• Private Tour
• Carbon Neutral

Historical, Istanbul has been through many empires, conquests, and changes. Want to see how every culture that once ruled Istanbul left its mark? Step into the hidden world of ruins, roofs, secret terraces and what's left of the old Istanbul with me.

Destination

Istanbul, Turkey

Category

Off The Beaten Track

Duration

5 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English

Included

• Entrance tickets
• Private guide

Excluded

• Lunch

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 Serif.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At 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. Meeting Point

   Meet me in front of the Four Seasons Hotel in Sultanahmet

4. Terrace with a View

   Step into a terrace overlooking the highlights of the city

5. Byzantine Gifts

   Discover the underground ruins of the Byzantine Great Palace

6. Hidden Church

   Go underground and check out the Panagia Hodegetria Church and Sacred Water

7. Blue Mosque View

   See an amazing view of the Blue Mosque and he Ancient Hippodrome from a terrace

8. Local Treasure

   Check out the Nakkas Cistern and an exhibition on the Byzantine Hippodrome

9. Lunch Break

   Enjoy a delicious traditional lunch at a very casual lokanta

10. Gran Finale

    Go up the terraces and roofs in the bazaar area

11. 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

nicole🇨🇦 Canada

24 August 2023

Serif was absolutely amazing. Very knowledgeable, easy to chat with and has us going at a nice pace. Outstanding!

Stèphane🇨🇦 Canada

25 January 2023

Lorena was able to show me the highlights of Istanbul within a few hours with a lot of knowledge. She knows about the history of Istanbul and also the best places to go eat and drink Local. I highly recommend her as a tour guide, you won’t be disappointed. Amazing

Gavin🇺🇸 United States

26 November 2022

Serif has a wealth of knowledge to share and unique spots to view the old city from. Thanks again Views of Istanbul

Jennifer🇺🇸 United States

9 December 2019

We booked the "Rooftop Views and Underground Istanbul" with Sherif. The tour exceeded our expectations. Sherif is a natural teacher-but the fun kind. My husband, myself and our 2 boys appreciated his deep knowledge of Turkey, and Istanbul in particular. We had already explored the old city on our own, but he was able to show us so many cool sites we would have never found otherwise. We felt like we were seeing Istanbul's secrets. I can't recommend Sherif enough-kind, funny, smart. This tour was the highlight of our trip to Istanbul. This guy knows his stuff!

Angela🇬🇧 United Kingdom

29 October 2019

Our guide Nursal gave us a fab introduction to our first time in Istanbul. It was a very interesting and informative tour which took us high and low around this vibrant and fascinating city. Nursal was a mine of information about the history and culture of Istanbul, pointing out lots of fascinating detail and showing us some wonderful views. Five hours flew by visiting rooftops and cisterns we would not have found on our own, coupled with a walk through the Grand Bazaar. A great tour thank you.A great way to view Istanbul

Garry🇬🇧 United Kingdom

24 October 2019

Excellent tour with an amazingly knowledgeable guide - he even writes his own guide books and maps (free copies provided). We saw views and sights of Istanbul we’d never have found without Serif.

Ron🇺🇸 United States

28 September 2019

My tour with Nursal was fantastic. She is an architect/guide and as such knew so much about the historical structures. A wealth of history and knowledge. I highly recommend her. Ron McGinty

Teresa🇨🇭 Switzerland

5 June 2019

I spent very interesting hours with Serif . We get to the places I would hardly find as a tourist and I have taken some very good photos. Serif is a very nice person and knows a lot about the history. I would recomend this tour to anyone who has seen all the classic sight and would like to discover an other Istambul.

Dan Andrei🇷🇴 Romania

2 June 2019

An amazing and unique experience visiting the old and hidden/underground places ending with an unique sight of Istanbul from the roofs. A day full of history and local beauties. Thank you very much for for everything. Serif, you are one of the best guides I have ever seen. We hope will visit Turkey again and meet you. All our best! Amazing Istanbul!

Anne🇦🇺 Australia

11 May 2019

Serif was a font of knowledge and showed us a hidden side of Istanbul setting us on a great holiday.Great Istanbul introduction

Ryan🇸🇬 Singapore

29 April 2019

I am really grateful to Nursal for showing me places that I am absolutely sure would not be part of the ordinary tour. Great rooftop places provide you the breathtaking visual perspectives of the key landmarks that you simply don't get from the ground. Visits to discrete underground places lent me that visual traction of how cities of the past were layered upon each other. Nursal makes such an intelligent and engaging person as she elaborated on the several places we visited. This tour would conclude any visit to Istanbul very nicely! Thanks so much, Nursal! Amazing visits to best places in Istanbul!

