Tell us your needs.
- Cancellation
- Visiting status can change; we confirm it before your date.
Frequently asked questions
What is ebru on the ebru and calligraphy workshop?
The Turkish art of marbling: colors are sprinkled and brushed onto a pan of oily water, and the pattern is lifted onto paper. UNESCO listed it in 2014.
Is calligraphy on the UNESCO list too?
Yes. Hüsn-i hat, traditional calligraphy in Islamic art in Turkey, has been on the list since 2021.
Can children join?
Yes. Ebru is a favorite with children.
Can we see old calligraphy too?
Yes. See our Islamic arts museum tour.
What is your cancellation policy?
Every trip with us is private, so we agree the cancellation terms with you by email before you book, and you find them in writing in your booking confirmation. The deposit is non-refundable.
How long does the tour take?
Half a day, about 4 hours. Since it is private, you choose how long to spend on ebru and on calligraphy.
Which language does the guide speak?
Any language you ask for. We match you with a licensed guide who speaks it.
Where do we meet?
Your guide meets you at your hotel in Istanbul.
