• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Ready for a jam-packed tour, full of history, culture, stories, and sights? Checkmark from your travel bucket list all your must-sees of Istanbul, because if there’s a Withlocals tour that shows you all the city's ins and outs, it’s this complete and personalized tour of Istanbul.

Destination

Istanbul, Turkey

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

8 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Türkçe, Español, 中文, Français

Included

• Private Guide
• 1 Local Snack
• Tickets for Mawlawi house included
• Transportation
• All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral

Excluded

• Extra tastings
• Entrance to attractions

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 16 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 Meet in front of the German Fountain in Sultanahmet - 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 Topkapi, Area of Galata, Blue Mosque, and more must-sees of the city. Your local host will take you to the main spots of the city so you can get the perfect overview to what makes Istanbul so special

4. Hidden Gems

   long the way, your local host will show you treasures hidden in plain sight that only the locals know about. Get to know the city through a different perspective, the local way, and discover places and stories that not many tourists get to experience

5. Special Treat

   Follow your host to one of their favorite eateries for a snack or a drink beloved by the locals. Take a break and catch up with your new local friend and get the answers to all your travel questions

6. More Things to See

   With more time, you’ll have the chance to enter some of the landmarks and attractions your host has planned for you. Get in touch with the host of your choice to hear more about their plan

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

Ted🇺🇸 United States

(About local Esra)

9 September 2025

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

Denny🇦🇹 Austria

(About local Abdullah)

8 September 2025

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


Nancy

(About local Ahmet Can)

2 September 2025

On our first trip to Istanbul we were looking for a knowledgeable and personable guide who would discuss history , culture and Turkish life including contemporary Turkey. Ahmet exceeded all of our expectations. We felt that we not only learned about the very rich History of Istanbul. We also got to know Ahmet . Even before our tour Ahmet made suggestions for our first day here and after our tour Ahmet sent us follow up Directions for taking the ferries. We could not have been happier with our experience and look forward to recommending Ahmet to our many friends who plan to visit Istanbul . Fantastic Day

Beyauna🇺🇸 United States

(About local Abdullah)

1 September 2025

Apo was an excellent tour guide. I strongly recommend him. I appreciated his friendliness, his patience and historical lessons on the places we visited. He is passionate at what he does. I highly recommend him. He's magnificent!Istanbul tour

Chris and Lee🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Emre)

30 August 2025

Emre gave us a wonderful tour. He was always sensitive to our needs and interests, and an amiable and very knowledgeable companion. A great day with Emre

Karen🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Gülce)

28 August 2025

Gülce was a happy easy going guide. She was full of fabulous information and stories of Istanbul. Would recommend Enjoyable Day

Alexandra

(About local Emre)

26 August 2025

emre is the best guide to get the most personalized tour one can wish for. thank you for the amazing day! thank you for all the gems you took us and all of your unbelievable knowledge. it was really impressive! any time again! highest recommendation! best guide ❤️

ayesha🇺🇸 United States

(About local Abdullah)

21 August 2025

Abdullah went above and beyond to make our tour truly unforgettable. He was extremely committed, engaging, and genuinely passionate about showing us around. His sense of humor kept everyone laughing, and he had an amazing way of connecting with our kids, making the experience fun and interactive for them as well. Every part of the tour felt personal and well-thought-out, and it was clear he cares deeply about creating memorable experiences for his guests. We can’t recommend Abdullah highly enough — he made our trip extra special! Amazing Trip

Daniel

(About local Abdullah)

21 August 2025

Abdullah was a great guide. A man of culture and with a great knowledge of history, both of Istanbul and of the ancient world. He showed us around the old city, covering some of the most important historical areas. We also had a Turkish coffee in a cafe and later an excellent, authentic Turkish meal. All in all a very fun and informative tour. Thanks Abdullah!Great tour

Bridget🇺🇸 United States

(About local Abdullah)

