• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Did you know that the Istanbul tour of your dreams exists? Yes, and it’s 100% personalized and created by your local host around your interests. Customize and see only the places that spark your interest. From classic landmarks to neighborhood walks - your wishes are our command!

Destination

Istanbul, Turkey

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

3 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

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

Included

• Private guide
• All Withlocals tours are carbon neutral

Excluded

• Entrance tickets
• Tastings
• Transport
• All of the above can be arranged with your local host through a personalized offer

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 21 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 In front of Gallant Galata coffee shop - 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. This Experience is YOURS!

   See the landmarks and places in Istanbul that you pick on a 100% personalized tour. Make this a one-of-a-kind experience that will satisfy your curiosity with the help of a local. All you have to do is tell them your preferences and interests

4. See THE Main Attractions

   What’s on your bucket list? Hop from landmark to landmark admiring them from the outside, and get recommendations from your local host on what’s the best way to enjoy them to the fullest

5. Off the Beaten Path

   What if there’s a way to see the city’s main attraction from a different angle? All of this while avoiding the touristy crowds? It’s possible with a local by your side!

6. Neighborhood Exploring

   Spend some time deep-diving into the neighborhoods of Istanbul; there’s plenty of treasures to discover! From history, architecture, and local hangout spots, what area would you like to visit?

7. Amazing City Views

   Find the best lookout places in the city where you can spot your favorite landmarks as well as enjoy breathtaking views of the city - a picture-perfect personalized tour

8. All of Istanbul

   Go on a full-day tour to see the highlights of the city. Pick the places, duration and let a local take you on a journey where you’ll cross the must-sees from Istanbul off your list

9. 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

Astrid🇺🇸 United States

(About local Safiye)

12 September 2025

Safiye was perfect for our tour guide in Istanbul. Safiye made us feel as if we were with a family member. She was kind, generous and adapted to our needs. We spent a lovely day getting to know Istanbul with her. Lovely time with Safiye

Julio

(About local Lorena)

11 September 2025

Ana 🇺🇸 United States

(About local Abdullah)

27 August 2025

And I had quite a few! It was a very nice, very pleasant experience. It felt more like walking with a new friend and having a cultural exchange instead of a tour with a guide. Abo was professional, flexible, attentive genuinly invested in his profession generously with his time and resources and opened to all the requestes. Best tour guide I had in Istanbul

Robin🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local muhammed)

26 August 2025

Very friendly and knowledgeable guide, spent time to show us some of the out of the way places and did it all with a big smile

Rachel

(About local Abdullah)

25 August 2025

Today my group of 9 were expertly and patiently guided around the historic sites of old Istanbul by Apo who was engaged, flexible, patient and generous with his time and historic knowledge. Would definitely recommend Apo as your Istanbul guide. Top guide, auper knowledgeable.

P

(About local muhammed)

24 August 2025

Muhammad was a a great guide, he was extremely knowledgeable and very engaging and took us on a half day tour focusing on the Asian side of Istanbul and some of the old city highlights. He was very flexible and able to easily adjust to some last minute requests. We also enjoyed a delicious lunch - one of his great recommendations. Despite having limited time with a half day, it was a really memorable day and introduction into this fascinating city. Excellent Guide

Noelle🇮🇪 Ireland

(About local Emre)

22 August 2025

Emre was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide. In our short afternoon walk we got a comprehensive history of istanbul and detailed commentary at hagia sophia, blue mosque and basilica cistern. Plus a lovely stop for lemonade in a quiet courtyard. Sultanahmet in an afternoon

Xavi🇪🇸 Spain

(About local Emre)

17 August 2025

Emre was an amazing guide! His passion and knowledge made the tour so engaging, and he shared stories that really brought the city to life. It felt like exploring with a friend rather than just a guide. Highly recommend! A wonderful experience

Angie🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Gülce)

15 August 2025

Gulce was a wonderful guide who combined a history tour with food stops and local information. She was just lovely and we definitely would recommend her.A delightful and informative tour

