Oguz

The Local Legend

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  • I live in Istanbul
  • I speak English
  • Verified Local host
  • Response time less than 6 hours

Hi there! Nice to meet you

Oguz

"Hello, my name is Oguz and I'm a proud Istanbul local. I have always had a passion for history and culture, which led me to study cultural heritage in college. As a result, I have a deep understanding and appreciation of the rich history and diverse culture of Istanbul. My idea of the perfect day is exploring the city's hidden gems, whether it's a tucked-away café or a lesser-known museum. I also love to share my love for the city with others, which is why I became a tour guide.

When I'm not showing guests around, you can find me playing video games,cooking up a storm in the kitchen, or spending time with my family. I believe that the best way to experience a city is through the eyes of a local, and I can't wait to show you all that istanbul has to offer.

  • I live in Istanbul
  • I speak English
  • Verified Local host
  • Response time less than 6 hours

Book one of my offers in Istanbul

Let's explore Istanbul together! As your local guide, I'll show you the best of Istanbul on a private & personalized tour for you.

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Reviews

Brian
26 May 2025
We decided to arrive in Istanbul two days before our cruise so that we could see more of the city. We were here once before and saw most of the top sites, so this time we were looking for the less-common landmarks and even the Asian side of the Bosporus. We also wanted another look at the stunning Hagia Sophia. It was clear that the usual group tours would not work, so we decided to take a chance on a tour with WithLocals. We chose Oguz as our guide based on his outstanding reviews, and it was the perfect decision. Oguz went out of his way to design a day that met all our needs, from planning the itinerary to miss peak visitor times, to arranging a car and skilled driver so we did not have to use mass transit. Oguz himself is a charming man with an excellent command of English, and he has a stellar knowledge of the history of Türkiye and of Istanbul. His narration of the Hagia Sophia was vivid and detailed, and we learned things that our prior trip's guide had not even hinted at. Oguz warned us that a trip to the Asian side would take a long time due to the traffic, but being travelers rather than tourists, we actually enjoyed the congestion, as it gave us time to see the details of the city and daily life. Once on the Asian side we toured the Grand Çamlıca mosque, the largest mosque in Türkiye -- an architectural and cultural wonder we had not known existed. As always, Oguz provided extensive detail that brought the building to life, but also respected our unspoken wish to simply take in the magnificence of the building and reflect on it. We cannot recommend Oguz highly enough. The day was very reasonable given the extensive time and complex logistics, but still would have been worth twice the price. Our experience witA Delightful Day in Istanbul with Oguz!
759bfwjtnx
23 May 2025
We were total newbies to Istanbul and are very happy that we found Oguz. At first he not just stuck to a fixed plan but asked us for our interests and thus we adapted the tour to what suited the day, our interests and available time best. Awesome! Oguz is very knowledgeable. We focused on the history of the city, some hidden gems and in between turned the tour in a cultural exchange about history, people, politics and other topics between our countries. Awesome again! By the end Oguz gave us tips on how to spend our time left in Istanbul wisely. We finished the tour very fulfilled and happy to have taken it. Worth every dime! Awesome again! Thank you!Highly recommendable
Cathrine
21 May 2025
Oguz was excellent at telling story and history in very engaging way. Nice pace and took us to some fabulous places without crowds. Great story teller
phedgley
7 May 2025
Gave up a great insight into the history of the places we visited. Istanbul experience
Sabine
28 April 2025
My family and I spent the Easter weekend at Istanbul. The first day we were at Istanbul we took a walk together with Oguz through the old town and he explained us a lot about Istanbuls history and all the famous buildings we saw. It was very interesting and we also had a lot of fun together with him. Thank you for that😊😊😊Exploring the old town
nate.kringstad
21 March 2025
Oguz was fantastic! This was day two of our trip to Istanbul and he showed the main sites and a few hidden gems along the way. It was what was advertised and much more! Oguz made us feel at ease right away and spoke to us as if we have been friends for a long time. His knowledge on history and culture throughout the many ages of Istanbul was helpful and informative. We found our ourselves pulled into the history and stories he told about each sight. He gave us recommendations and checked in with us after the tour as well. Oguz truly made our day special and has been a highlight to our trip! Little did we know, this tour itself was a hidden gem in Istanbul! Thank you Oguz! Couldn’t have asked for better!
jade
3 January 2025
Oguz has such great knowledge and he made me feel like I went back in time when he shared the fascinating history of Istanbul. I will definitely seek him out when I am back there. The recommendation's of restaurants and advice was awesome!Walk back in history
Drishti
15 December 2024
This was our first time in Istanbul, and booking a tour with Oguz on our very first day was the best decision we made! He is very knowledgeable and passionate about the city, with amazing knowledge about local history, architecture, and much more. He also went out of his way to customise our experience- we got to take a nice break in a local tea shop which was perfect. A must do when you’re in the city.A must do to learn about the city
Michael
16 October 2024
My wife and I were on a short city trip in Istanbul, staying in a hotel with view on the Hagia Sofia. We decided to pick Oguz to show us around. It appeared to be a very nice tour. Oguz is very friendly and knowledgeable and explained the whole history of the building, while showing us interesting places and spots within the mosque. He shares his stories with lots of enthusiasm, which makes it very entertaining. After the tour there was still some time left, which we didn't waste as he took us as well to the Basilica Cistern. Thanks for the nice time, Oguz!Highly recommendable tour with Oguz
Tim
6 October 2024
Oguz was a great guide and highly recommended. He arrived promptly and it was evident he had a passion for his role and good knowledge of Istanbul history and culture. As a group we thought he went the extra mile. Thank you OguzA great experience

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