• Private Tour
• Family Friendly
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Welcome to Istanbul! Want to know the best places to eat? Cool events in town? Which places to go to and which to avoid? Or simply get some help to navigate the city? Book this private tour with a local and get the perfect introduction to Istanbul to start your city trip on the right foot.

Destination

Istanbul, Turkey

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

1.5 hours

Transport mode

Public Transport

Available languages

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

Included

• Private Guide
• Local Tips and Tricks
• City Orientation
• All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral

Excluded

• Entrance to attractions

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 15 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 Entrance to Tunel - 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. City Highlights

   See Istiklal Street, Galata Tower, and more landmarks and must-sees of the city. Your local host will take you to the main spots of the city so you can get the perfect introduction to what makes Istanbul so special

4. Local Hot Spots

   Along the way, your host will point out hangout spots and hidden gems that only the locals know about and will help you get acquainted with the city in the most local way possible

5. Food Recommendations

   Receive tailored recommendations according to your taste and where to go and what to eat while visiting Istanbul. Avoid tourist traps thanks to your local host!

6. City Orientation

   Learn how to navigate the city, and get the answers to your Istanbul questions that will help you in the following days making your time in the city much easier

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

vedran

(About local Kemal)

6 March 2025

Kemal je apsolutno fantastičan vodič – strastven, informiran i nevjerojatno gostoljubiv! Proveo nas je kroz skrivene kutke Istanbula koje sami nikad ne bismo pronašli, od lokalnih taverni do skrivenih vidikovaca s predivnim pogledom. Uživali smo u pravim "hidden gems" mjestima, daleko od turističkih gužvi, gdje smo osjetili pravi duh grada. Uz to, počastio nas je vrhunskim vinom i podijelio sjajne preporuke za restorane, barove i mjesta s autentičnom glazbom. Svaki savjet koji nam je dao bio je zlata vrijedan – zahvaljujući njemu, ostatak našeg boravka bio je još bogatiji. Ako želite istinski doživjeti Istanbul, osjetiti njegovu atmosferu i otkriti mjesta koja samo lokalci znaju, Kemal je čovjek za vas! Topla preporuka za svakoga tko traži nezaboravno iskustvo!Autentično iskustvo u Istanbulu s Kemalom

Keith🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Dilek)

18 February 2025

With just a day in Istanbul we needed a orientation and a guide to places close to our hotel. Dilek went over and above, helping us with airport transfer and other advice and guidance before we arrived. The time with Dilek in the morning was all we could have wished for and she was generous with her advice, her willingness and flexibility to meet our needs and her time - we hope to meet her again when we have more time to explore the cityIntro to the European side of Istanbul

Unknown

(About local Neslihan )

17 February 2025

Neslihan brought warm energy and plenty of fascinating historical tales to the tour. Her easygoing demeanor and kindness made the scheduled time fly by. Arranged to familiarize ourselves with the area before venturing out ourselves, she made sure to listen to our plans, customizing advice to our particular interests. Having our fortunes read in coffee grounds was a fun and unexpected addition. Equipped with many suggestions, key Turkish phrases, and an Istanbulkart, we began our trip feeling confident and energized. Teşekkürler, Neslihan!Upbeat and personalized

Elisabeth🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Dilek)

10 February 2025

Great start to our stay in Istanbul with Dilek - who was clear and informative. Helped us get the lay of the land, when attractions were open and not so busy, how to get around and what to concentrate on in the time we had. Perfect introduction to Istanbul

Ingrid

(About local Dilek)

25 January 2025

Dilek was the best guide I could imagine for our introduction to travelling in Istanbul. She is very warm, knowledgeable, and highly responsive to her clients’ needs. I am travelling with my 75-year old mother who tires easily and my very active 11-year-old. Dilek has been very thoughtful in responding to our varied needs and creating a very enjoyable experience for all. Very highly recommended!!!Fantastic introduction to Istanbul

Oana

(About local Ugur)

8 January 2025

We had an amazing experience with Ugur! He is extremely knowledgeable about everything we might need to know about Istanbul from history, real estate and amazing food recommendation we would never know otherwise. Best tour guide in Istanbul!

Dawn

(About local Emir)

4 January 2025

We were so fortunate to have Emir as our guide! He was very informative, personable and had a great sense of humor. We learned so many details about the history of Istanbul. He even gave us advice in regards to a trip we were taking outside of Istanbul! His ability to be flexible and adjust the tour accordingly was very impressive and showed his knowledge of the old city and his proficiency as a guide. It was a great way to start our visit to Türkiye!A wonderful introduction to Istanbul!

