• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Did you know that the Istanbul tour of your dreams exists? Yes, and it’s 100% personalized and created by your local host around your interests. Customize and see only the places that spark your interest. From classic landmarks to neighborhood walks - your wishes are our command!

Destination

Istanbul, Turkey

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

3 horas

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Türkçe, 中文, Español, Deutsch, Italiano, Português, العربية

Included

• Private guide
• All Withlocals tours are carbon neutral

Excluded

• Entrance tickets
• Tastings
• Transport
• All of the above can be arranged with your local host through a personalized offer

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 21 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at In front of Gallant Galata coffee shop - Istanbul to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. ¡Esta experiencia es TUYA!

   Visita los lugares y puntos de interés de Estambul que elijas en un tour 100 % personalizado. Convierte esta experiencia en algo único que satisfaga tu curiosidad con la ayuda de un local. Todo lo que tienes que hacer es decirle tus preferencias e intereses.

4. Ver LAS Principales Atracciones

   ¿Qué tienes en tu lista de cosas por hacer? Ve de un lugar a otro admirándolos desde fuera y recibe recomendaciones de tu anfitrión local sobre cuál es la mejor manera de disfrutarlos al máximo.

5. Fuera de los caminos trillados

   ¿Y si existiera una manera de ver la principal atracción de la ciudad desde un ángulo diferente? ¿Y todo esto evitando las multitudes de turistas? ¡Es posible con un local a tu lado!

6. Explorando el vecindario

   Dedica un tiempo a explorar los barrios de Estambul; ¡hay muchos tesoros por descubrir! ¿Qué zona te gustaría visitar, desde historia y arquitectura hasta lugares de reunión locales?

7. Impresionantes vistas de la ciudad

   Encuentra los mejores miradores de la ciudad donde podrás ver tus lugares favoritos y disfrutar de impresionantes vistas de la ciudad: un recorrido personalizado perfecto.

8. Todo Estambul

   Disfruta de un tour de un día completo para ver lo más destacado de la ciudad. Elige los lugares, la duración y deja que un local te lleve en un viaje en el que podrás tachar de tu lista los lugares imprescindibles de Estambul.

9. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Ana 🇺🇸 United States

(About local Abdullah)

27 agosto 2025

And I had quite a few! It was a very nice, very pleasant experience. It felt more like walking with a new friend and having a cultural exchange instead of a tour with a guide. Abo was professional, flexible, attentive genuinly invested in his profession generously with his time and resources and opened to all the requestes. Best tour guide I had in Istanbul

Robin🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local muhammed)

26 agosto 2025

Very friendly and knowledgeable guide, spent time to show us some of the out of the way places and did it all with a big smile

Rachel

(About local Abdullah)

25 agosto 2025

Today my group of 9 were expertly and patiently guided around the historic sites of old Istanbul by Apo who was engaged, flexible, patient and generous with his time and historic knowledge. Would definitely recommend Apo as your Istanbul guide. Top guide, auper knowledgeable.

P

(About local muhammed)

24 agosto 2025

Muhammad was a a great guide, he was extremely knowledgeable and very engaging and took us on a half day tour focusing on the Asian side of Istanbul and some of the old city highlights. He was very flexible and able to easily adjust to some last minute requests. We also enjoyed a delicious lunch - one of his great recommendations. Despite having limited time with a half day, it was a really memorable day and introduction into this fascinating city. Excellent Guide

Noelle🇮🇪 Ireland

(About local Emre)

22 agosto 2025

Emre was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide. In our short afternoon walk we got a comprehensive history of istanbul and detailed commentary at hagia sophia, blue mosque and basilica cistern. Plus a lovely stop for lemonade in a quiet courtyard. Sultanahmet in an afternoon

Xavi🇪🇸 Spain

(About local Emre)

17 agosto 2025

Emre was an amazing guide! His passion and knowledge made the tour so engaging, and he shared stories that really brought the city to life. It felt like exploring with a friend rather than just a guide. Highly recommend! A wonderful experience

Angie🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Gülce)

15 agosto 2025

Gulce was a wonderful guide who combined a history tour with food stops and local information. She was just lovely and we definitely would recommend her.A delightful and informative tour

TIM🇺🇸 United States

(About local Emir)

7 agosto 2025

Emir was a fantastic guide. We had a group of 4 adults and Emir gave us the perfect/great introduction to Istanbul. Great energy. Great sense of humor and a love of both Istanbul and travel in general that made for a great morning of touring. We highly recommend Emir's tours.Great Opening Tour of Istanbul

Christiane

(About local Emre)

