• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

As the sun sets, Istanbul lights up, the heat of the day fades, and the tourist crowds start to thin out. This is the time to enjoy the city at its atmospheric best on a private tour with a local! Take in glittering highlights and the local ambiance that only the evening brings out in Istanbul.

Destination

Istanbul, Turkey

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

2.5 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Türkçe, 中文, Español, Italiano, Português

Included

• Private guide
• Transport
• 1 Local Drink and Snack
• All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 11 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 The Armory Square at Tophane - 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. Illuminated Highlights

   With daylight coming to an end, Istanbul lights by the sunset and street lights. With a spotlight on its main highlights, check out how different Galata bridge, Kılıç Ali Paşa Mosque and more look from day to night offering another perspective of Istanbul

4. Take it Easy

   As the sun sets, the tourist crowds take a break, and the city goes back to its local filled atmosphere. Take in the local hustle and bustle as you move from stop to stop in a relaxed manner - in the evening, Istanbul it’s for you, and the locals

5. The Grand Finale

   For a night to remember, your local host has left a great stop ‘til last. Whether it is a panoramic view of Istanbul with a sunset in the background or a stop at a lively local hotspot for a coffee, your tour will end on a high note!

6. Where the Locals Go

   Keep your night going after saying goodbye to your host - there’s plenty of fun things to do in Istanbul at night! Your local host will share with you up to date recommendations of where to go, what to do, and where to grab a bite after hours

7. 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

Michele

(About local Aysenur )

27 February 2025

Hands down, Ayşenur is the best guide I have ever had! She customized my tour perfectly. Her friendly, fun and engaging approach made her extensive knowledge range even more palatable. Thank you so much for an amazing tour and I look forward to next. (There will absolutely be a next time!)The best guide ever!

Monique

(About local Ugur)

26 February 2025

Ugur is a very nice guy who has a big knowledge on historical facts. We enjoyed his company. He is also good with teenagers. We had 4 of them with us. He showed us nice places and took us to taste the best Baklava in town and Some Turkish caffee. He also took is on a short trip with the 2nd oldest metro in the world. We highly recommend Ugur for your trip! Excellent

Ann

(About local Faruk )

9 February 2025

On a long layover through Istanbul, we booked an evening tour with Faruk. It was terrific and Faruk was the perfect host to show off his beautiful city. Despite the cold and wet weather, Faruk took the time to point out the amazing architectural features and mixed historical facts with his own personal stories (He teaches English at a local school). After a meal of Turkish Kababs, we walked through the French section and Liberty Street, enjoying the stores and people-watching. He treated us to apple tea in a cozy coffee shop. I highly recommend Faruk and this tour service for a reasonably-priced, custom tour and will book with him the next time I am in Istanbul.Great evening tour with Faruk

Leslie🇺🇸 United States

(About local Aysenur )

4 February 2025

During our short tour with Ayşenur, we had the chance to enjoy Istanbul at night. We learned about the lifestyle of locals and some great things about the history of the city. This is a concentrated short tour over the culture , history, architecture, hidden gems and where to find local food either on the streets or in a fine dining restaurant in the city. Ayşenur’s way of delivering the tour feels like there’s still more to dig in. She continued to ask if there were other things we wanted her to focus on to make sure we were getting the most out of our visit. Definitely recommended, she’s a true local.A Great Evening in Istanbul

Darcy🇺🇸 United States

(About local Emir)

26 January 2025

My friend and I scheduled a full day with Emir. He was fantastic! Emir showed us all of the things we were hoping for and then some. He is extremely kind and very knowledgeable. We are grateful to now call him our friend, than you Emir!Wonderful day in Instanbul, book Emir!

Rachel🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Faruk )

1 January 2025

I recently joined Faruk for a Magical Evening in Istanbul City Tour. Faruk was a wonderful guide. He is engaging, knowledgeable and accommodating. He was great company and his love for his city was obvious and infectious. Thank you Faruk for a great evening and and a splendid introduction to your magnificent city.A Magical Evening indeed!