20 August 2025

I honestly did not know what to expect when visiting Istanbul other than it has some very impressive sights. But, thanks to Abdullah with his vast knowledge of the city and its history, his ability to plan the itinerary so we were not in the heavy crowds, excellent communication skills, flexibility and amazing personality, Istanbul is now one of our favorite cities and we plan on going back! Abdullah took us to a favorite local spot for lunch as we wanted authentic cooking. I have to say that the kebabs and food was the best that we had on our 2 week cruise around Turkey and Greece! Additionally, my husband cannot walk or stand for long periods of time so when it was time to see the Grand Bazaar, Abdullah introduced us to a friend of his and my husband sat and hung out with him, having tea and sharing stories while the rest of us shopped. We came back and my husband had a new BFF! I can not speak highly enough how Abdullah made our time in Istanbul one that we will always remember and cherish! I would give him 20 stars if I could!Abdullah is PHENOMONAL!

Wolfgang🇺🇸 United States

(About local Abdullah)

15 August 2025

We spent some nine hours with Abdullah on our first of two days in Istanbul. He picked us up at our place and introduced us to all the main sites of the old city. We got all the information we wanted, but he also gave us time to experience on our own. One of the highlights was meeting his friend in the Grand Bazaar and spending time there over tea. If you are looking for an exceptional knowledgeable guide and also a warm person to spend a great day in Istanbul with, Abdullah is your guide. I hope to see him again someday for more adventures! Highly recommended!Highly recommended tour and tour guide

Ros🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Kadir Celal)

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…

Heather🇺🇸 United States

(About local Gülce)

19 July 2025

My perfect day is probably different from yours. I wanted a chill day away from crowds and Gulce gave me what I was looking for. It was my first visit to Istanbul and I learned to use the impressive transit system, ate delicious local foods, drank Turkish coffee, visited several neighborhoods and bought a few trinkets to bring home. I also learned about history of some places and why there are so many cats in Istanbul. Not just any perfect day, MY perfect day. Thank you!My perfect day in Istanbul

Andy🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Emre)

8 July 2025

We're a family of four (two boys aged 9 and 11) who did an eight hour Istanbul tour with Emre on a hot July day. Emre was excellent, very flexible with what we went and getting tailor the tour to keep everyone engaged and refreshed in the heat. Emre is very knowledgeable about all things Istanbul and provided some tips for the rest of our trip in Turkiye. Highly recommended, we had a great day.An excellent family day with Emre

Kendal🇺🇸 United States

(About local Emre)

5 July 2025

Emre did a fantastic job with our group. He was very knowledgeable and did a great job of working with everyone in our group to see everything each person wanted to see. His knowledge of Istanbul, history and culture was impressive. He also gave us several excellent recommendations for some other tours and restaurants. If you are going to Istanbul, I highly suggest starting your visit with Emre. You will have a very enjoyable day. All day walking tour

Juniper🇺🇸 United States

(About local Oğuz)

2 July 2025

Oguz was very friendly, knowledgeable, responsive, and accommodating! He took us to incredible places off the beaten path and knew all of the history. Having him there to navigate made it so we didn't waste any time, and we would have missed a ton of context and symbolism without him. He helped us to feel safe and confident in going out on our own the next day. Incredible value added to our trip!

Aeric🇺🇸 United States

(About local Emre)

28 June 2025

Emre did a wonderful job taking us all around Istanbul and showing us most of the key historical sites there. I can't recommend him enough!Great tour, great guide!

jeaninne

(About local Kadir Celal)

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

George🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Kadir Celal)

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

Ravi🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Abdullah)

