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Discover the first steps of Christianity in the mosaics and frescoes of the Chora Mosque. Visit the last palace of the Byzantine. Get ready to explore the cultural tapestry of old Istanbul's Muslim, Armenian, Jewish, and Greek Orthodox neighborhoods.

Destination

Istanbul, Turkey

Category

Day Trips

Duration

5 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Türkçe

Included

• Private guide
• Welcome tea (or coffe) at the start
• Entrance Tickets for the Tekfur Palace

What you can expect

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 Kadir Celal.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at Pembe Köşk Aile Çay Bahçesi - 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. Chora Museum

   An old church, then a mosque, now a museum, containing unique religious frescoes and mosaics from the last Byzantine period.

4. Tekfur Palace

   Tekfur Palace Museum, which is the last Roman The last standing part of the Byzantine palaces is a very impressive tile museum, now.

5. City Walls

   Historical walls that have secured the Byzantines for centuries

6. Balat

   Old Jewish neighborhood with typical Jewish houses and many synagogues. Now a unique part of the city full of antique and junk shops

7. Fener

   Following the cute Bulgarian Iron Church we will also visit ecumenical patriarchate and St. Georg church, which is the religious center of most Orthodox Christians of the world.

8. 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.

I can personalize this tour for you

• Tell me your preferred date and group size
• Tell me your preferences and wishes so I can customize the tour for you
• Wait for my personal offer in your inbox!

Contact me

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

Jane🇬🇧 United Kingdom

29 September 2020

What a perfect time we spent. Kadir was kind and understanding as a few of us had health issues Kadir really is a local with lots of people waving and saying hello. He helped a local elderly shop keeper unload his lorry of sacks vegetables. I can say from the bottom of my heart it was a great tour, taking us off the beaten track. With so much knowledge of history of this great city A gentleman who loves his city

Benjamin

28 July 2025

I booked the Istanbul Jewish tour with Kadir, which was fantastic. He has a true expertise in and passion for the history and culture of Judiasm in the Ottoman Empire and Istanbul specifically. You will definitely see things "off the beaten path" that one might not otherwise experience. Kadir is somewhat of a local legend, so I would highly recommend booking any tour with him!Amazing experience with Kadir!

Rosalind 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

23 July 2025

Kadir was really lovely and helped us discover and navigate a little of Istanbul. Not only was he very knowledgeable and proud of his home city, but we loved how he interspersed his own memories of the city and how it has transformed since he was a child. Kadir took us to some hidden gems too. He took us to an ice cream shop near the Grand Bazzar, a spot where only locals would know how to find. A real treat indeed. As we were staying for a few days, Kadir was great suggesting various things that we could do. Thank you, Kadir for sharing your wonderful city with us. It was a real pleasure meeting you. If you’re interested in discovering where this ice cream shop is … then you’ll have to book Kadir! You won’t be disappointed! Like hanging out with an old friend…

Jeffrey🇺🇸 United States

18 July 2025

Kadir is genuinly interesting, knowledgable, beyond friendly. I you must always book him for his tours we will definately when we visit Istanbul next, it is because of him we will be!EXCELLENT TOUR GUIDE

Jennifer

5 July 2025

We really appreciated our experience touring Jewish Istanbul with Kadir. I planned with Kadir over email for a few weeks in advanced in order to see the sites that would be most meaningful to me. He successfully arranged the visits and required permissions in advanced so that we had a seamless visit. He also professionally guided us as to local customs to ensure success all around. Kadir is very knowledgeable about Istanbul's Jewish history and the various communities, and was able to show us sites beyond what we had requested, as well as answer all of our many questions. This tour was the highlight of my trip to Istanbul and a meaningful part of connecting with my lost Turkish Sephardic roots (not lost anymore!) I highly recommend anybody who is interested in Jewish Istanbul to schedule your tour with Kadir. A++++++ experience. Excellent tour with a superior guide!