Jeremy🇮🇹 Italy

(About local Ugur)

1 January 2025

Ugur è la guida local per eccellenza molto gentile e disponibile, è venuto in contro alle nostre esigenze senza problemi. Ci ha fornito un sacco di consigli anche sui giorni successivi alla nostra guida, per questo consigliamo di farla nei primi giorni di permanenza. Consigliatissimo!!Esperienza fantastica e autentica!

Patricia🇪🇸 Spain

(About local Kemal)

28 November 2024

Kemal gave us a good insight of the nightlife of Istanbul. When he heard we were eager to try local specialities he brought us to the nicest locations. We had a "baklava" (should not be called like that) it was the best we ever had... Then this was followed by a fish sandwich, wine and he knew so much of the history, nice streets etc. Time went by so quick. We would definitely recommend him to everyone. Fantastic evening with lots of surprises

Kelvin

(About local Kemal)

28 November 2024

Kemal was an exceptional guide, always ensuring I was comfortable and promptly answering all my questions. His deep knowledge of the city, especially the best spots it has to offer, made the experience truly memorable. I highly recommend Kemal for anyone looking to explore the city’s hidden gems!Great experience with Kemal!

Pooja🇺🇸 United States

(About local muhammed)

23 November 2024

My husband and I had a great time with Mohammed. He is extremely knowledgeable about the city & it's history and is great at storytelling. He is jovial, open minded and genuine. He took us to great food spots as well and hung out pretty late. I would highly recommend spending time with him to get to know Istanbul better :)Mohammed is awesome!

KATHLEEN🇺🇸 United States

(About local Aysenur )

11 November 2024

Last night we took the Magical Evening in Istanbul tour with Aysenur and magical it was. We had only one night in Istanbul and I am happy this is how we chose to spend it. Aysenur is a fountain of knowledge and explained Istanbul, it's customs, people, culture, geography and rich history in a way that was accessible and engaging. The sights were beautiful and a stop for some yummy soup and hot chocolate were absolute perfection. I cannot recommend Aysenur enough and the tour is an educational delight.Magical indeed!

Raghu🇮🇳 India

(About local Lorena)

11 November 2024

I chose Lorena as she is not really a local, so that I get a perspective of an outsider’s view of Istanbul to have a different perspective apart from what you hear from the locals. Lorena is very knowledgeable on all the historical monuments, places , history and was very enthusiastic in giving me the right perspective without any exaggeration. I am happy and highly recommend.See and appreciate Istanbul as an outsider

Shehnaz🇺🇸 United States

(About local Emir)

2 November 2024

We took this tour the evening we landed in Istanbul and it was the most wonderful way to get oriented. Emir was so considerate! He asked us what aspects of travel interestvis and took us around accordingly. He explained the layour of the city and took is to some great local spots close to where we were staying. We ended up going to those places a few times during our trip. I highlr recommend a tour with Emir! Best way to begin your visit in Istanbul!

nemethsiegl

(About local Hakan)

31 October 2024

He was very knowledgeable with a deep understanding of politics, history and architecture. We had a good time with a great guide!Super guide

Vix🇿🇦 South Africa

(About local Deniz)

18 October 2024

What a fabulous tour @withlocal with Deniz. She’s such a gem, enthusiastic, energetic, fun, knowledgeable and it made my brief stay in Istanbul such a wonderful experience. Thank you for making my trip really special. I will definitely be back to take another trip around Istanbul with Deniz. A night in Istanbul

Adrian🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local muhammed)

16 October 2024

Muhammed was a fantastic tour guide. he was extremely informative on Istanbul's history, and showed us some amazing sites that we would have never found on our own. the tour finished with a drink on a roof top balcony overlooking the city. AmazingGreat Experiences

Aditya🇺🇸 United States

(About local Faruk )

14 October 2024

I was in Istanbul for 4 nights and wanted to start off with getting an introduction to the city. I booked Faruq's tour at fairly short notice but he was fortunately available and accepted the booking. Before the tour even started, I was impressed with clear communication from Faruq about the meeting point and timing details. He also offered to help me with the tram journey (getting on and off). During the walk, he offered insightful details about the city, its history and current way of life. We started our walk at Tophane mosque and covered Galata port, Galata bridge and then headed over to Istiklal street for the finish. Walking in the evening provided its rewards of seeing all the mosques/monuments lit up and seeing the hustle bustle after work. We took couple of breaks in between to get a snack and tea. Overall this was a fantastic introduction to the city and will highly recommend Faruq as a guide. Hand down, best tour of the city !

