• 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, 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 20 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

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

(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

Gordon🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Ahmet Can)

27 July 2025

Despite a delay to our start as we could not find the German fountain! Ahmet was a perfect guide, his knowledge of the history of Istanbul went beyond dates and details but provided relevant information that linked and overlapped. Despite the heat, the time went quickly.Excellent historical detail

Shaylynn🇺🇸 United States

(About local Tolga)

24 July 2025

What a wonderful tour! Tolga knew all of the best places to take us on our food tour and we truly feel we got a taste of Turkey. Tolga not only is very knowledgeable on Turkish food, but also the history of Turkey. I highly recommend Tolga for any tour. Great Experience!

Rosalind 🇬🇧 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…

Elizabeth🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alp)

23 July 2025

We thoroughly enjoyed our 10 tastings of Istanbul tour with Alp. We tried a wide variety of local favorites, and everyone in our family enjoyed something different. Great food tour!

lance & lily🇺🇸 United States

(About local Esra)

22 July 2025

Esra was in contact with us before our tour. She introduced us to a friend the day before our tour who helped us shop in the grand bizarre. She made it easy to connect and was able to move our tour up a bit to accommodate our hectic schedule. Her knowledge of Istanbul and her professionalism were both outstanding. I highly recommend her. Esra was great!

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

Boris🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Esra)

22 July 2025

The tour was very interesting and informing and Esra is a great guide with lots of stories and knowledge. We would highly recommend herGreat tour with a great lady

Mark and Leanne🇳🇿 New Zealand

(About local Neslihan )

21 July 2025

Enthusiastic, humorous, knowledgeable, on time. I would highly recommend her to anyoneExcellent

Tabitha

(About local Abdullah)

20 July 2025

Abdullah is brilliant! We had around 5 hours to explore Istanbul as part of a flight layover (myself, husband and 2 teenagers). He communicated everything beforehand and tailored the tour to the sites I’d wanted to prioritise, but also showed and told us so much more. He managed to keep a wonderful relaxed pace , and, most importantly, he was very chatty and engaging. We discussed a good range of topics as well as hearing the important political, social, religious and architectural history of different locations. All 4 of us had a brilliant time. Super, engaging, tailored tour

dickconnor

(About local muhammed)

20 July 2025

We had an incredible time exploring Istanbul — from iconic sights to unforgettable meals — but the absolute highlight was the 4 hours we spent with Muhammed in Kadıköy. Muhammed was a phenomenal guide. His deep knowledge of Turkish culture and genuine passion for the local cuisine made the experience truly special. He took us to hidden gems we never would have found on our own, each stop offering authentic, absolutely delicious food. His English was excellent, and he immediately built a great rapport with everyone in our 12-person group. It felt less like a tour and more like spending the afternoon with a very well-connected local friend. Thank you, Muhammed, for a truly unforgettable experience!Muhammed was the highlight of Istanbul

Anakaren

(About local Esra)

20 July 2025

We have an awesome time touring the Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, and Grand Bazaar. Esra is super knowledgeable and informative. We unfortunately could not attend the Blue Mosque cause it is closed on Fridays until 2:30 pm so instead Esra took us to the Grand Bazaar and we were able to make purchases with her help. It was comforting to know she was taking us to shops she shops at and we weren’t being scammed. She even helped finding some souvenir gifts for us. Esra is great

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

Jean🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alp)

19 July 2025

Alp provided us with a great introduction to authentic, delicious food. Prior to meeting Alp, he was responsive to our questions and worked to plan a delightful evening, taking into consideration our likes and dislikes. During our tour he was fun to talk with and provided a lot of insight into the local culture. Thanks for a memorable evening of food and conversation. Alp is Wonderful

Jon

(About local Emre)

19 July 2025

Our three hour food tour with Emre was one of the most memorable experiences from our visit to Istanbul. He met us on the European side and after a quick first tasting, we took a ferry to the Asian side where Emre guided us through a maze of amazing food vendors. He was attentive to our food preferences (we had one vegetarian and he made sure she had many options). It was relaxed, informative, and we tried many foods we could never have found on our own. In all, I couldn't imagine a better food tour experience. Amazing experience

Robin🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Dilek)

19 July 2025

Hillary

(About local muhammed)

18 July 2025

We had a 24 hour layover in Istanbul and thought that if we wanted to make the most of it, we should get a tour guide. That’s when we found this site and Muhammed who was available to book a tour with us that afternoon. We didn’t have time to do his typical tour so he worked with us to curate a tour that fit our needs and wants. Thanks again Muhammed for showing us your beautiful city! Until next time, teşekküler!Curated Istanbul tour

Hillary

(About local muhammed)

18 July 2025

When our planned weekend in Istanbul was cut short to only one day, we were fortunate to find Muhammad on withlocals.com. We connected Sunday morning and I told him we only had that same day and we wanted to see as much as possible! I was relieved when Muhammad was up to the task and was willing to spend the entire afternoon showing us around. The Blue Mosque was a must but then we made our way to more local spots (spice market, pastry shop, etc), wrapping up with a Bosphorus boat cruise. He took incredible photos on the boat tour and a beautiful family photo with our children. This was a great introduction to Istanbul, thanks Muhammad !!Last-minute 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

Caroline🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Faruk )

17 July 2025

We booked this tour expecting an authentic local food experience, as advertised by Withlocals. Unfortunately, it fell far short of our expectations. Before the tour, we clearly communicated that we were food enthusiasts looking for hidden gems and genuine Istanbul flavours—the kind you can’t find without a knowledgeable local guide. Instead, the majority of the tour was spent walking through a modern shopping mall, and the food selections were uninspired and ordinary. For the price we paid, both the quality and quantity of food were unacceptable. What made it worse was our guide admitting that he doesn’t cook and simply relied on TripAdvisor or recommendations from other guides to choose stops. If we wanted a generic tourist experience, we could have done that ourselves—without paying a premium for a foodie guide. Given how strongly Withlocals markets these tours as curated by passionate locals, this was a major letdown. We cannot recommend this company for food tours in Istanbul. Not a food tour, just a mall walk

Anakaren

(About local Faruk )

17 July 2025

Farouk was a delightful tour guide. All the food stops we made were delicious. He has a calm personality which eased our experience. By the time we reached our final stop, we were so full and had to take our meal to go but it was delicious even as a midnight snack! Highly recommended if you’re looking to try spots and food the locals are eating ! 10/10 recommend

Glen🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Abdullah)

16 July 2025

Abdullah is very knowledgeable and has a great sense of humour. We are a family 4 and spent and a thoroughly engaging day with a local! Highly recommend a day with Abdullah if you are in Istanbul and new to the city.

Gill🇿🇦 South Africa

(About local Oguz)

16 July 2025

Ogüz was a remarkable guide. His ability to engage us all (there were 7 of us as a family group on a private tour) for the duration of his tour through his wonderful sense of humour and his skill in story telling, made our Istanbul experience one we will never forget. His knowledge of, and passion for, his city left us richer and more informed than when we started. We walked. We listened. We heard. An experience we would urge others to grab with both hands. Thank you Ogüz An exceptional experience