Geeta🇬🇧 United Kingdom

25 June 2025

Our tour with Mr. Kadir was memorable. He is so well versed with Istanbul’s history, and took us to all the major attractions whilst taking us back in time with all the historical references :) the tour was fun as we stopped by for a bite, Ayran and Turkish cay at spots recommended by Mr. Kadir. Highly recommend leaving your Istanbul tour to Mr. Kadir. Istanbul through the eyes of an expert

Gail🇺🇸 United States

22 June 2025

Kadir is a wonderful guide to Istanbul. Warm and knowledgeable, he made our experience exploring the neighborhoods of Istanbul a pleasure. Many thanks!!Warm thanks!!

jeaninne

20 June 2025

Kadir is amazing !!! He showed us around with so much knowledge and passion foe the city. He is the best guide !!! So nice with the kids. He had everyone engaged. I highly reccomend him !!! Kadir is amazing

Alastair🇬🇧 United Kingdom

19 June 2025

Met Kadir at the German Fountain, he asked us want we wanted and then gave us a good rundown of the history of Istanbul before visiting the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Sistern.. managing to shortcut some of the queues which was great. Kadir had extensive knowledge of all 3 places and knew the best photo stops. We enjoyed our tour with Kadir.Istanbul with Kadir

George🇦🇺 Australia

15 June 2025

Kadir was an exceptional guide during our time in Istanbul. He was not only patient and knowledgeable but also generous with his insights and time. His thoughtful and considerate approach to the tour kept everyone in our family, including our 12-year-old, fully engaged and included. Kadir's expertise and attentiveness made the experience truly enjoyable for all of us.Informative and Entertaining

Adam🇺🇸 United States

5 June 2025

Kadir was amazing. He was very knowledgeable about all of the history and culture of the area. He was obviously very passionate about the history, which made the tour very engaging. He also gave us great advice on where to eat and where else to go. I would highly recommend Kadir.Passionate historian

Unknown

3 June 2025

Kadir made our day in Istanbul the highlight of our holiday! Knowledgeable, thoughtful and very considerate, he took us to places we'd never have found by ourselves and he more than exceeded the brief we gave. With brilliant commentary and a smile and handshake for everyone we met he made the day great fun and we learned so much from him. Thank you Kadir! RuthKadir the King of guides!

Ben🇬🇧 United Kingdom

2 June 2025

Thank you Kadir for an excellent full day tour. We covered a lot and we greatly appreciated your expertise and knowledge.Full day tour

Graeme🇬🇧 United Kingdom

1 June 2025

Kadir treated us to an informative, personal, engaging and thoroughly enjoyable tour of Jewish Istanbul. His knowledge was exemplary and his personable nature put us at ease from the moment we met. We would highly recommend him.The highlight of our holiday.

Sabine🇺🇸 United States

30 May 2025

We truly enjoyed our time with Kadir Celal. He is very friendly and knowledgeable. Kadir helped us experience Istanbul in a way we could never have done on our own. We highly recommend him and would definitely book a tour with him again. A wonderful introduction to Istanbul

Deborah🇺🇸 United States

25 May 2025

Kadir was a wonderful guide for me and my 2 friends. We explored Jewish Istanbul from old to new including some special surprises of getting into the Ahrida Synagogue in the Balat and a private viewing of the Galata Tower and the cityscape from the top of an apartment house once owned by a Jewish family. I would absolutely recommend touring with this very cheerful and knowledgeable guide. Excellent, well informed tour.

Michael

20 May 2025

Very knowledgeable guide, well versed in Jewish history in Turkey. Showed us many sights we would not have found on our own. Arranged entry into two beautiful and historic synagogues.Interesting tour

Sej🇦🇺 Australia

18 May 2025

Really enjoyed the morning tour with Kadir! Gave us many insights into life in Istanbul and of course the history. He was very helpful and thoughtful. Thanks Kadir! A great morning of history!

Helen🇺🇸 United States

15 May 2025

We can’t say enough about Kadir. He is a wonderful person and an excellent guide. We are from the Midwest and Kadir’s English was perfect and his depth and breadth of the expansive, complex, fascinating history of Istanbul kept us so interested throughout our eight-hour tour. He knew all the best places to go….and all the best people to meet. We highly and passionately recommend Kadir. We loved him!!Fanastic!!