TIM🇺🇸 United States

(About local Emir)

7 August 2025

Emir was a fantastic guide. We had a group of 4 adults and Emir gave us the perfect/great introduction to Istanbul. Great energy. Great sense of humor and a love of both Istanbul and travel in general that made for a great morning of touring. We highly recommend Emir's tours.Great Opening Tour of Istanbul

Christiane

(About local Emre)

5 August 2025

Wir hatten eine super Zeit mit Emre und er hat uns viel von Istanbul gezeigt. Sein Deutsch ist hervorragend und seine Tipps ebenso. Gerne wieder!!!Eine tolle Tour durch Istanbul

Tanja🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Emre)

16 July 2025

Wir haben eine dreistündige Tour mit Emre durch Istanbul gemacht und waren absolut begeistert! Emre war super freundlich, aufmerksam und hatte auf jede unserer Fragen eine fundierte Antwort. Schon im Vorfeld hat er uns tolle Restauranttipps gegeben – für wirklich jeden Geschmack war etwas dabei. Dank seiner Empfehlungen haben wir in hervorragenden, authentischen Lokalen gegessen und wurden nie enttäuscht. Die Zeit mit ihm verging wie im Flug – es war eine sehr kurzweilige, interessante und angenehme Tour. Emre ist ein kluger, belesener Mann mit einem großen Wissen über Geschichte, Kultur und das Leben in Istanbul. Vielen Dank für diese schöne Erfahrung, Emre – und entschuldige bitte die verspätete Bewertung! Herzliche Grüße von Tanja und Ludwig Eine Istanbul-Tour, die super war

JAMI

(About local Lorena)

26 June 2025

5 STAR ⭐️ for the most amazing tour guide Lorena!!! What an outstanding way to start my solo travel trip to Istanbul. I spent 2 days touring Istanbul with Lorena and she is one of the most personable and informative guides I have ever met. She knows how to navigate her way through this city like a pro. Lorena let me move at my own pace, I didn’t feel rushed at all. She left me a list of recommendations on things to do next after our tour, taught me about the metro and made great suggestions for food etc. Had I tried on my own, I would have missed out! Fantastic time !! I highly recommend Lorena, if you are solo or a large group. You will love her !! Thank you again Lorena . 🙏5 star ⭐️ tour guide !!

Hanna

(About local Safiye)

19 June 2025

I spent the day with lovely Safiye looking around all the "off the beaten track" locations that the locals know. She showed me great turkish coffee, amazing location for lunch, lots of cool suburbs including around Balat and the Asian side as well. She understood my needs and wants as well as catered to my lack of fitness so was able to supplement the walking with public transport in places. More than the obvious, Safiye is easy to talk to, knowledgeable, entertaining, cheerful and I really enjoyed my time spent with her. Thank you Safiye!Safiye is delightful 😊

Angela 🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Abdullah)

13 June 2025

My husband and I had a fabulous 4 hours with Abdullah as he showed us his city. We got an insight to the major sites plus some hidden treasures. It was fun , interesting and gave us a good introduction to Istanbul. Thankyou so much Happiness makes the world go round

Daniel🇧🇷 Brazil

(About local Emre)

9 June 2025

The tour we had with Emre was a real gem! He took us to places we would never have discovered by ourselves, in a really nice neighboorhood, where apparently he knew everyone :) Getting to know the city by its food and what locals really eat was amazing. Besides that, he gave us really valuable tips for sightseeing and for other restaurants and cafes. 10/10 experienceThe best experience in Istanbul!

