Abdullah

History & Story Teller

Responds quickly
  • I live in Istanbul
  • I speak English, Español
  • Verified Local host
  • Response time less than 7 hours

Hi there! Nice to meet you

Abdullah

Hi Everyone My name is Abdullah but everyone calls me Apo or Apple. I’m from Cappadocia regione. I have studied 4 years in Ege University Tourism Faculty in Tour Guiding Department in Cesme town. I studied History of Art, Archeology, History of Religions, History of Architecture, Mythology and a bit Philosophy. I also took online courses from Yale University, Khan Academy and İstanbul Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts on Fine Arts and Byzantine History. I like reading and discovering new things. It is my way of life! I also like sharing my experiences and knowledge with travellers those who want to go in deeper and discover more! I can say that I’m good in history, Mythology and in Paintings of great Masters. I like to listen and learn other's stories as well. I belive that life consists of great stories so I like to create my own story and share it with others! My İstanbul is very beautiful, it is like an ocean; The more you dive the more you discover! İf you want to see and discover more book me as your guide and you will see. The magic will work and You will not be the same again!

  • I live in Istanbul
  • I speak English, Español
  • Verified Local host
  • Response time less than 7 hours

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Reviews

Sylvester (Sly)
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
Justin
29 May 2025
We were really looking forward to a private, family-friendly tour of Istanbul—something engaging, educational, and inspiring. Unfortunately, this experience fell flat. Our guide rated a 4 out of 10 at best. He led us to several closed sights (which could have easily been checked in advance), and made stops in grimy, uncomfortable spots that weren't great for small children. Despite promising to be a storyteller, he shared only scattered facts and lacked the spark or depth to bring the city to life. We had to pull information out of him with questions instead of being guided through Istanbul’s rich history and culture. While he made a small effort to acknowledge the kids, he didn’t connect with them on their level and wasn’t intuitive to their needs—missing obvious cues like pausing when they were upset or engaging them when they were ready to listen. The tour felt unstructured, and he often just walked ahead in silence unless we prompted him. Though we did see four sights in five hours (which we could'vewalked to ourselves), the experience felt like a wasted day in a city we were so excited to explore. We hoped for insight, storytelling, and someone who could spark curiosity—for both kids and adults. Sadly, we walked away disappointed.Disappointing Private Tour
Jason
25 May 2025
What an amazing day with Abdullah. He was so easy to talk to and had such a great knowledge of the history of the city and of the sites specifically. Highly recommend you spend your day tour with him. Charming Istanbul
Alberto
21 May 2025
Abdullah was lovely—knowledgeable, personable, and very easy to talk to. We learned so much about the country’s history and culture as we strolled through Sultanahmet and visited some of the city’s key sights (avoid on weekends if you can!). I’d recommend this tour to anyone looking for an engaging first immersion into Istanbul. Thanks so much, Abdullah!An insightful walking tour of Sultanahmet
caroline
20 May 2025
Abdullah is a great guide. Very knowledgeable about the history of the city and Turkey but also in recommending shops and restaurants. Very helpful as well and a great photographer. I can highly recommend him.Wonderful walking tour!
Brad
20 May 2025
We had an amazing time with Abdullah. We didn't really have anything in particular we wanted to see. We had just arrived to Istanbul, so wanted to get oriented with the immediate area and how to use local transit. Staying in Sultanahmet, there was lots for Abdullah to show us, and then we headed over to Karakoy via tram, which he helped us get an Istanbulkart Abdullah was full of knowledge, entertaining, and passionate about what he does and where he lives. Would highly recommend.Amazing Istanbul
Gabriel
18 May 2025
Muy buen manejo del idioma español y atención al tour. Excelente conocimientos de la ciudad. Muy amable y cordialExcelente atencion de Abdullah!!
Zac
18 May 2025
Abdullah was absolutely fantastic. He didn’t stop with just the highlights of the city: he’s a huge history buff and was able to give us loads of great information and history associated with the sights, as well as the different periods & civilizations that preceded them. He also gave some wonderful restaurant suggestions tailored to our interests in local fare. Very highly recommended!Such a wonderful way to discover Istanbul
Jidesh
17 May 2025
Great guided tour of Istanbul with so much history and culture explained to you which you would've missed out otherwise.Wonderful tour of Istanbul
Michael
12 May 2025
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.

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