Erik🇩🇪 Germany

(About local muhammed)

4 January 2025

We got a good overview about details about Istanbul, live in the cuty snd its history.Istanbul experience

Florence and Andrew 🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Emir)

17 December 2024

Emir was the best I could want. I ask a lot of questions and he knew the answer or quickly found it. He was able to tie in our previous knowledge and experience and incorporate into the tour. When I go back to Istanbul, I'll 💯 go with Emir and I'd recommend him to anyone.Wealth of knowledge.

Maryanne🇺🇸 United States

(About local Emir)

9 December 2024

Emir was a delight. He was a wonderful host and guide for our first trip to Istanbul. If we ever return I would plan on another tour with him. He is very well traveled and knowledgeable about Turkish history. He was also kind and patient with our young child who felt so safe with him that they held hands during the tour. So sweet!Kind and knowledgeable

Unknown

(About local Emir)

7 December 2024

Emir was a generous and informative tour guide. He made considerable effort to accommodate our 5-year-old son, and he was very kind towards him. We learned much in a short amount of time, and modified our trip based on his thoughtful suggestions. Highly recommended!Wonderful introduction to Istanbul

Olive🇮🇩 Indonesia

(About local Hakan)

20 November 2024

We spent approximately 5 hrs with Hakan on a flight layover. He cheerfully greeted us at an ungodly hr of 6:00am and showed us an area that we had never explored in Istanbul. He was very knowledgeable and accommodating. His driver was also very good. It was interesting exploring the city in the early morning as it was coming alive. I would highly recommend his services. Excellent guide

Sarah

(About local Abdullah)

6 November 2024

Lovely guide, knowledgable and entertaining. Showed us areas we were unlikely to find on our own. Had a really lovely morning. Thank you Abdullah 🙏Wonderful guide

Nick🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Safiye)

4 November 2024

Safiye was great, we really enjoyed our tour, and visited lots of places that we would not have done without her! Thanks Safiye!Great!

julian.wid

(About local Emir)

3 November 2024

Our walking Tour with Emir was Perfect. He is such a nice guy with a lot of knowledge. He showed us karakoy and had many recommendations for our time in Istanbul.Perfect Tour

Mary

(About local Emir)

25 October 2024

From beginning to the end Emir was great. His knowledge of the history of Turkey . He makes the tour great fun with his sense of humour . We certainly got to see a lot of places we would have never found on our own Emir

David🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Emir)

25 October 2024

Emir was brilliant. Intelligent, informative and very good fun. He clearly loves Istanbul and justifiably so ! Exceptional Guide

Betsy🇺🇸 United States

(About local Abdullah)

23 October 2024

Abdullah was amazing! He personalized my tour so I could get an excellent introduction to Istanbul in a short time! You can tell he is passionate about his city and its history and he is so happy to share. I can’t wait to come back to Istanbul and learn more about its history and culture on another tour with Abdullah!Excellent Tour & Guide!

Rob 🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Emir)

12 October 2024

Emir was great! Gracious, knowledgable, experienced and entertaining. We used him for a 3 hour tour of some food and local history, he did not dissapoint.Knowledgable Local Historian

rajanjulka🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local muhammed)

4 October 2024

Excellent tours! Very informative and professional Excellent tours

Ilaria🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Alp)

3 October 2024

We had an absolutely amazing experience with Alp during our private tour in Istanbul. From the moment we met him, we knew we couldn’t have chosen a better guide. Alp was incredibly knowledgeable, personable, and passionate about sharing the rich history and culture of this beautiful city. He tailored the tour perfectly to our interests, making sure we saw both the must-see sights and some hidden gems off the beaten path. His deep understanding of Istanbul’s history, combined with his engaging storytelling, truly brought the city to life for us. He was also incredibly thoughtful and attentive, ensuring that we were comfortable and enjoying every moment of the tour. We left Istanbul with a much greater appreciation of the city, thanks to him. If you’re looking for a guide who’s knowledgeable, professional, and a joy to be around, Alp is the one. Highly recommended!

BRONTE🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Safiye)

1 October 2024

Actually it was all ins. Safiya did say that there was one place that we shouldn't go (can't remember where) but that Istanbul was a safe city and the people friendly. We found this to be true. Anyway, Safiya's strength was her ability to customise her tour to meet our needs. Starting with our request to meet at our hotel and then changing routes and information, as we asked questions along the way. Lots of useful hints and detailed historical background. Very personable, friendly lady. We had a great time.Istanbul, ins and outs

Jo🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Emir)

29 September 2024

We started our 5 day visit to this amazing city with a morning tour with Emir. It’s a fantastic way to gain some insights to a city with such a rich history. Emir followed up with some great highlights which helped plan the rest of our visit. Would highly recommend Emir !Fascinating!

