• 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, Español, Türkçe, 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 18 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

Peter

(About local Emir)

22 July 2025

Our City Kickstart Tour with Emir was a great success. He was both pleasant company and highly knowledgeable, and managed to keep all three generations in our group interested and involved throughout. Emir struck a nice balance between information and conversation, and we all felt he gave us more than we had hoped for. A big thank you to you Emir for a great introduction to Istanbul.A Great Start to Our Stay in Istanbul

Andrea🇺🇸 United States

(About local Safiye)

18 July 2025

We had the absolute pleasure of touring Istanbul with Safiye, and we couldn’t have asked for a better guide! She showed our group of four women the very best of the city—seamlessly blending history, culture, hidden gems, and local flavor in a way that made the experience both informative and incredibly fun. Safiye went above and beyond, even spending more time with us than planned to make sure we didn’t miss anything special. Her passion for Istanbul is contagious, and her knowledge and kindness made us feel welcomed and well taken care of from start to finish. We’ll be recommending her to everyone we know heading to Istanbul. Thank you, Safiye, for an unforgettable experience!We ❤️ Safiye

Catherine

(About local Dilek)

18 July 2025

Hi! We had a wonderful morning with Dilek! She is very knowledgeable, speaks great English and Spanish too and is very kind and generous. We only had one hour, but she packed in so much history and education into our 1 hour walk around the old city. We didn’t have enough time to enter places, but we were able to get a really nice quick taste of Istanbul. She was super helpful in assisting with planning our transportation also! When we return for a longer vacation, we will reach out to Dilek again! Until next time! Clturally and visually engaging tour

Joseph

(About local Emir)

13 July 2025

This tour was great. Emir was very personable and funny, and I could tell he clearly had a passion for what he does. His knowledge of history, of all sorts, was exceptional. If you're staying in Istanbul do this tour!! He will show you around and also give you great recommendations and insights on the city. Great tour great host

Patricia

(About local Abdullah)

12 July 2025

Too many changes. And also a cancellation Too

Sarah🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Emir)

23 June 2025

Emir was an amazing tour guide. Me and my two friends came to Istanbul for just 2.5 days, so we knew we needed to make the most of our time. Emir’s kickstart tour gave us a great history of Istanbul, taught us about all the major sights, showed the neighborhood of Karakoy (which we would have probably missed on our own!), and guided us on must try foods and the best spots. He made sure we had a successful trip by showing us the best baklava in the city and giving us a list/links of must see sights. To top it off he has such a great and vibrant energy and is a wonderful storyteller. Thank you for being such an amazing host, Emir & going above & beyond! Incredible start in Istanbul!

John🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Abdullah)

22 June 2025

If you would like a great guide to show you around Istanbull Abdullah does a great job with a relaxed attitude and lots of local experience, I cant recommend Abdullah enoughRoll up the sky with Abdullah

Susanne🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Emir)

22 June 2025

Absolutely fantastic kickstart tour with Emir in Istanbul! He was incredibly knowledgeable, engaging, and funny — the perfect guide to bring the city to life. Time flew by as we explored and chatted, and Emir generously stayed with us beyond the scheduled time. A warm, insightful, and unforgettable introduction to this amazing city. Highly recommended!Kickstart Istanbul

Sophie

(About local Emir)

16 June 2025

The tour with Emir was a delight. Communication and arranging meeting point was easy, and the tour was exactly what we wanted - getting more information about Istanbul and a tour around a different neighbourhood. Emir was relaxed, friendly and fun! He is very knowledgeable and told us many stories and key (and fun) facts about Istanbul and explained about key monuments and sites along the tour. Loved the tour along the street food area, and information about charcuterie, sweets, typical breakfasts, lunches etc, and where to go and not to go for a more authentic experience. Tour ended at a fabulous baklava place for coffee and...well, baklava! (best tasted ever). He also sent various links to other places to visit after the tour. Was great to have this tour with such a friendly local. Would highly recommend Emir!Fantastic tour with a delightful guide!

Louise

(About local Emir)

14 June 2025

Emir provided fascinating insights into Istanbul history and culture, also offering great food recommendations. Free quiz included!! Our family (from the UK, hence the review title!) loved the experience and it was an absolute pleasure to meet Emir. Lovely jubbly!

