Ayfer

The Explorer of History and Lifestyle

Responds quickly
  • I live in Istanbul
  • I speak English, Türkçe
  • Verified Local host
  • Response time less than 14 hours

Hi there! Nice to meet you

Ayfer

Hello travelers!

I'm Ayfer, I am a licensed professional tour guide, a yogi, an artist and a passionate traveler. I love life and everything that makes it fun and joyful!

History, food and travel are passions of mine, I love travel and witnessing history, tasting different food & beverages and exploring local life and neighborhoods. Different tastes mean indulging in the new cultures for me and helping you experience this is a joy. I love Istanbul and meeting new people from all over the world; Istanbul has never let me down in that matter!

I currently host number of tours at Withlocals that you may review on my profile. If you are looking for something else or different timing, just send me a message about your preferences and I'll create an experience that is tailored just for you.

Looking forward to meeting you!

  • I live in Istanbul
  • I speak English, Türkçe
  • Verified Local host
  • Response time less than 14 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.

Did you know that I can personalize your experience?

All Withlocals tours are completely customisable to your needs. Just let me know your preferences for a private and personalized experience!

Responds quickly

Reviews

Cecilia
18 July 2025
Ayfer was great at communicating before the event, so we knew the best way to get to her and exact where to meet. She was also kind enough to give us some suggestions for off the beaten track places to visit in Istanbul before we met her for the cruise. The cruise itself was amazing, the shores of the Bosphorus are spectacular particularly at sunset and Ayfer provided great commentary on all the sights as well as historical and cultural insights. Her English is superb. We really enjoyed this trip and it is highly recommended. Fantastic experience
Sue
15 July 2025
I had a 24 hour layover in Istanbul, and decided to do a quick tiur before catching my next flight. Ayfer was a wonderful guide. She gave me a marvelous overview of Istanbul. I waa able to see the most famous sights and I learned a lot about the history of the city. Ii would love to return and bookna more in-depth tour with Ayfer.Quick Tour of Istanbul
Masha
6 July 2025
Ayfer was a wonderful guide—knowledgeable, warm, and engaging. She brought Istanbul’s history and culture to life with fascinating stories and insights. Highly recommended!Brilliant guide
Rachel
5 July 2025
On our last full day in Istanbul, Ayfer took me and my 12yo daughter to the Basilica Cistern, and to the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market for some supported shopping (it can be quite overwhelming to choose among the 4,000 shops). Her knowledge of the city’s history was just wonderful for both of us, increasing our ability to enjoy each experience. We ended our day with a narrated cruise around the Bosporus and Golden Horn at sunset, for the perfect farewell to a beautiful city. I would recommend Ayfer strongly to any visitor, especially those who love history.Just Like Family
Armando
1 July 2025
My wife and I met Ayfer for a food tour in Kadicoy. Within 5 minutes, she surpassed the guide we had hired for the previous two days for the old city, Aya Sophia, etc. . . As we say in Spanish, Ayfer is “simpatica.” She is full of cultural, historical, social and religious knowledge. She met us at the Pier which was super easy. As we walked towards the markets, she casually weaved into our walk wonderful historical tales about Istanbul and the start of Istanbul, the developments of neighborhoods over time and how it influenced the food and architecture and culture. She took us to excellent restaurants that are not on lonely planet and therefore not crowded. She explained the food and how it can differ from similar cultures. I am a veteran of probably over 20 food tours and this is by far the best. Ayfer is Awesome. After the food tour, she helped us with other restaurant suggestions and then found out we were going to Bodrum and took her time to explain the top things to do in Bodrum. We were in Istanbul for two more days and she stayed in touch with us to see if we needed anything else. I realized later that she does a private boat tour. We had already done a much more expensive boat tour without a guide. You need a guide to tour the Bosphorus to understand all the incredible buildings on the water. Once again, start your Istanbul vacay here. More Than A Food Tour - Awesome Ayfer
Tina
23 June 2025
Ayfer was incredible. We were given a fantastic orientation to the city and great insight to the history. She also gave advice on restaurants and other trips. Many thanks Ayfer 10
Hugh
19 June 2025
Ayfer was very knowledgeable about Istanbul’s history, politics and culture as well as being a lovely person. We took a tour of the neighbourhoods and learnt how to take the trams, ate the best fish wraps and discovered fermented turnip drink. We expressed an interest in Turkish rugs and she incorporated this into the tour. I would highly recommend Ayfer as a tour guide for this fascinating city! Excellent guide
Kartika
8 June 2025
We had a wonderful half-day tour with Ayfer. We were interested in exploring the history of Byzantine architecture in Istanbul, and Ayfer curated the perfect itinerary for us. My dad has difficulty walking quickly and needs to take frequent breaks, and Ayfer was incredibly thoughtful in adjusting the pace to suit his needs. We enjoyed a relaxing mid-tour break at a charming café, and later she dropped us off at a lovely, authentic Turkish restaurant for lunch. Ayfer also shared several great recommendations for restaurants, shopping, desserts, hammams, and more. I highly recommend a tour with her. A Fabulous Visit
Sylvia
3 June 2025
We booked Ayfer for a 3 hour walking tour of the main sights and insights into historic and modern Istanbul. She was great company, really easy to talk to and a lot of fun. She explained the fascinating history of the country, and the history of the beautiful buildings in the old town and then took us on a magical journey across the Bosporus to a vibrant enclave full of foodie shops and trendy cafes. A really interesting morning With a superb guide. We cannot recommend her enough. A comprehensive insight into Istanbul
John
21 May 2025
Ayfer met us at the pier and gave us a great walking tour of Kadikoy, stopping at some wonderful spots for food. She was able to accommodate our dislike of seafood and was very pleasant to talk with as she shared interesting info about the area and Istanbul as we walked. She also gave us a great recommendation for a hamman and restaurants. Great walk through Kadikoy

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