5 agosto 2025

Wir hatten eine super Zeit mit Emre und er hat uns viel von Istanbul gezeigt. Sein Deutsch ist hervorragend und seine Tipps ebenso. Gerne wieder!!!Eine tolle Tour durch Istanbul

Tanja🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Emre)

16 julio 2025

Wir haben eine dreistündige Tour mit Emre durch Istanbul gemacht und waren absolut begeistert! Emre war super freundlich, aufmerksam und hatte auf jede unserer Fragen eine fundierte Antwort. Schon im Vorfeld hat er uns tolle Restauranttipps gegeben – für wirklich jeden Geschmack war etwas dabei. Dank seiner Empfehlungen haben wir in hervorragenden, authentischen Lokalen gegessen und wurden nie enttäuscht. Die Zeit mit ihm verging wie im Flug – es war eine sehr kurzweilige, interessante und angenehme Tour. Emre ist ein kluger, belesener Mann mit einem großen Wissen über Geschichte, Kultur und das Leben in Istanbul. Vielen Dank für diese schöne Erfahrung, Emre – und entschuldige bitte die verspätete Bewertung! Herzliche Grüße von Tanja und Ludwig Eine Istanbul-Tour, die super war

JAMI

(About local Lorena)

26 junio 2025

5 STAR ⭐️ for the most amazing tour guide Lorena!!! What an outstanding way to start my solo travel trip to Istanbul. I spent 2 days touring Istanbul with Lorena and she is one of the most personable and informative guides I have ever met. She knows how to navigate her way through this city like a pro. Lorena let me move at my own pace, I didn’t feel rushed at all. She left me a list of recommendations on things to do next after our tour, taught me about the metro and made great suggestions for food etc. Had I tried on my own, I would have missed out! Fantastic time !! I highly recommend Lorena, if you are solo or a large group. You will love her !! Thank you again Lorena . 🙏5 star ⭐️ tour guide !!

Hanna

(About local Safiye)

19 junio 2025

I spent the day with lovely Safiye looking around all the "off the beaten track" locations that the locals know. She showed me great turkish coffee, amazing location for lunch, lots of cool suburbs including around Balat and the Asian side as well. She understood my needs and wants as well as catered to my lack of fitness so was able to supplement the walking with public transport in places. More than the obvious, Safiye is easy to talk to, knowledgeable, entertaining, cheerful and I really enjoyed my time spent with her. Thank you Safiye!Safiye is delightful 😊

Angela 🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Abdullah)

13 junio 2025

My husband and I had a fabulous 4 hours with Abdullah as he showed us his city. We got an insight to the major sites plus some hidden treasures. It was fun , interesting and gave us a good introduction to Istanbul. Thankyou so much Happiness makes the world go round

Daniel🇧🇷 Brazil

(About local Emre)

9 junio 2025

The tour we had with Emre was a real gem! He took us to places we would never have discovered by ourselves, in a really nice neighboorhood, where apparently he knew everyone :) Getting to know the city by its food and what locals really eat was amazing. Besides that, he gave us really valuable tips for sightseeing and for other restaurants and cafes. 10/10 experienceThe best experience in Istanbul!

Jody

(About local Mine )

4 junio 2025

Mine was clearly knowledgeable especially historically and politically. It was very interesting to talk with her. She packed a lot into the 3 hours, teaching us history and architecture. She didn’t take in our comments or appear that interested in what we had to say. That would be an improvement area for her. All in all, we appreciated the tour. Mine

Nancy🇺🇸 United States

(About local Emir)

2 junio 2025

Emir is truly a citizen of the world. Having lived in several countries, he brings an exceptional perspective to his tours. He has a depth of knowledge on history and it is obvious he loves both the subject and his city. We enjoyed his tour very much. Not least was the excellent baklava at the end.World Perspective

Kulvinder🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Deniz)

1 junio 2025

A great tour guide with interesting stories of Istanbul. Had a high energy 3 hr tour which ticked all the boxes. Would highly recommendIstanbul with Deniz

Christina🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Emre)

28 mayo 2025

Mein Mann und ich hatten eine tolle Erlebnis Tour durch Istanbul. Emre empfing uns wie Freunde. Er ist ein ausgesprochen netter und warmherziger Mensch. Mit großer Begeisterung, kleinen Geschichten und persönlichen Erinnerungen zeigte er uns sein Istanbul. Ohne ihn hätten wir die Stadt nie so kennengelernt. Es war ein ganz besonderes Erlebnis was wir nicht vergessen werden. Ganz lieben Dank.City Tour mit Emre

Colette and Marc🇺🇸 United States

(About local Aysenur )

22 mayo 2025

We just spent 3 days exploring Istanbul with Aysenur. She is fantastic. Aysenur developed an initial plan for our 3 days together but was very willingly to modify our schedule based on our needs. Her knowledge of the history of Istanbul as well as the intersections of the many cultures of the area is amazing. Her love of history and her desire to share her vast knowledge is very apparent. We were very impressed by her continuing studies in a variety of fields - the mark of an excellent teacher. We thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our time with Aysenur. I am sure your experience will be as impressive as ours. 3 fantastic days with Aysenur in Istanbul.