Edwin

(About local Safiye)

19 September 2024

My wife and I (Americans visiting Istanbul for the first time) had such a great time with Safiye. She was extremely responsive in setting up our walking tour, was punctual, easily understood, and extremely informative!. We visited all the primary sites we had planned for and then some to complete our 4 hour tour. Istanbul is a wonderful city but challenging to visit on your own or even in a larger group tour. A local and knowledgeable private guide like Safiye makes all the difference. We strongly recommend her!Safiye was wonderful!

Marlou 🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local muhammed)

14 September 2024

Very nice tour to know the city a little bit more. A good experience when you just arrived in the city and need all the ‘good to knows’. Muhammed was flexibel and send very good tips. Great tour!

Patricia🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Emir)

12 September 2024

We had a very good experience with Emir. He was both entertaining and informative. The tour gave us a good grounding for our stay in Istanbul including what we wanted to see and the historical context of many sites. Well worth the moneyOur successful kickstarter tour

Wolfgang🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Neslihan )

2 September 2024

Wir hatten nur eine kurze Zeit gebucht, aber in dieser viel über die Geschichte der Türkei erfahren und einen guten Eindruck über interessante Sehenswürdigkeiten erhalten. Neslihan hat uns gute Tipps für die kommenden Tage gegeben und war immer freundlich, hilfsbereit und ein wirklich interessanter Mensch. Danke, dass wir Dich kennenlernen durften, Neshalin!Empfehlenswert

Farid🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Emir)

28 August 2024

Emir made our tour so much fun with his knowledge, friendliness and wit. We loved the neighborhood he showed us and helped us plan for the rest of our trip with great tips on sights, restaurants and experiences. You cannot go to Istanbul without having a Kickstarter with Emir. Absolutely recommend him. Thank you again for the morning you spent with us and the baklava to end the tour was epic. Awesome Introduction to Istanbul

Frank

(About local muhammed)

9 August 2024

Havde en fin tur med Muhammed, han var venlig og kom med mange gode forslag til hvad vi skulle se - Kan kun anbefale ham.Super fin tur

Elrika🇿🇲 Zambia

(About local Dilek)

24 July 2024

Dilek is a very knowledgeable and friendly lady. She gave me many tips for making my days in Istanbul cheaper and more time efficient. Definitely worth the money and time spent on this experience. A must when you arrive in Istanbul.

Sascha🇲🇺 Mauritius

(About local muhammed)

8 July 2024

I had such a nice time with Muhammad. Just down to earth , straight forward and very interesting . He is knowledgeable and informative and genuine . I am glad I did my first day in Istanbul with him , we touched on all topics about culture and history , shopping , restaurants, and he gave me good advise on transport and just generally being in Istanbul for the first time . I would highly recommend Mohammed and if I return would have no problem looking him up again ! Best way to start in Istanbul

Julie🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Emir)

12 June 2024

Emir shared lots of useful information and history with us giving us an insight in to Istanbul. It was the start of an amazing few days. We were able to contact Emir for more information after the tour too!Introduction to Istanbul

Rakan

(About local Abdullah)

1 June 2024

Abdullah is simply great. You feel like you are taking a tour with a fiend in the city. He clearly loves Istanbul and the many neighborhoods that surround it. We randomly ran into his friends during our tour, had chats, drank some tea, ate some baklava, and learned interesting facts outside the wiki side. 10/10 would always recommend Abdullah for a great tour around the city. Take a tour with a friend.

josephinevmeer

(About local Lorena)

27 May 2024

The tour that Lorena gave us was great! After the tour we had a good view of the city, culture and food. Furthermore Lorena gave us nice tips for dinner and neighbourhoods. She even made a reservation for us at a restaurant where didn’t speak English. Thanks a lot! Great tour!

Yinka 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local muhammed)

12 May 2024

Had a lovely walking tour on my first day to get myself acquainted to the area. Was able to work out the neighbourhood and where the essential things were. Mohammed Was punctual and very knowledgeable.