Jody

(About local Mine )

4 June 2025

Mine was clearly knowledgeable especially historically and politically. It was very interesting to talk with her. She packed a lot into the 3 hours, teaching us history and architecture. She didn’t take in our comments or appear that interested in what we had to say. That would be an improvement area for her. All in all, we appreciated the tour. Mine

Nancy🇺🇸 United States

(About local Emir)

2 June 2025

Emir is truly a citizen of the world. Having lived in several countries, he brings an exceptional perspective to his tours. He has a depth of knowledge on history and it is obvious he loves both the subject and his city. We enjoyed his tour very much. Not least was the excellent baklava at the end.World Perspective

Kulvinder🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Deniz)

1 June 2025

A great tour guide with interesting stories of Istanbul. Had a high energy 3 hr tour which ticked all the boxes. Would highly recommendIstanbul with Deniz

Christina🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Emre)

28 May 2025

Mein Mann und ich hatten eine tolle Erlebnis Tour durch Istanbul. Emre empfing uns wie Freunde. Er ist ein ausgesprochen netter und warmherziger Mensch. Mit großer Begeisterung, kleinen Geschichten und persönlichen Erinnerungen zeigte er uns sein Istanbul. Ohne ihn hätten wir die Stadt nie so kennengelernt. Es war ein ganz besonderes Erlebnis was wir nicht vergessen werden. Ganz lieben Dank.City Tour mit Emre

Colette and Marc🇺🇸 United States

(About local Aysenur )

22 May 2025

We just spent 3 days exploring Istanbul with Aysenur. She is fantastic. Aysenur developed an initial plan for our 3 days together but was very willingly to modify our schedule based on our needs. Her knowledge of the history of Istanbul as well as the intersections of the many cultures of the area is amazing. Her love of history and her desire to share her vast knowledge is very apparent. We were very impressed by her continuing studies in a variety of fields - the mark of an excellent teacher. We thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our time with Aysenur. I am sure your experience will be as impressive as ours. 3 fantastic days with Aysenur in Istanbul.

Angie & Rachel🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Emir)

8 May 2025

Emir was a very accomplished guide, very knowledgeable & passionate about history & Istanbul. We saw lots of little gems that we wouldn’t have seen as a tourist & really enjoyed our tour. Great fun time with Emir

Cristina🇮🇹 Italy

(About local Lorena)

5 May 2025

Lorena is very gentle, she knows Istanbul very well and will suggest off touristic roads itineraries that really are worth the price. You will experience the real Istanbul and save a lot of time, off the tourists traps. So very advisable! She is more that fluent in Italian and English, and has an International background, having lived in many countries. TOP.10/10 very advisable

Ysabel

(About local Abdullah)

27 April 2025

Abdullah is an personable, knowledgeable guide, who knows everyone you need to know in the old part of the city. His stories, both of the places and the people were great and his tips on avoiding tourist traps were invaluable. Would certainly book again --but will reach out first so we can plan the best route and time of day to avoid crods.Uncovering Istanbul's secrets

57mf65pcrb🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Abdullah)

22 April 2025

Verena🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Emre)

21 April 2025

Emre ist ein phantastischer Guide, der uns die Köstlichkeiten Istanbuls gezeigt und gleichzeitig interessante Informationen zu den besuchten Stadtteilen geteilt hat. Wir empfehlen die Tour mit Emre als unverzichtbaren Teil eines jeden Istanbulbesuchs. Unverzichtbare Tour in Istanbul

Petra

(About local Emir)

21 April 2025

We are a three generation family and were for the first time in Istanbul. It was an amazing experience with Emir! He was able to respond to the different needs of the family. He showed us a colorful variety of culture, history, lifestyle and character of different parts of the city. We had delicious authentic lunch and the best Baclaca of the world. Emir is very friendly, warm hearted and full of humour. His knowledge is immense and he can share it in a very interesting way. We felt very safe and decided, to come again! We look forward to meet Emir again. Wonderful day in a wonderful city

Felix🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Esra)

15 April 2025

We enjoyed the tour with Esra a lot! She has a great knowledge and an exciting way to explain it! Great trip!

