Mine

The Art & History Lover

  • I live in Istanbul
  • I speak English
  • Verified Local host
  • Response time less than 10 hours

Hi there! Nice to meet you

Mine

Living in Istanbul, one of the georgious cities in the world, for the last 11 years, makes me so thankful and encourages me to explore more. Before becoming a 'legal' tour guide I travelled around the world, worked in USA, walked Camino de Santiago French and Portuguese ways in Europe, visited every single museums in small towns, watched musicals, theaters, enchanted with art and history, tasted delicious local food, even experienced corporate business life, studied international relations and astrology, met people all around the world, loved them more by observing we look alike :) Now here I am in my home town, ready to share the gems of it. Get ready to hear out this city's art, history, culture, food, life style and many more...

  • I live in Istanbul
  • I speak English
  • Verified Local host
  • Response time less than 10 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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All Withlocals tours are completely customisable to your needs. Just let me know your preferences for a private and personalized experience!

Reviews

Libby
5 September 2025
I cannot begin to express how extremely lucky we feel to have spent time with Mine today. From the time of booking and throughout our tour, she was extremely responsive to our needs and worked with us flexibly. What’s more she is a wealth of knowledge about Architecture, Art, History and Culture and Politics , not only of Istanbul, but of the entire Middle East and Europe. I may have learned more from Mine in 3 hours today than I have in the past year. We walked away with incredible insights into Istanbul’s culture and history and relationship to the world. Mine has it all: information, cultural and religious insights and experience and a great sense of humor and fun! Anyone who gets Mine as their guide should consider themselves very lucky! The Amazing Insights of Mine
Alyssa
29 August 2025
As someone with a terrible sense of direction, I knew I wanted a guide for my first visit to the grand bazaar to get myself oriented. Mine was a fantastic guide, taking us to a mix of typical shops and others specifically geared towards our interests. We got to experience a little of everything and were excited to go back on our own and confidently handle negotiations. Highly recommend!Great insiders tour
cooper
27 August 2025
Mine is an absolute fountain of knowledge. She was prompt and so incredibly knowledgeable, she could easily be a uni professor. I booked her for the Hagia Sophia tour and the insights and stories she told were fascinating. She is the pinnacle of the tour guide pyramid. She also advocated for me with a group tourists who were taking too long in front of a mosaic. The only tour guide you will ever need!
Adam
9 August 2025
The grand bazaar can be a confusing and stressful experience with 1000s of stores and pushy vendors. With Mine you will have an enchanting and informative private experience, and the vendors leave you alone. Mine will show you the best authentic stores with high quality goods, usually multi-generational family businesses. Booking Mine is one of the best travel decisions I have made in years. A passionate and informed local is the only way to do this. Don’t hesitate- just book her!Amazing grand bazaar and spice market tour
Jacob
7 August 2025
Mine was an outstanding guide for both tours I took with her—Dolmabahçe Palace and the Spice Market & Grand Bazaar. Her deep historical knowledge and vivid storytelling brought each place to life in a way I never could have experienced on my own. At the palace, her insights added depth and meaning, and in the markets, she introduced me to local traditions, craftsmen, and trustworthy vendors. She even helped me find exactly what I was looking for at the markets at fair prices. Her enthusiasm, expertise, and thoughtful approach made both tours truly enjoyable and memorable. I highly recommend her!Excellent Guide, Insightful and Engaging
Chris
29 July 2025
Mine spent the morning with our rather larger group of 9 showing us some wonderful hidden gems in the market. She was knowledgeable, fun to listen to, and most of all, patient with our group as we tried, but weren't always successful staying on track in the busy bazaar. I would definitely recommend Mine, and look forward to our next trip to Istanbul.Wonderfaul day in the market
Mark
17 July 2025
Mine was a fountain of knowledge about the bazaar - both its history and the shops themselves. We had an excellent 2.5 hour that took in the hidden nooks and crannies of the bazaar, some of its landmark shops, the hidden back streets and the spice bazaar. A good blend of insight, knowledge and fun that kept our two children (12 and 10) entertained. All-in-all, a very good tour.Excellent experience at the Grand Bazaar
Alex
22 June 2025
A hugely rewarding afternoon spent with Mine in Fener, Istanbul. Her knowledge is encyclopedic and brought to life through lived experience and friendships across many cultures. I look forward to discovering more of Istanbul with her in the future.Total cultural immersion
Nick
22 June 2025
Mine was an incredible guide. Actually, an incredible host. She asked in advance if we wanted to focus on a particular area and then adjusted seamlessly as we saw shops that jumped out. She has a deep knowledge of the city and the bazaars, introducing us to shop owners making remarkable products. Will do again next time I visit. The best tour guide
Jennifer
21 June 2025
I had the pleasure of working with Mine, a local guide in Istanbul, who truly went above and beyond to make our trip an unforgettable experience. We needed help sourcing drapery fabric for our home and having curtains constructed within 24 hours of selecting the fabric, and Mine took on the task with enthusiasm, thoroughness, and an attention to detail that far exceeded our expectations. From the moment we reached out, Mine immediately began researching fabric purchasing options, suggesting reputable merchants carrying fabrics that suited our vision. Not only did she carefully provide fabric options , she also organized everything: from leading us through markets to visit vendors to having the fabric delivered directly to a custom shop for construction, to ensuring the finished draperies were delivered to our hotel room before we left Istanbul. What made the experience truly exceptional was the seamlessness and ease of it all. We didn’t have to worry about a thing. We were able to enjoy the experience and relax as we made our selections. Mine handled every detail, ensuring that the process was completely stress-free. The result? Perfect, high-quality draperies that are exactly what we envisioned, delivered right to our hotel room with time to spare. The level of care and dedication shown made this experience a pleasure from start to finish. I can’t recommend Mine highly enough for anyone looking for a guide who goes far beyond typical expectations and creates a bespoke experience . If you're in Istanbul and need assistance, Mine is your person. You’ll be in expert hands, and you’ll be amazed by the results! Exceptional – Beyond Expectations!

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