Jérémi🇺🇸 United States

(About local Faruk )

13 October 2024

Thank you, Faruk! I had an amazing guided tour with you. The short time we had together was great and efficient! Thank you so much, Faruk!

Alexandra

(About local Kemal)

12 October 2024

Kemal hat sich nach unseren Bedürfnissen ausgerichtet und perfekt durch den Abend geführt. Dabei wies er uns auf interessante wie wichtige Eckpunkte der Stadt hin und lies keine unserer Fragen zu Geschichte, Gesellschaft und Kultur unbeantwortet. Was uns ganz besonders gefallen hat: Kemal mag Menschen, ist offen und hat uns von Anfang an das Gefühl gegeben, dass wir Freunde sind. Die Stadtviertel zum Ausgehen waren hervorragend ausgewählt! Mehr als perfekt

Kirin🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Emir)

7 October 2024

Emir is an absolute gentleman. He took me all around Karakoy and other parts of Istanbul, ensuring I had the best experience and some incredible baklava. He also made sure to keep me on my toes with some interesting fun history quizzes! I'd definitely see Emir again and wish him the best for his upcoming travels around the world, he's a travellers traveller.Excellent view of the city

Steven🇺🇸 United States

(About local Kemal)

27 September 2024

Kemal went above and beyond in delivering a very personalized and well informed tour. We discovered and learned so much about the food, the culture and the history of Istanbul. The experience was truly amazing. Highly recommend. Excellent Customer Service

Ashley🇺🇸 United States

(About local Emir)

23 September 2024

We had such a good time with Emir. It was our first night in the city and we took us on a nice walk enjoying local sites and had some amazing baklava! He was very knowledgeable about his city! Great Introduction to Istanbul!

Andrew🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Abdullah)

9 September 2024

Abdullah facilitated a chilled, informative and relaxing evening tour of Iatanbul. Strolling the streets with him and sampling local delicacies was such a nice way to spend the evening in a brief transit stop I had in Istanbul. I would highly recommend Abdullah as a guide!Wonderful evening tour

Alejandra🇦🇹 Austria

(About local Faruk )

1 September 2024

Farouk was a second transfer as our original Local transfer our reservation to another and her to Farouk. We was very kind and nice. But I would recommend to make this tour as a smaller party. We were 7 and was a little to big of a group, it was noisy and was difficult to hear for the people that was not walking next to him but as I said we were a big group. Farouk took us to very interesting places and explained very interesting stuff. I would recommend him.Very nice night tour

Toni🇿🇦 South Africa

(About local muhammed)

4 August 2024

We had a lovely evening walking with Muhammad. He was very charming and interpreted our needs well, taking us at the end to a local family restaurant. Charming enthusiastic guide

Dung

(About local Aysenur )

27 July 2024

Great experience with Aysenur. She was friendly and knowledgeable, and she gave me the best intro to this beautiful city. I would highly recommend to everyone who wants to hear from a local, and i myself will reach out again next time i’m in Istanbul.Amazing guide - highly recommended

Anja🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Aysenur )

26 July 2024

The evening with Aysenur was wonderful. She knows so much about the history of Turkey, I could have listened for hours. During the tour I was able to get to know the real Istanbul. Aysenur is very intelligent and educated and has a perfect way of dealing with guests. The next time I come to Istanbul, I would like to do a sightseeing tour with her again. Thank you!An unforgettable evening

Shefali🇮🇳 India

(About local Aysenur )

14 July 2024

Aysenur is a remarkable guide and a fantastic person. She is extremely knowledgeable and curated an experience for us which brought in elements of history, sociology, architecture and some politics to give us a taste of the culture and development of the city through its roads. It was thoroughly fascinating! She even helped us get traditional simit and Turkish delights. Navigating food as vegetarians/vegans is generally difficult but Aysenur made sure we had options here. The only thing we missed was having more time to see/experience her recommendations. She's fun and spirited and made an already vibrant city more lively! An experience you should not miss