Rich🇺🇸 United States

(About local Emir)

13 April 2025

Emir was a wonderful tour guide, conversation partner, and welcoming committee for Istanbul. On a short visit, we wanted to more time enjoying and learning; less time looking for directions and reading online guides. Emir took us on a great tour of the area we stayed in, even in some miserable rain, working in a strategic sheltered spot or cafe as he could. If you have an interest in the history or the food of the area, Emir is the right guide for you. You can tell his knowledge comes from a true passion for it, and he welcomes questions of all types, and left us with great advice for the rest of our stay.A perfect welcome to the city

Timur

(About local Esra)

9 April 2025

Esra made Istanbul's history come alive for our group of 7 friends. First, she asked and listened to to what we wanted to see and the style of tour we wanted. Then she delivered and went beyond expectations. We came away awe-stricken by the beauty, intrigue and history of the Ottomans but not because of a boring history lesson, but rather a guide who made the tour like watching a movie or reading a good novel. Bravo and thank you!Esra- the Best Guide in Istanbul

Lillian🇺🇸 United States

(About local Gülce)

17 March 2025

We had an amazing custom tour in Istanbul with Gülce, and I can’t recommend her enough! She was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and made the entire experience enjoyable from start to finish. Throughout the tour, she provided fascinating insights about Istanbul’s history and culture, making every stop more meaningful. She also went above and beyond by giving us fantastic recommendations for additional sightseeing and dining, which will really helped us make the most of our time in the city. We ended the day with a Bosphorus cruise, a perfect way to take in the stunning views and reflect on everything we had learned. If you’re looking for a guide who is knowledgeable, personable, and truly passionate about Istanbul, Gülce is the perfect choice! Fantastic Tour with Gülce!

David🇪🇸 Spain

(About local Emre)

27 January 2025

We had a great time visiting the old sites of Istanbul with Emre. He was so knowledgable it was crazy. Any question we had, he had the answer for. And he's a super food lover and we went to a grill spot for lunch that was so good. And the kind of spot a tourist would have some difficulty due to not knowing what to order, but Emre handled it all and we had a feast!Fantastic private tour!

Melissa🇺🇸 United States

(About local Abdullah)

19 January 2025

Wandering Istanbul with such an interesting man- knows so much history and out of the way places. A highlight of our tripExcellent guide!

Marion🇳🇿 New Zealand

(About local Emir)

13 January 2025

We had a 3hr walking tour with Emir of Istanbul which was really 4 hrs as Emir was so interesting and so proud of his city. Emir was friendly, very knowledgeable and a great guide. We would give 11/10 if we could. We visited mosques, learnt about the Turkish culture and tried the local food. Would highly recommend for anyone. Emir was inspirational and today I booked French lessons to learn a 2nd language because of him. Anazing tour with Emir

Florian

(About local Emre)

5 January 2025

Emre hat mit uns eine Führung durch Istanbul gemacht und zwar hat er uns an für Touristen eher untypische Orte geführt, die sehr interessant waren und einen guten Einblick in das Leben vor Ort ermöglichten. Außerdem hat er einen guten Überblick für uns über Istanbul erstellt und welche Sehenswürdigkeiten wir in den nächsten Tagen noch besuchen sollten.Statfürung mit Emre

Sara🇮🇹 Italy

(About local Lorena)

2 January 2025

Ciao a tutti, abbiamo fatto un tour privato con Lorena che ci ha guidato alla scoperta di Istanbul facendoci scoprire anche cose inaspettate. Lorena è stata gentilissima e disponibilissima. Consiglio vivamente un tour con lei se vi trovate a Instanbul!Bellissima Esperienza

Alain🇺🇸 United States

(About local Emre)

1 January 2025

Had the pleasure of having Emre as our private guide in Istanbul, and he was absolutely fantastic. We requested a tour focusing on the less touristy parts of the city to immerse ourselves in Istanbul’s local culture and history, and Emre exceeded our expectations. His deep knowledge of the city’s history, combined with his engaging storytelling, brought the sites to life for us. Emre also went above and beyond by providing us with invaluable tips, including recommendations for hidden-gem restaurants and unique experiences for the rest of our stay. If you’re looking for a very good guide in Istanbul, Emre is the one. We couldn’t recommend him more highly!A Great Guide for an Authentic Experience

Giovanni🇮🇹 Italy

(About local Ahmet Can)