Angie & Rachel🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Emir)

8 mayo 2025

Emir was a very accomplished guide, very knowledgeable & passionate about history & Istanbul. We saw lots of little gems that we wouldn’t have seen as a tourist & really enjoyed our tour. Great fun time with Emir

Cristina🇮🇹 Italy

(About local Lorena)

5 mayo 2025

Lorena is very gentle, she knows Istanbul very well and will suggest off touristic roads itineraries that really are worth the price. You will experience the real Istanbul and save a lot of time, off the tourists traps. So very advisable! She is more that fluent in Italian and English, and has an International background, having lived in many countries. TOP.10/10 very advisable

Ysabel

(About local Abdullah)

27 abril 2025

Abdullah is an personable, knowledgeable guide, who knows everyone you need to know in the old part of the city. His stories, both of the places and the people were great and his tips on avoiding tourist traps were invaluable. Would certainly book again --but will reach out first so we can plan the best route and time of day to avoid crods.Uncovering Istanbul's secrets

57mf65pcrb🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Abdullah)

22 abril 2025

Verena🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Emre)

21 abril 2025

Emre ist ein phantastischer Guide, der uns die Köstlichkeiten Istanbuls gezeigt und gleichzeitig interessante Informationen zu den besuchten Stadtteilen geteilt hat. Wir empfehlen die Tour mit Emre als unverzichtbaren Teil eines jeden Istanbulbesuchs. Unverzichtbare Tour in Istanbul

Petra

(About local Emir)

21 abril 2025

We are a three generation family and were for the first time in Istanbul. It was an amazing experience with Emir! He was able to respond to the different needs of the family. He showed us a colorful variety of culture, history, lifestyle and character of different parts of the city. We had delicious authentic lunch and the best Baclaca of the world. Emir is very friendly, warm hearted and full of humour. His knowledge is immense and he can share it in a very interesting way. We felt very safe and decided, to come again! We look forward to meet Emir again. Wonderful day in a wonderful city

Felix🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Esra)

15 abril 2025

We enjoyed the tour with Esra a lot! She has a great knowledge and an exciting way to explain it! Great trip!

Rich🇺🇸 United States

(About local Emir)

13 abril 2025

Emir was a wonderful tour guide, conversation partner, and welcoming committee for Istanbul. On a short visit, we wanted to more time enjoying and learning; less time looking for directions and reading online guides. Emir took us on a great tour of the area we stayed in, even in some miserable rain, working in a strategic sheltered spot or cafe as he could. If you have an interest in the history or the food of the area, Emir is the right guide for you. You can tell his knowledge comes from a true passion for it, and he welcomes questions of all types, and left us with great advice for the rest of our stay.A perfect welcome to the city

Timur

(About local Esra)

9 abril 2025

Esra made Istanbul's history come alive for our group of 7 friends. First, she asked and listened to to what we wanted to see and the style of tour we wanted. Then she delivered and went beyond expectations. We came away awe-stricken by the beauty, intrigue and history of the Ottomans but not because of a boring history lesson, but rather a guide who made the tour like watching a movie or reading a good novel. Bravo and thank you!Esra- the Best Guide in Istanbul

Lillian🇺🇸 United States

(About local Gülce)

17 marzo 2025

We had an amazing custom tour in Istanbul with Gülce, and I can’t recommend her enough! She was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and made the entire experience enjoyable from start to finish. Throughout the tour, she provided fascinating insights about Istanbul’s history and culture, making every stop more meaningful. She also went above and beyond by giving us fantastic recommendations for additional sightseeing and dining, which will really helped us make the most of our time in the city. We ended the day with a Bosphorus cruise, a perfect way to take in the stunning views and reflect on everything we had learned. If you’re looking for a guide who is knowledgeable, personable, and truly passionate about Istanbul, Gülce is the perfect choice! Fantastic Tour with Gülce!

David🇪🇸 Spain

(About local Emre)

27 enero 2025

We had a great time visiting the old sites of Istanbul with Emre. He was so knowledgable it was crazy. Any question we had, he had the answer for. And he's a super food lover and we went to a grill spot for lunch that was so good. And the kind of spot a tourist would have some difficulty due to not knowing what to order, but Emre handled it all and we had a feast!Fantastic private tour!