Colby🇺🇸 United States

12 May 2025

Kadir was an outstanding tour guide for my family and I. He shared great local stories and history, was flexible with our groups needs and kept us moving efficiently so we saw so much in a short time! Thank you, Kadir! You are the best. Amazing tour with Kadir!

Steven🇺🇸 United States

30 April 2025

Kadir is knowledgeable, very friendly, and fun. We had a great day with him and enjoyed the tour very much! Would definitely recommend Kadir. A winderful day with Kadir

Susan

28 April 2025

We spent two days in Istanbul with Kadir, exploring the old town one day and the Jewish history the second day. Kadir is a friendly, knowledgeable, generous, and passionate tour guide. He took us to find the hidden corners of the old town that we never could have experienced on our own and gave great food suggestions for the rest of our trip. Thank you Kadir! Two great days in Istanbul

Syd

19 April 2025

kadir was just so lovely to be with knowledgable and friendly and truly local wev had av great timewonderfuk

Rudi🇬🇧 United Kingdom

14 April 2025

The half day tour of Jewish Istanbul with Kadir Celal was fantastic. He had taken the time to try to tailor the tour to my particular interests. He was knowledgeable and friendly. Highly recommended!Great morning in Istanbul!

Tom

5 April 2025

Kadir is without question the best guide we have ever hired. His knowledge of the city and history of Istanbul is incredible. We saw and learned more in the two days that we spent with him than we could have ever possibly done on our own. He got us to places we had not discovered in our pre-trip research. People all over the city seem to know and love him. He is tireless and truly loves his home. His English is terrific. We were both amazed at what a great asset to our travel and value that he wasThe Best!

Dawn🇺🇸 United States

8 February 2025

Kadir is super knowledgeable, and took the less than ideal weather into account. He made the day informative and interesting, showcasing the history and beauty of the city. Thank you, Kadir!Great tour of Istanbul!

Katalin🇫🇷 France

30 January 2025

Kadir was very flexible and customised te tour as per our preferences. We learned a lot and the anecdotes Kafir told us where very refreshing. A serious guide, with humor and lots of attention to it's guests, it was a pleasure to discover Istanbul with him.Interesting tour, nice guide

S

20 January 2025

Kadir was a wonderful choice for a day or touring Istanbul. We were touring with our 97 yr old mother and he helped us locate a driver for a very reasonable price. Driver stayed with our Mom when there was no wheelchair access or if she needed a break. Kadir was very knowledgeable and made the day fun as well. Be sure that he takes you to Kadikoy on the Asian side to see the market. I could happily live there. Thank you KadirGreat day with Kadir

NYEIN🇹🇷 Turkey

18 January 2025

Kadir crafts a tour so that is completely about you and what you want to learn. I felt so taken care of--few tour guides (and people generally) have the EQ and intellectual curiosity that Kadir has, resulting in a tour is a dialogue and not a one-way flow of information and facts. There were so many subtle personal touches and acts of consideration that demonstrated to me that Kadir really went out of his way to make this an experience of a lifetime. Definitely don't miss out on what could be one of the best days of your vacation.White Glove Treatment

Elizabeth🇫🇷 France

18 January 2025

The rich tapestry that is Istanbul requires a skilled, natural storyteller like Kadir to reveal some of its intricate history woven in its colorful threads. Kadir’s deep knowledge, natural warmth and unhurried pace & generous time was a perfect combination after we had endured 2 long flights. And his patience to reply with deliberate thought, shared thoughts on current times and his easy engagement with locals — all that helped to make our first visit to Istanbul an experience worth repeating — for a longer visit next time. The tour ended beautifully with Kadir joining us for afternoon tea at his suggested Turkish patisserie shop. Enriching Few Hours Well-Spent