15 June 2025

This was our first trip to Istanbul and we had just one day and wanted to make sure we saw the major sights of the city but also could experience some off the beaten track spots and get a sense of the local flavor. Apo was an outstanding guide in that regard. He listened carefully to what we wanted to do and then crafted a great itinerary. Apart from the major highlights, we saw a gem of a street with lovely bookshops behind the Suleimani Mosque, had lunch at a lovely little restaurant that was not on the usual tourist beat, and he helped us shop for a few things that we wanted to pick up. Apart from his knowledge of the city and customizing the itinerary to exactly what we wanted, we liked that he has a great sense of humor and was not only informative but was great company through the day. Thank you for an outstanding introduction to your beautiful city Apo, and I hope you were successful in using the “you are like the moonlight” line! 😀Excellent one day introduction to Istanbul

Stephanie

(About local Abdullah)

8 June 2025

The 6 of us had an excellent first glimpse of Istanbul. Abdullah is knowledgeable but has also fun facts to share. His tour was interesting and very entertaining. The food he ordered for us was amazing 🤩 We can definitely recommend him ! Excellent and fun tour !

Wies🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Abdullah)

8 June 2025

We had a full day visit to Istanbul Sultanahmet with Abdullah and really recommend booking a tour with him! We told him in advance what we would like to see and he made sure we saw all of it and added some of his own recommendations. He was very knowledgeable about the sites we were visiting and gave us lots of recommendations besides that. We had a fun day and learned a lot, great way to start your visit to Istanbul/ Turkey - thank you Abdullah!Great guide in Istanbul!

Jessica🇺🇸 United States

(About local Gülce)

2 June 2025

We spent a lovely day with Gulce touring the most famous sights in the Old City of Istanbul. She is extremely knowledgeable about the history and is able to present it in an approachable manner. Without her, we never would have appreciated was we were seeing. I am now a convert to taking a private tour! Crash course in the history of Istanbul

Ben🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Kadir Celal)

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

Sylvester (Sly)🇺🇸 United States

(About local Abdullah)

30 May 2025

Our private tour of Istanbul with Abdullah was great! He was flexible and agreed to meet us at our hotel versus the identified meeting point. Two members of our group couldn’t stay the entire time-frame, so he tailored the tour to ensure they at least saw the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Basilica Cistern. Abdullah did not only take us to these ionic landmarks, he provided detail information, the history behind each site and answered our many questions. He modified the reminder of the day when our group of three became just one, by taking me to one of his favorite restaurants for lunch, the food was very good and reasonably priced. As we walked through Sultanahmet he pointed out sites of historical significance. We had tea at an historic tea house located in a former religious school, that offered a glimpse into Istanbul's past. Lastly, we went to the Grand Bazaar, where he introduced me to some of his friends. When I mentioned my wife and her sisters, who had earlier left the tour, would love to see the bazaar, he called them up, determined their location and we all went back to the bazaar. I highly recommend Abdullah and will request his services when in Istanbul.Knowledgeable + Adaptable = Great Tour

Unknown

(About local Gülce)

21 May 2025

Gulch was flexible in adapting to a slightly different itinerary than originally requested when our friends could not make the trip . She had an excellent knowledge of the background and history of all areas. We traveled on local trams and funiculars to the old and new cities which got us around efficiently and enabled us to travel like locals. She gave us some great suggestions for our next day, and enabled us to feel comfortable traveling around on our own. We would absolutely recommend her and believe she is perfect for small groups wanting a more personal experience. Gulce was the perfect guide for us

Helen🇺🇸 United States

(About local Kadir Celal)

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!!

Michael🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Abdullah)

12 May 2025

1

We had an incredible day exploring the old city with Appo. As many others note he is knowledgable, gregarious, thoughtful and entertaining. He is equally at ease discussing history, architecture, politics, food and culture and adapted the day to suit our interests, some of which we changed during the course of the day. If you want to truly enrich your experience of Istanbul, this is the way to do it.