Michiel🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Lorena)

1 June 2025

Lorena knows just what you need and want, to get the most out of your stay. She is very helpful, very knowledgeable and very kind. Thx Lorena, Ilse and Michael Best start to our three day trip

Ashante

(About local Alp)

26 May 2025

Alp, was a great guide. We arrived in Istanbul and met with Alp after dropping our bags at the hotel. Alp, showed us the city area, shared the history all around us, suggested places to eat, enjoy and visit. We would suggest that anyone spend time with Alp he is great! Alp, you were amazing!

Björn🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Hakan)

25 May 2025

We had a very nice and informative evening with Hakan. Hakan has a huge historical knowledge and is also a pleasant guy.Perfect night in Istanbul.

John

(About local muhammed)

7 May 2025

When I was able to speak with Mohamed to build my shoot he was very easy to speak to. His English is amazing and historical knowledge of all areas famous and not so famous is stellar. He understood I only wanted 2 or 3 major touristy visits/shoots and the rest in areas that only someone who lived in Turkey knows about. He was attentive to breaks and plenty of breaks to rest the legs and enjoy the sights. In addition he was very helpful with my purchase of a lamp and shopping. He even went back to the shop after the holiday weekend to retrieve the tracking and shipping container number. 5 stars for Mohamed! Photo shoot off the beaten path

Sara🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Emir)

2 May 2025

We booked the Introduction to Istanbul tour with Emir for the first morning of our stay and we are so glad we did. Emir was a fantastic host, welcoming and full of knowledge! He provided us with lots of tips for how to make the most of time in Istanbul and some great foodie recommendations. A great way to start our stay in Istanbul!

Cindy🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Alp)

28 April 2025

Alp was the perfect tour guide. Despite much of the route being disrupted due to the marathon- he adapted his itinerary. Many interesting facts and great restaurant recommendations- thank you Alp. Well worthwhile

Helen🇪🇸 Spain

(About local Lorena)

25 April 2025

We booked Lorena on our first day for a quick tour of the European side of Istanbul. She was very helpful and pleasant and gave us great tip , about the city ,culture and more. Thanks Lorena!Great start with Lorena

Amanda🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Deniz)

17 April 2025

Deniz is a great human being who knows so much about Istanbul. We went through all sorts of areas ending up in the Asian side enjoying a very different part of this vibrant and friendly city. We had a great tea/coffee break. Deniz answered all sorts of questions and as others said made lots of great suggestions. Walking and talking with a local

Simone🇮🇹 Italy

(About local Lorena)

16 April 2025

Perfetta nella scelta dell'itinerario e generosa nel tempo dedicatoci. Poteva forse approfondire su qualche particolare storico o di folclore. Raccomando a tutti questa scoperta di un'Istanbul segreta.Bella esperienza

Gabriele🇩🇪 Germany

(About local muhammed)

15 April 2025

Muhammad hat uns eine sehr schöne Einteigertour in Istanbul gegeben. Er wusste viel und hat uns gute Tipps gegebenEinsteigertour

Pete🇫🇷 France

(About local Hakan)

6 April 2025

We spent a couple of great hours wth Hakan seeing the most important sites. We particularly loved the visit to the cistern (and not having to wait in line!). He has very good knowledge of the history and the architecture. We learnt a lot abd had a good time. Kickstart tour

Unknown

(About local Lorena)

4 April 2025

We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Lorena, she was friendly and knowledgable about the city. She helped us with our transport needs, and gave us lots of insider tips for a great stay here.Bl00dy brilliant!

Jasmine

(About local Lorena)

2 April 2025

Lorena met us in Istanbul & showed us around on a highlights tour of 90minutes. She was knowledgeable & friendly, adjusting the tour for us once she realised we had seen one of the attractions she was taking us to. There was some uphill walking & she let us set the pace.Fabulous Tour Guide

Chris

(About local Lorena)

31 March 2025

Lorena was terrific. I had a short tour with her on my first day in instanbul and whilst showing me the sights around the Galata she also set up the rest of my visit by offering me insider knowledge on what to do. Great Intro to my Trip

Julie🇫🇷 France

(About local Abdullah)

16 March 2025

Abdullah has been an amazing guide for us. Very patient with our kids, we loved finding secret passage ways in the Grand Bazaar and stopping for an impromptu vegan kebab!! Waw. Lots of fun and discoveries. Thanks to Abdullah! Amazing

Steffen🇺🇸 United States

(About local Abdullah)

16 March 2025

Apo was great company to have as a guide. Was very informative, knowledgeable and made it fun to see the highlights, culture of Istanbul. I highly recommend him.Great experience with Apo

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🇺🇸 United States

(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

1

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!