Mark🇺🇸 United States

4 January 2025

We had a great day in Istanbul with Kadir as our guide. Kadir worked with me to customize the tour for myself and 5 friends. We visited the hippodrome, the blue mosque, the Hagia Sophie and the grand bazaar. Kadir was friendly, courteous, and knowledgeable and he helped us navigate through the crowds and picked out several places to eat along the way. I highly recommend a tour in Istanbul with Kadir!Great tour in Istanbul

rolf🇳🇱 Netherlands

3 January 2025

We hebben een geweldige tour gehad met Kadir. Zeer bevlogen gids die ontzettend veel weet van Istanbul en de bezochte locaties in het bijzonder. Hij heeft uitgebreid de tijd genomen om alles uit te leggen en toe te lichten. Overduidelijk heeft Kadir veel kennis van de historie van Istanbul en de Ottomanen. Volgende keer kiezen wij zeker weer voor Kadir.Topkapi en Basilica Cisterne

Madeleine

23 December 2024

We had an incredible tour in Istanbul with Kadir! We did the Jewish tour and Kadir was extremely knowledgeable and knew all the best places to see. He was warm and welcoming and a true lifelong learner. Kadir knows Istanbul like the back of his hand and showed us some of the city highlights along the way. He was also well connected and introduced us all over the place so everyone was very welcoming and treated us like family. We will work with him again next time we visit Istanbul and will definitely recommend him. Thanks Kadir for a wonderful day!Family in Istanbul

Alexis🇺🇸 United States

9 December 2024

We had the best day with Kadir. He was extremely knowledgable and explained everything in understandable terms. Kadir knew everybody in town - it was like getting a tour by the mayor! I highly recommend tours with Kadir.Wonderful Day

Roger🇺🇸 United States

15 November 2024

Kadir is gregarious and put us at ease about our questions. I got the sense he understood our striving to increase knowledge of a place we did not know and he related well.Enjoyable and informative

Adele🇬🇧 United Kingdom

13 November 2024

Kadir is a wonderful guide, he came to our hotel to chat through what we wanted to see and do and then gave us a great tour of many of the major sites and some hidden gems to. He was so knowledgeable and made the tour interesting and fun, the day just flew by. I would highly recommend him.

Ashok

12 November 2024

Kadir is so knowledgeable of the rich history in Istanbul! We loved that he shared small details that are easy to miss along with past and current customs of the Turkish people. Kadir’s delightful personality is infectious, he made the tour feel like a fun adventure. Our 23 year old autistic daughter is still talking about how much she enjoyed Kadir. We highly recommend Kadir, you will have just as much fun as we did; Guarenteed!Excellent Experience!

frederic🇫🇷 France

8 November 2024

Kadir can talk about History, archeology, arts, etc. He is friendly, always ready to help. Not just an ordinary guide : someone very educated, civilised, who perfectly know his beautiful town. He will adapt everything to what you need. Fantastic experience. Many thanks to him.Amazing guide

Jana🇵🇭 Philippines

6 November 2024

Kadir is very knowledgeable and fun to be with. A great tour guide who wants to see and know the history of Istanbul. Amazed by how he really took care of us. He gave suggestions and recommendations on where to buy souvenirs and where to eat. Highly recommended. Best tour with Kadir

Martyn🇿🇦 South Africa

28 October 2024

Great guide, came through to our hotel to chat about the day, and then delivered a wonderful tour of the major sights with a great knowledge of Istanbul history. Easy going and fun Kadir made our day.

Renarta🇯🇵 Japan

26 October 2024

Our family including our two sons aged 10 and 13 really enjoyed the tour. Kadir was knowledgable and made the information relatable. He was also v kind with toilet stops, crowds and giving me a scarf in line with mosque requirements. Would recommend. Brilliant experience

Cheryle🇨🇦 Canada

14 October 2024

Kadir was an amazing guide. He was flexible when we weee running a bit late. He took us to all the sites we wanted to see and was so knowledgeable about them, Istanbul and Türkiye. He also showed us some hidden gems to get sweets and great local food. At the end of the day he went above and beyond to get a taxi for us so we could get to our hotel on time. Throughout the whole tour he had fun and interesting stories. I highly recommend him as a guide and would ask for him again.A wonderful day