9 December 2024

Ahmet Can has been very professional and focused on what I was expecting from this experience and tailored something to exceed my expectations. I’m very satisfied by the tour !Great experience

Mike🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Gülce)

13 September 2025

Gülce was great. Very informative and also flexable with our itinerary. Highly recommended!Great guide with excellent insights

Peter🇦🇺 Australia

(About local muhammed)

11 September 2025

Enjoyed the delicacies of Turkish food Ate to much in the short period of time All of it was scrumptious. Muhammad was very pleasant. Peter and Susie Tastings

Yvonne🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alp)

11 September 2025

Thank you, Alp, for sharing your knowledge and insight with us! We had such a wonderful time dining with you—it truly felt like spending the evening with a new friend. You guided us to places we might never have discovered on our own, just as you would with a visiting friend, and we loved every stop along the way. It was an unforgettable experience, and we’re so grateful!Alp, our Renaissance food friend

Wilhelm

(About local Emre)

11 September 2025

Emre did a great job in touring us through wonderful neighborhoods and sharing with us the secrets of Turkish Food and Culture. We experienced hour by hour fantastic food explosions and ended up with an unforgettable Istanbul experience and a new friend - thank you so much Emre.Great Experience

Scot🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alp)

10 September 2025

What a great afternoon. Alp met us at our hotel as it was on the way. He explained the tram system and made us feel comfortable using it for further exploration. We tasted at non-tourist venues which helped us order at other restaurants as everything we had either delicious or something we needed to try. My favorite things were Mantis with garlic yogurt (pasta) at a small streetside restaurant. The big dishes at a restaurant which included an amuse of a dome of bulgar surrounding spiced meats and chili oil poured at the table, Pide which is a traditional Turkish pizza style dish, followed by the best kabob I've ever eaten! There were other stops and we got to learn more about the culture and daily life. We really clicked with Alp, who not just knowledgeable, but interested in the differences and similarities of our cultures. Great tour! It laid the groundwork for seeing Istanbul more confidently!Food Tour Introduction to Istanbul

Sara

(About local Emre)

9 September 2025

Emre was a fantastic guide. We did the food tour with him and we highly recommend both him and the tour. Emre knows the history of Istanbul extremely well and tells stories along introducing great street food. Emre a rock star of a guide :)

Caroline🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Ahmet Can)

9 September 2025

Ahmet was great! We were visiting Istanbul for the European Triathlon Championships so didn’t have a lot of time to sightsee. We booked an afternoon tour of Sultanahmet with Ahmet and I’m so glad we did. He was friendly and very informative, bringing each site to life with stories and interesting facts. Would highly recommend!Fabulous tour of Sultanahmet

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!!!


Sean

(About local Alp)

7 September 2025

I had an incredible experience exploring Istanbul with Alp as my guide. He was exceptional at tailoring the tour to my interests, taking me through hidden gems across different neighborhoods that I would have never found on my own. Alp’s deep, factual knowledge of the city’s history, landmarks, and culture made every stop meaningful and insightful. What truly set him apart was his passion for the local music scene and his recommendations for off-the-beaten-path shops and restaurant that were all a gem. On top of it all, Alp was the sweetest, most hospitable guide that i was lucky to have had. His warmth and genuine love for his city made this tour unforgettable and I couldn’t recommend him more for anyone visiting Istanbul, especially for the first time.Truly Authentic Experience with a Gem!

Alana🇺🇸 United States

(About local muhammed)

6 September 2025

Muhammed was fantastic! Knowledgeable, kind, prompt, and just a wonderful guide to the city. We left the tour full in our bellies, more knowledgeable of the city and culture, and with a wonderful day under our belt. A great guide to the city!

Steven🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alp)

6 September 2025

We had a fantastic time with Alp. He is very friendly and personable. He took us to some hidden gems to taste his favorite dishes. It is a true Turkish gastronomic journey with detailed explanations of the food along with its history. It is clear that he is passionate about sharing his Turkish heritage with all who take his tour. Should not be missed.Fantastic day with Alp