Melissa🇺🇸 United States

(About local Abdullah)

19 enero 2025

Wandering Istanbul with such an interesting man- knows so much history and out of the way places. A highlight of our tripExcellent guide!

Marion🇳🇿 New Zealand

(About local Emir)

13 enero 2025

We had a 3hr walking tour with Emir of Istanbul which was really 4 hrs as Emir was so interesting and so proud of his city. Emir was friendly, very knowledgeable and a great guide. We would give 11/10 if we could. We visited mosques, learnt about the Turkish culture and tried the local food. Would highly recommend for anyone. Emir was inspirational and today I booked French lessons to learn a 2nd language because of him. Anazing tour with Emir

Florian

(About local Emre)

5 enero 2025

Emre hat mit uns eine Führung durch Istanbul gemacht und zwar hat er uns an für Touristen eher untypische Orte geführt, die sehr interessant waren und einen guten Einblick in das Leben vor Ort ermöglichten. Außerdem hat er einen guten Überblick für uns über Istanbul erstellt und welche Sehenswürdigkeiten wir in den nächsten Tagen noch besuchen sollten.Statfürung mit Emre

Sara🇮🇹 Italy

(About local Lorena)

2 enero 2025

Ciao a tutti, abbiamo fatto un tour privato con Lorena che ci ha guidato alla scoperta di Istanbul facendoci scoprire anche cose inaspettate. Lorena è stata gentilissima e disponibilissima. Consiglio vivamente un tour con lei se vi trovate a Instanbul!Bellissima Esperienza

Alain🇺🇸 United States

(About local Emre)

1 enero 2025

Had the pleasure of having Emre as our private guide in Istanbul, and he was absolutely fantastic. We requested a tour focusing on the less touristy parts of the city to immerse ourselves in Istanbul’s local culture and history, and Emre exceeded our expectations. His deep knowledge of the city’s history, combined with his engaging storytelling, brought the sites to life for us. Emre also went above and beyond by providing us with invaluable tips, including recommendations for hidden-gem restaurants and unique experiences for the rest of our stay. If you’re looking for a very good guide in Istanbul, Emre is the one. We couldn’t recommend him more highly!A Great Guide for an Authentic Experience

Giovanni🇮🇹 Italy

(About local Ahmet Can)

9 diciembre 2024

Ahmet Can has been very professional and focused on what I was expecting from this experience and tailored something to exceed my expectations. I’m very satisfied by the tour !Great experience

Scot🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alp)

10 septiembre 2025

What a great afternoon. Alp met us at our hotel as it was on the way. He explained the tram system and made us feel comfortable using it for further exploration. We tasted at non-tourist venues which helped us order at other restaurants as everything we had either delicious or something we needed to try. My favorite things were Mantis with garlic yogurt (pasta) at a small streetside restaurant. The big dishes at a restaurant which included an amuse of a dome of bulgar surrounding spiced meats and chili oil poured at the table, Pide which is a traditional Turkish pizza style dish, followed by the best kabob I've ever eaten! There were other stops and we got to learn more about the culture and daily life. We really clicked with Alp, who not just knowledgeable, but interested in the differences and similarities of our cultures. Great tour! It laid the groundwork for seeing Istanbul more confidently!Food Tour Introduction to Istanbul

Sara

(About local Emre)

9 septiembre 2025

Emre was a fantastic guide. We did the food tour with him and we highly recommend both him and the tour. Emre knows the history of Istanbul extremely well and tells stories along introducing great street food. Emre a rock star of a guide :)

Caroline🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Ahmet Can)

9 septiembre 2025

Ahmet was great! We were visiting Istanbul for the European Triathlon Championships so didn’t have a lot of time to sightsee. We booked an afternoon tour of Sultanahmet with Ahmet and I’m so glad we did. He was friendly and very informative, bringing each site to life with stories and interesting facts. Would highly recommend!Fabulous tour of Sultanahmet

Ted🇺🇸 United States

(About local Esra)

9 septiembre 2025

With only a short time in Istanbul, Esra provided us with a very thorough and thoughtful day exploring the major sites of the old city and helping us to understand the Turkish culture in a more meaningful way. Seeing the carpet coop sponsored by the government in action (spinning silk and weaving a carpet) was a particular highlight of the day. She was awesome and helped with other thoughts for the rest of our trip. Bravo, Esra. Awesome Day in the Old City

Denny🇦🇹 Austria

(About local Abdullah)

8 septiembre 2025

If there were nominations or awards for city guides, Apo would receive from us an Oscar for 'best performance', a Michelin star for 'pure finesse', a Nobel Prize for 'international understanding & hospitality', and an award for the 'most original and best promotion of Istanbul'. Apo’s profile delivers 100% what it promises!! We will definitely come back to a city that never sleeps - a city whose people gifted us with kindness, openness, helpfulness and patience from the very first to the very last encounter. Including the cats, who trustfully rubbed against our legs and gladly let us pet them. Thanks a million ❤️
 Malgosia, Marcel & DennyGOOD-BETTER-APO!!!