Yolanda🇲🇽 Mexico

31 March 2019

In my trips to different countries I have found many guides who have made our journeys incredibly interesting and fun. However, I think the tour we took with you has no parallel. Our visit to Istanbul would never have been the same without your review of how Turkey was conformed and all your interesting explanations. Thank you so much for everything you are an amazing guide and a nice person. Hope to see you again in the future for another tour in beautiful Turkey. Best tour guide ever

Mónica

20 March 2019

Maravilloso, su capacidad de sintetizar y explicar la historia es muy buena, logra que se entienda siglos y siglos tan fácil. Lugares únicos y peculiares , excelente tour, lo recomiendo ampliamente.El mejor!!!

Lucia 🇩🇪 Germany

6 January 2019

We enjoyed an interesting, informative and short term individual half day programme with Nursal ! She is competent, very knowledgable and a very likeable person. She is a listener and flexible related to the topics we found interesting and had our questions about. We can warmly and 100% recommend her ! Thank you Nursal !! guided tour with Nursal

Aravinda🇦🇺 Australia

20 December 2018

Starting our day on a cold winter morning, Serif greated us with the warmest smile and i knew then and there that we were heading into a exciting day.. Explaining the steps of Turkish/Istanbul history with his own maps and with a clamness that put everything in its place about this age old city. Unlocking hidden doors and taking us underground to cisterns with huge columns filled with darkness and to roof tops with panaromic views. Stoping by locals tea shops and restaurants. All the time explaining how things came to be there....with great passion and humbleness. We enjoyed every moment of this tour and thank you Serif and for the gifts. Highly recommend this tour. This tour was a true Turkish Delight..

Livia

15 December 2018

Our meeting with Serif started with an amazing view and an interesting introduction into the history of today's Turkey which does make you to feel more connected with the place. It helps you to understand Istanbul in a different way. I personally don't seek for guided tours in groups so this was perfect, more intimate and friendly, definitely something beyond an ordinary tour. It was lots of talking, lots of walking, some Turkish tea and coffee, hidden places, amazing views, lovely moments. Serif is a very nice person trying to give you an unforgettable memory to take home. It was absolutely worth it and I highly recommend Serif for people who like to experience a little bit more than just an informative walk through the city. It was such a worthy experience!

ANNETTE🇺🇸 United States

18 November 2018

Serif is an amazing guide. He's literally the guy who "wrote the book" on Istanbul. From the beginning to the current day - he has his finger on the pulse of what mays Turkey and Istanbul tick. There are so many layers to this country and Serif was able to cover all of them. Literally and figuratively. From cisterns neglected and forgotten to amazing archeological renovations that merge the ancient with modern day application, Serif can literally take you through over 1,000 years of history. And he knows the right people. The people who will take you through the history of rug weaving and still work with the original tools. The people who can connect you with the perfect view of Haggia Sofia. You name it and Serif knows the people who can give you access. My only regret on this tour was not being able to spend the rest of my trip with Serif. Thoughtful, kind and so learned, this is the perfect guide for people who love history and culture. History Buffs Dream Tour

Nata🇩🇪 Germany

18 November 2018

It really doesn’t matter if you have been to Istanbul a couple of times or not at all. Serif manages to create an unique experience and showed us absolutely secret hotspots. Be sure that you would never find them on your own! Thank you!Incredible exerience!

therese🇺🇸 United States

7 November 2018

Serif first helped us get organized with the terrain and history of the area. Then we took a wondrously fascinating walk through underground restorations and ruins. Later we climbed up to the rooftops and terraces in out of the way places. Great views! A beautiful way to experience Istanbul. Thank you Serif for the closing of our time at the mosque. Best of luck! Rooftops terraces and underground

Ken🇳🇿 New Zealand

19 August 2018

I'm always a bit wary of online tours because you're never quite sure that you will get what you hope for. This tour was exactly what we had hoped for. Our plan was to explore the places tourists don't go, and Serif mastered this in an open, friendly way. He has a wealth of knowledge that he shared easily. We will definitely look up Serif when we are next in Istanbul! Thanks Serif, Ken.What a great tour!

Francis

12 July 2018

Our tour with Serif was a delight! We did not know what to expect but Serif took us on a really nice tour of neighbourhoods and sites we would never have ever known of ourselves. He was very friendly and knowledgeable. We would certainly recommend him! Thank you !Old Istanbul Tour: Underground Ruins, Roofs & Terraces