Eric🇺🇸 United States

7 October 2024

Kadir was one of the best tour guides we have had in recent years. His sensitivity and kindness cannot be overstated. His easy friendly demeanor and openness made us feel comfortable in this large and crowded city. Despite the large crowds, we were able to see most of the key sites of the city. Because of his knowledge of the city, he easily navigated us through the crowds making the best use of our time with him. He appears to have a great depth of knowledge which he was able to share with us in a very understandable manner. He made sure that our key interests were taken onto account when planning our stops which also included some shopping at the Grand Bazaar. He generously bought dried fruit, Turkish “pretzels” and even a shawl for my wife to wear when needed. He even had plastic bags for us to put our shoes in on Mosque visits. Kadir seemed to know many people along the way which gave us a sense that he was well liked by many in the tourist industry. We highly recommend him for your next visit to Istanbul.Great personalized experience in Istanbul

Jennifer🇺🇸 United States

28 September 2024

Our experience with Kadir was outstading in every way. Personalizing and booking our tour was easy. He was prompt and clear and worked with us to make sure we were getting the exact experience we wanted. Kadir gave us excellent recommendations for other places to visit, having nothing to do with this tour, and even took care of some of our bookings. Kadir was incredibly flexible and accommodating on our tour. When our tour ran late, he extended without a beat. There seemed to be no end to his knowledge of Istanbul's history, politics, and culture. He answered all of our never ending questions with enthusiasm. His pride in the city and its history and culture was unmatched. I enthusiastically and without reservation recommend booking a tour with Kadir. You will not be disappointed.Outstanding in every way!

Rebecca🇺🇸 United States

25 September 2024

We loved our tour with Kadir exploring the history of the Jewish people in Istanbul. We would never have been able to see so many places without him and it was obvious that he has a warm relationship with the people at every stop. It was the highlight and heart of our trip.Wonderful experience!

Jesper🇩🇰 Denmark

15 September 2024

Kadir was a absolute great guide, who we highly recommend. He is attentive and had great observations everywhere we went. He knew we were from Denmark and incorporated that into the tour and told us funny details ajour the Danes footprint in Istanbul throughout history. Again: Kadir comes with the best recommendations!Attentive, entertaining & engaging!

Karen🇨🇦 Canada

12 September 2024

We had a wonderful tour with Kadir. He moved us smoothly through crowded areas all the while highlighting the important points to take note of. Kadir's explanations helped make sense of the sights and connected different places in time. Kadir also offered some wonderful tips and advice for touring the rest of the city on our own. We followed his great advice and he was not wrong! Our only regret was that Kadir was booked up on following days and we could not tour with him a second time this trip. Not to worry, we will be back. See you then Kadir and many thanks!Delightful Tour

John🇦🇺 Australia

26 August 2024

We had a fantastic experience with Kadir. He is incredibly knowledgeable and gave us an amazing Jewish experience in Istanbul. We visited operating synagogues and the sites of old synagogues, as well as an excellent Jewish museum. Kadir provided a commentary on each of these and clearly explained the history of the Jews of Istanbul. A highlight was visiting the 500 year old Sephardi Synagogue on the Asian side of the city. Apart from this, Kadir is a very generous person. He helped us book a fantastic Turkish Bath experience and a Bosphorus River cruise. I would recommend Kadir without reservation.Bringing Jewish Instabul alive

Kimberly🇺🇸 United States

17 August 2024

Kadir was an AMAZING host. He made my sister and I feel so welcomed. He was very knowledgeable and kind with a touch of great humor. He was a perfect balance of professional and personable. He showed us everything we requested to see and also what we shouldn’t have missed in Istanbul. He went over and above to make sure we were comfortable and happy with our tour. BIG thank you Kadir for making our experience in Istanbul nothing less than exceptional. 10 Star Experience

Amy🇺🇸 United States

24 July 2024

We had the best day with Kadir. He was so knowledgable and you could tell he loved his city. We loved Istanbul and owe it to Kadir!Amazing day