Melissa🇺🇸 United States

(About local Abdullah)

8 May 2025

I hope I can write a review that encourages someone to choose Abdullah. I now see why he is so popular!!! Friendly, funny and courteous. And!!!! Incredibly knowledgeable about the history and cultural intricacies of Istanbul and Turkey. More important, he is sensitive to his audience. He dials it up when there’s interest in the subject and knows when to move on when interest wanes. I would trust Abdullah’s suggestions and wisdom on anything Istanbul! It’s also obvious Abdullah’s kindness has gained many admirers around town. Store owners, food vendors, musuem staff all knew him by face and name and were so warm and welcoming to us by association. Can’t wait to return and spend another day with Abdullah. Will return for another tour with Abdullah

Keri

(About local Abdullah)

5 May 2025

Abdullah is a lovley guy. It was fun cruising around the old city with him. I think it would have been nice to travel outside of the old town area and see a little more of the city but we still had a nice day. Good knowage of the area

cavellino33

(About local Gülce)

26 April 2025

Gulce was an awesome guide. 10/10 in every way. Will recommend to anyone visiting Istanbul. Thanks for a great dayAwesome

jane

(About local Aysenur )

7 April 2025

What a lovely day out in Istanbul with Ayşenur! She is energetic and very knowledgeable. She gave us both historic and contemporary context to the main sites in the old city. Ayşenur shaped our day out to meet our needs. Great introduction to a spectacular city.Wonderful day out with Ayşenur

Charlotte🇳🇴 Norway

(About local Ahmet Can)

4 April 2025

We had a great day in Istanbul with Ahmet Can. It was interesting, fun, and informative. He met us at our hotel, and within the first ten minutes of walking towards public transportation, he had stories to share about the street we were walking in. This was indicative for the rest of the day: Ahmet was knowledgeable, engaging, and responsive to all our questions. He is a good representative of all that is good about using WithLocals. We can highly recommend him.Interesting, informative, and fun day

Mingyu🇨🇳 China

(About local Aysenur )

1 April 2025

Ayşenur is an amazing guide who knows Istanbul inside out. She is very well versed in arts and history, and could really provide deep and authentic perspectives on many aspects of Istanbul beyond what a typical tour guide could offer. Highly recommended! Awesome guide in Istanbul

Jan🇺🇸 United States

(About local Abdullah)

30 March 2025

Spent a day with Abdullah, and all 3 of us give him strong 5 stars. Highly insightful, engaging, with historical and cultural depth and "breath". All discussions deeply seeded in Turkish/Ottoman culture and history. Great insight into modern Turkey. Recommend in the highest possible terms. One day long tour of Istanbul highlights

Unknown

(About local Esra)

30 March 2025

Esra was an amazing tour guide and very shortly into the tour we felt like we were seeing the city and visiting with family. Her passion for travel and love of her home town/country poured out through the historical details and cultural wisdom that she shared. She made our first day in Turkey fun and full! Without a doubt we would request her company, rely on her knowledge and recommend her to our friends for future travel guides/inquiries. With a heartfelt Tea-Sugar-a dream, Esra!🥰Lütfen!

Lillian🇺🇸 United States

(About local Abdullah)

17 March 2025

We had an absolutely fantastic experience exploring the Old City of Istanbul with Abdullah. From the moment we met, he made us feel incredibly welcomed and set the tone for an unforgettable day. His deep knowledge of history brought the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque to life, making every stop more meaningful. Not only was he super informative, but he was also genuinely eager to ensure we had the best experience possible. He helped us navigate the markets, taking us to the right places to shop without any pressure, which made our experience even more enjoyable. He even joined us for lunch at a fantastic local restaurant he recommended, giving us an authentic taste of Istanbul beyond the usual tourist spots. His enthusiasm, professionalism, and warmth truly set him apart. I’ve had many tour guides over the years, but he was one of the best I’ve ever had. If you’re looking for an exceptional guide in Istanbul, I highly recommend Abdullah. You won’t be disappointed!Best Tour Guide in Istanbul – A Must-Book!