Sean

(About local Alp)

7 septiembre 2025

I had an incredible experience exploring Istanbul with Alp as my guide. He was exceptional at tailoring the tour to my interests, taking me through hidden gems across different neighborhoods that I would have never found on my own. Alp’s deep, factual knowledge of the city’s history, landmarks, and culture made every stop meaningful and insightful. What truly set him apart was his passion for the local music scene and his recommendations for off-the-beaten-path shops and restaurant that were all a gem. On top of it all, Alp was the sweetest, most hospitable guide that i was lucky to have had. His warmth and genuine love for his city made this tour unforgettable and I couldn’t recommend him more for anyone visiting Istanbul, especially for the first time.Truly Authentic Experience with a Gem!

Alana🇺🇸 United States

(About local muhammed)

6 septiembre 2025

Muhammed was fantastic! Knowledgeable, kind, prompt, and just a wonderful guide to the city. We left the tour full in our bellies, more knowledgeable of the city and culture, and with a wonderful day under our belt. A great guide to the city!

Steven🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alp)

6 septiembre 2025

We had a fantastic time with Alp. He is very friendly and personable. He took us to some hidden gems to taste his favorite dishes. It is a true Turkish gastronomic journey with detailed explanations of the food along with its history. It is clear that he is passionate about sharing his Turkish heritage with all who take his tour. Should not be missed.Fantastic day with Alp

Tricia🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Esra)

6 septiembre 2025

We had an excellent tour around Istanbul with Esra, the tour was entirely tailored to what we wanted, visiting many of the amazing sights, and the knowledge we gained was invaluable and every question answered. If we had of had more time we would have booked onto one of the culinary tours too as that sounds great also! Perfect tour

Ramona🇨🇦 Canada

(About local muhammed)

5 septiembre 2025

Firstly I was charged for 4 and there were only 2 of us. Secondly, the guide changed at the last Minute to a guide I did not select. The tour was supposed to be 90 minutes and he cut out after 60 minutes. He did t really show us around anywhere. We walked up a hill to see the view but no history was given. Just the questions we asked answered. Would definitely not recommend this tour to anyone. This wqs a complete ripoff

Libby🇺🇸 United States

(About local Mine )

5 septiembre 2025

I cannot begin to express how extremely lucky we feel to have spent time with Mine today. From the time of booking and throughout our tour, she was extremely responsive to our needs and worked with us flexibly. What’s more she is a wealth of knowledge about Architecture, Art, History and Culture and Politics , not only of Istanbul, but of the entire Middle East and Europe. I may have learned more from Mine in 3 hours today than I have in the past year. We walked away with incredible insights into Istanbul’s culture and history and relationship to the world. Mine has it all: information, cultural and religious insights and experience and a great sense of humor and fun! Anyone who gets Mine as their guide should consider themselves very lucky! The Amazing Insights of Mine

Daria

(About local Emre)

5 septiembre 2025

We booked an Istanbul food tour with Emre and it exceeded every expectation. He guided us to local lokantas, old patisseries, and street-food shops we’d never discover on our own. Every bite was delicious, and we left completely stuffed. Emre’s passion for Istanbul’s history and architecture made each stop come alive—you can tell he genuinely loves what he does. This tour was one of the trip’s highlights, with an unforgettable and authentic taste of the city. Thank you Emre!The best food tour in Istanbul!

Nancy🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alp)

3 septiembre 2025

We had a great experience with Alp! Not only did he take us to some great places to taste various kinds of Turkish dishes, but he was also very knowledgeable of the areas we were in. I would rate our experience as a 10 and would highly recommend Alp!Fantastic tour with Alp

SCOTT🇵🇭 Philippines

(About local Tolga)

3 septiembre 2025

The tour was OK, as expected. The food and dialog were good. What was strange, was the offer to help with future travel. He was going to provide names of 2 balloon companies in Cappadocia. I requested it several times and was met with a reply saying he will get me the info ASAP, then a thumbs up, then ignored future messages. I guess the 1000TL was too small of a tip, so no further assistance?OK tour, strange follow-up