Steven🇺🇸 United States

(About local Lorena)

14 July 2024

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Lorena. She was knowledgeable and informative on much of the history behind the various locations she took me. I absolutely would book with her again should I be in Istanbul.Fantastic Evening

Bina🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Emir)

11 July 2024

Meine Tochter 24 Jahre und 3 Freunde waren begeistert. Emir muss sie richtig begeistert haben. Alle vier sind Architekten und Kultur interessiert und Emir muss sie an der richtigen Stelle abgeholt haben.Großartig

Andrew🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Aysenur )

10 July 2024

It was our first time in Turkey and we had the pleasure of meeting Aysenur. She was such a great guide and patient with our daughter and made sure she was enjoying herself. We covered so many hotspots in such little time. Wish we had booked her longer. To be honest, if we hadn’t of met her, we would probably not return. But now our family is discussing when should we all return back to Istanbul. That being said, what ever tour you may decide to chose, she is an excellent guide and she will be hard to beat. We highly recommend and this is coming from someone that has read all her reviews and is one hundred percent accurate.Knowledgable and Kind

Mimi🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Kemal)

10 July 2024

Kemal was so accommodating and easy going. He catered to all my needs. We explored places where locals would go and explained some culture and history as well as answering to all my questions. He is so knowledgeable. He ensured I was comfortable at all times and he even took me to Latin dancing with the locals. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would recommend booking with him. He won’t disappoint you! True local experience

Wolfgang🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Abdullah)

1 July 2024

We had just an interesting and funny time. But not with a local… with a local friend ;) It was so interesting. We got a lot off tips. Hidden restaurants and trains… And a really good Raki Thank you so much and think about the Cat and Karma Tour ;) If we‘ll come back we will book him again Best regards from Marion and WolfgangFantastic tour with a warm hearted person

makaila🇺🇸 United States

(About local muhammed)

28 June 2024

I had a fantastic time on my tour with Muhammed!I had a very unexpected layover in Istanbul and was able to book for a late night tour. Even though this was last minute, Muhammed had a fantastic itinerary set up and gave me multiple options as to where we could go and what we could do. He was also super knowledgeable on the city and history, and had stories about all the places we visited. I got to see so much of the city in a few short hours- time flew by! Since Iwas traveling alone as a 22 year old girl, I was nervous about navigating transportation, but Muhammed helped me find a uber home and made sure I got home safely. If I could give him 100000 stars I would- thank you Muhammed for the great tour !!!!!!Layover in Istanbul with Muhammed

Mark🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Deniz)

7 June 2024

Deniz treated me to a fun comprehensive tour of the city with great advice followed by traditional tea and Turkish delight. Wish i had more time to do all the things she suggested. Do her tour asap arriving in Istanbul. Wonderful evening with Deniz!!

susan🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local muhammed)

24 May 2024

Lynne 🇺🇸 United States

(About local Aysenur )

22 May 2024

Our Withlocals tour guide, Ayensur (sorry if spelling is wrong) in Istanbul was the best we’ve had in our 2 months in Europe. She was informative, fun, helpful, kind, flexible - absolutely fabulous! We highly recommend her to anyone who wants to see Istanbul and surrounds! 10 stars (and more)!!! Lynne and Paul 10 stars (and more)!!!

Colin🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Aysenur )

19 May 2024

Aysenur was excellent…! We chose this tour to see a bit of the city at a different time of day and this allowed us to see a very different side of Istanbul to the usual day sightseeing. We saw an umbrella covered street in great light that I had asked to go to - trivial but fun photographs resulting - the sort of sidetour that makes the difference. Aysenur is all of the things that a guide should be - she’s punctual, polite and highly knowledgeable not just in historical timelines, facts and figures but what we particularly enjoyed was her good humour, friendliness and above all else her interest in us as people. Our discussions were wide ranging, good fun and allowed us to learn more about the people of the city. This was a truly great evening Aysenur, thank you, we thoroughly recommend to all thinking about taking this tour.A great evening