Marcel🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Deniz)

28 April 2024

Deniz is a very nice lady who communicates very well. Via WhatsApp and in person. Upfront she asked what we wanted to to and do. Because we want to go shopping in Istanbul, she gave information about shopping areas and the times.Istanbul experience with Deniz

Simon🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Abdullah)

18 April 2024

I had the best day of my trip with Abdullah. He is charming, funny and has a great sense of humor. For people wanting a fun experience he is the guy you should select.He is a legend

Isabel🇺🇸 United States

(About local Emir)

30 March 2024

Overall, our experience with Emir exceeded all expectations. His friendly demeanor, caring attitude, and generous sharing of knowledge made for an unforgettable tour of Istanbul. We wholeheartedly recommend Emir to anyone looking for a top-notch tour guide in this magnificent city. On top of a being a great guide, Emir's is also a great photographer. I was thrilled to find a guide willing to take pictures for us that we will treasure for years to come. Thank you, Emir, for an incredible experience!Exceptional Tour Experience with Emir

Daniele🇮🇹 Italy

(About local Lorena)

29 December 2023

The worst tour guide experience ever. We met at the Metro stop and walked at a snail's pace, with the laziness of someone who just wants to reach the end of the tour with the least effort possible. Zero enthusiasm for the city or Turkish culture. We walked in two central streets (Istiklal and then downhill on foot) of the city, which were presented as neighborhoods with some 'nice shops' to see. No description of the city, architecture, or any aspect of local life, religion, history. Nothing. The guide knew the city like a tourist who had been living there for a few months without having studied its history (or at least without the desire to tell it). Doesn't speak Turkish, doesn't point out any places frequented by locals, nor places to shop or discover. The only directions provided for getting around Istanbul were 'you might visit the Blue Mosque or Hagia Sophia.' In short, save your 100€, it's absolutely useless and offensive to the profession of a tour guide. Okay, they are 'locals' (but then only lived there a few months) and maybe not trained like official guides, but this way, it's just money thrown away.Worst guide ever

Alexey🇨🇳 China

(About local Gülce)

28 December 2023

Thanks so much for taking time to show me around Istanbul! It was a nice mix of history background and current state of Istanbul lifestyle intro. Recommended!Amazing intro to Istanbul!

Laura🇺🇸 United States

(About local Safiye)

29 November 2023

We had a great experience learning about and how to navigate Istanbul with Safiye. I would highly recommend her as a guide as she is knowledgeable and friendly and went above and beyond to make our stay enjoyable! Safiye is Awesome!

Marta🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Ugur)

11 November 2023

Ugur gave as a great, personalised kickstart tour of Istanbul. He shared fantastic advice on restaurants and transport and helped us buy our own transport card. Thanks to his tips the rest of our stay was pretty much stress free. Great tips for a stress free trip

Andrew🇪🇸 Spain

(About local Dilek)

10 November 2023

Dilek was a smiling charming guide, and a provided a great introduction to Istanbul. Pleasant introduction to Istanbul.

Janet🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Emir)

27 October 2023

We met Amer after a bit of a struggle for the meeting place but was soon sorted . We were given lots of fact and knowledge about places we were going to visit and shown some places we would never had visited - enjoyed our tour - thanks Friendly and interesting

Pedro 🇧🇪 Belgium

(About local Lorena)

15 October 2023

Lorena guided us for our first ever tour in Istambul. She directed us on the phone when we got lost trying to reach our meeting point. Met us somewhere else, showing flexibility and great care for us. She explained a lot about the history, costumes and also modern Istambul. We enjoyed the tour very much and found Lorena to be a fantastic guide. Wholeheartedly recommend. Friendly and insightful tour in Galata

Rob🇬🇷 Greece

(About local Emir)

8 October 2023

We could not have had a better experience on our tour with Amer. He was informative, kind, and happy to answer all of our questions. Nothing was too much trouble. A pleasure to have as our guide.Exceptional

zsybpqhprk🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Lorena)

3 October 2023

Lorena, takes you on a relaxing stroll, highlighting interesting facts and pointing out sights you would miss just walking by yourself. Lorena has a gentle and generous manner about her and is easy to spend the time with.Great Tour

kc4tbp65bm🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Emir)

24 September 2023

We spent a delightful morning with Amer who is knowledgable entertaining and an all round wonderful human! He is so passionate about his city and we learnt so much. He went above and beyond to create a tailor made tour for us ( including lots of foody advice, even inviting his chef friend to join us who was charming!) can't recommend Amer highly enough - if he is free and he agrees to show you round his city / you'll never forget his warm welcome, kindness and humour. 10/10 from us! ❤️Amer - come tans visit us in London - can't wait to show you around!Amer is amazing!!

Jenny🇺🇸 United States

(About local Dilek)

17 September 2023

Dilek was friendly, professional, very knowledgeable, and flexible. She did a great job adjusting to what I was interested in seeing. She highlighted the hidden gems, teaching me how to get a transit card, and how to use the public system. Also, she made me feel very comfortable as we navigated the city on foot and tram. Dilek was Great!

Katy🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Lorena)

5 September 2023

Lorena was an excellent guide and she provided a great kickstart to our visit to Istanbul. She met us promptly at the port and communicated very well. Lorena helped us navigate this amazing city so we could then venture alone after the tour, as well as being informative.Tour of Istanbul - cruise tourist