Isabella 🇭🇷 Croatia

(About local Gülce)

19 February 2025

Gülce organized the whole tour based on our wishes. However, when we wanted to change the plan, she arranged that to be possible. Moreover, she had an answer to all of our questions (history, traffic and life in Istanbul). She gives an amazing recommendations for delicious local food. And, last but not least, she is a really interesting storyteller.The perfect guide for Istanbul

Katalin🇫🇷 France

(About local Kadir Celal)

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

Sleiman🇺🇸 United States

(About local Emre)

29 December 2024

Emere is very knowledgeable and was very pleasant throughout the two days he was with us. He took us to the places that we wanted to go to, and also to off the beaten path streets and places to visit and eat. I highly recommend him. Emere is excellent

Hilary🇺🇸 United States

(About local Abdullah)

24 November 2024

Our day with Apo was magical. He truly made our trip to Istanbul. Within a day we had a rich understanding of the important sights and history of this incredible city, but the most special was what we learned of the amazing culture of the place. We will heartily recommend a tour with the fabulous Apo to anyone! 5 ⭐️ all the sights, rich with history

Willem🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Esra)

24 November 2024

Although it was raining cats and dogs we had a great experience with Esra. She’s flexible, tells you al lot of stories about Istanbul and Turkey. She showed us some beautiful places. The best tourguide we could have wished for! A great day in Istanbul

Adele🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Kadir Celal)

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.

Evgeny🇰🇿 Kazakhstan

(About local Ahmet Can)

11 November 2024

Ahmet is a perfect example of what a local guide should be - not young, but experienced; delicate, yet persistent. He knows Istanbul like a back of his hand and always at your service if you need extra story. And as an experienced and professional tour guide he knows a pack of stories which you will never get from an audio guide. Thank you, Ahmet! I highly recommend this guy to those who want to dive deeper than Cistern :-)Top notch service

Terry 🇺🇸 United States

(About local Abdullah)

30 October 2024

We are a group of three friends who spent the day on a walking tour of Old Town Istanbul with Abdullah. He is the best! In a city of millions, we never walked far without Abdullah knowing someone. He took us into the city’s hidden gems where we tasted meat roasting on a spit, watched silversmiths do their craft, had amazing rooftop views, drank chai with the locals in a 400 year old establishment, ate an incredible kabob lunch, toured the Cistern, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, and the Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent. Abdullah is like a walking history book and shares his knowledge, wisdom, and humor in such a personable way. Spending our first day in Istanbul with Abdullah was a great decision. We had so much fun! An awesome day in Istanbul with Abdullah!

Martyn🇿🇦 South Africa

(About local Kadir Celal)

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.

James🇺🇸 United States

(About local Emre)

27 October 2024

Emre was a super fantastic guide. He showed us all of the highlights of Istanbul and allowed us to go at our own pace. His knowledge was incredible, and he was able to speak, in-depth, on so many topics. There was never a dull moment, and, of course, his English was perfect. We will choose Emre, to show us around, every time we come to Istanbul. Choose Emre!

V🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Esra)

25 October 2024

Esra was kind, easy to speak to, enthusiastic and thorough! She picked up my parents from the hotel, took them everywhere they possibly could fit into a day and made the entire experience one worth it! She gave us a bunch of suggestions for other places to visit and restaurants to eat at. Would definitely recommend!Wonderful guide for Istanbul's treasures

Rafaela🇪🇨 Ecuador

(About local Esra)

23 October 2024

De una generosidad, carisma y voluntad increíble para hacer todos nuestros deseos realidad y cumplir con nuestras expectativas. Esra es maravillosa! La verdadera joya de Istambul. La joya de istambul

Andrew🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Oğuz)

19 October 2024

Oguz was really knowledgable and flexible with what I wanted to see - from sites to local shopping and food . Be prepared for a lot of walking and experiencing the local transport - boat across the Bosphorus and trams and vehicular train to the Galata Tower. It was an incredible day and Oguz is highly recommended.Great Guide and flexible