Rachel🇺🇸 United States

(About local Aysenur )

15 May 2024

My short time in Istanbul was made so much better thanks to Aysenur. She is beyond knowledge about Turkish history, architecture, culture and more. I tend to ask a lot of questions and she was so kind to answer them all for me with great patience. I also loved the cafe/bakery that we stopped at, which she said was one of her favorites. It was such a unique way to see the city without feeling like you are on a generic guided tour. I left feeling like I had made a friend and can't wait to go back to Istanbul. The best time in a short time

Hayley

(About local Emir)

15 May 2024

Emir is just the perfect person to show you around the city he calls home and clearly loves , he is very knowledgeable and will tailor the experience to meet your needs and comfort level. We had an amazing time and will definitely spend more time with our new friend on our next visit .Just perfect

Bart

(About local Emir)

14 May 2024

We booked the evening tour for the day we arrived in Istanbul, it was a great way to quickly get our bearings, learn a little about the history of Istanbul and a basic understand the Islamic culture with visits to the both modern food and social scene as well as a number of Mosques and other historic sites. Absolutely perfect as a first introduction. Emir was friendly, enthusiastic and brought a broader cultural understanding which is so valuable in the city where Europe meets the middle east.Great introduction to Istanbul.

Martin🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Faruk )

27 April 2024

Faruk was very friendly, very knowledgeable, easy to connect with. He answered every question and always gave some context. I would definitely recommend going on a tour with Faruk.

Rene🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local muhammed)

9 April 2024

Shrimpee🇮🇳 India

(About local muhammed)

6 April 2024

Muhammed went above & beyond to ensure I have a good time exploring the city. He shared some very interesting facts and anecdotes about the city, making it a very exciting ride. I totally recommend Muhammed to give you the best experience of the city. 100% Recommended!

Michelina🇺🇸 United States

(About local Faruk )

5 April 2024

Faruk was knowledgeable, passionate and kind! We landed and went straight to our tour and it was a wonderful way to kick off our experience in Istanbul, and truly hear and feel the city through the eyes of a person who lives, teaches and loves here. My mom and I had an amazing experience and appreciated the guides communication and recommendations even after our tour!An amazing and unforgettable walk

Rasha🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia

(About local Lorena)

3 April 2024

Lorena was amazing and very accommodating to my needs, she was very knowledgeable about the places and her recommendations were spot on, shes a lovely soul to spend the evening with and i am grateful for this experience Lorena is the best!

Cliff🇺🇸 United States

(About local Faruk )

25 March 2024

Faruk was wonderful! He knew so much about the city. He was also very accommodating. He often asked if we wanted to eat or go in one of the shoppes. He was very kind and patient. We will definitely do another tour with Faruk when we return!Fantastic Evening Tour of Istanbul

Marc🇺🇸 United States

(About local muhammed)

12 March 2024

Muhammed showed us around the city of Istanbul for a few hours at night, and we had a great time! He bought us Turkish delight candies, mosques, and we ate together at a beautiful rooftop cafe overlooking the entire city. Afterwards, he showed us a great dinner place, and we left understanding more about the incredible city and its people. It was very interesting to learn about Turkey (especially its famous vampire legends) from a local’s perspective. Thanks a lot, Muhammed, and please consider him if you’re in Istanbul! Muhammed is awesome

P.🇺🇸 United States

(About local muhammed)

7 March 2024

We have a friend for life on Muhammed. He did a great job showing us around. He showed us all the great spots to eat and saved us a much of money by getting us the local deals at the markets. Great memories. Thank you. Fantastic tour. Unforgettable

Daniel🇺🇸 United States

(About local Emir)

8 February 2024

Emir is a very interesting, warm, sophisticated, and entertaining guy who is an academic historian with an amazing knowledge about Istanbul and its history! We had a great time on our tour, and we really enjoyed not only getting to learn from Emir but also to have casual conversation with him. He's the kind of person you would want to have a coffee with to just talk about life, travel, and what's going on in the world. We feel lucky to have gotten to meet him on our tour.Great tour guide