We also offer a selection of accompanied experiences of Istanbul’s Galata neighbourhood and beyond. Our companions are ready to share their local knowledge and fascinating community connections, to help you build your own genuine and memorable perspective on the city
We guarantee you:
- your private group
- sophisticated company: an educated insider with intuition and fresh energy, happy to share her love of the city with you
- no sales expectations or commissions: be sure that your guide has no ulterior motives
If you have any questions about these experiences or would like to book one, we’d be really happy to help: just contact us.
Istanbul Highlights | 6 hours | Private
Foodie | 6 hrs | Private
Orientation Beyoglu | 3 hrs | Private
-
Istanbul Highlights | 6 hours | Private
Discover all of the Istanbul highlights with the most delightful guide. 200 Euros for up to 4 people and then each extra person is 20 Euros. Hagia Sophia: named as the church of ‘Holy Wisdom’, involving its architectural genius. One of the symbols of the city, having been the largest church in the world for more than eight centuries, converted to a mosque by the Ottomans and the most visited sites of Istanbul of the present time. Blue Mosque: named by the visitors after its blue coloured glazed tiles on the interior walls. A great example of the elegance of the classical Ottoman architecture. A living sanctuary where people still pray five times a day. The most famous one of over 90.000 mosques in Turkey. Roman Hippodrome: the amusement centre of the Romans, adorned with monuments from various lands of the empire. Seeing the chariot races in the Hippodrome together with thousands of people was the most common entertainment for any citizen of Rome. The stories involving the hippodrome make it as interesting as the other big sanctuaries around. Topkapı Palace: A site signifying much more than a regular residence. Great place to comprehend the structure of the Ottoman Empire by both political and social aspects. The largest museum in the city with an area covering 80.000 m2, housing the most precious pieces of the imperial treasury, arms, costumes, portraits, paintings and the holy relics of important figures of the Islamic world. Visiting the palace, the constructional vision of the empire can be seen as the palace consists of four big yards that have various buildings with different functions in them. Basilica Cistern: A unique place with an exceptional atmosphere. The largest one of all the water cisterns found underground the city. This mysterious site has been used for various exciting purposes: a secret waterway used by James Bond in From Russia with Love, the final site where the mystery of Dan Brown’s Inferno is solved and a place of concert classical music shows. Grand Bazaar: One of the biggest covered markets in the world with about 4000 stores and 20.000 shopkeepers inside. The authenticity of the bazaar comes not only from the beauty and the value of handicrafts inside but also from the vivacious atmosphere inside. There is something for everyone’s taste here. You should just go deep into the narrow streets of it to discover and find. -
-
Foodie | 6 hrs | Private
Discover and taste the best of Turkish culinary specialities while exploring lesser-known districts of Istanbul. 200 Euros for up to 4 people and then each extra person is 20 Euros. Food and transportation costs are excluded from price. This tour will take you from speciality cafes to hidden-away restaurants, niche food shops and kitchens in Beyoğlu and then further afield in Istanbul. You’ll increase your appreciation and knowledge of Turkish Cuisine (bridging Far-Eastern and Mediterranean food culture, renowned as one of the best and healthiest in the world) and its regional variations. Our experienced, characterful and clear English-speaking walk leader will meet you in front of your building, then accompany you out on your gastronomic treasure hunt. You’ll stop for tasting all along the way, meeting the chefs behind the dishes, the friendly shop-keepers who sell the delicacies to locals and learning from your guide the background stories to their cultures and creations. At the same time you’ll be exploring very genuine districts of Istanbul that you might not otherwise find and developing your understanding of how food fits into the broader culture of the city. At lunch time you’ll stop for longer to enjoy a special choice of restaurant. Your guide will be intuitive and sensitive to your particular interests as much as time allows. There will be absolutely no pressure to buy anything or any commissions involved. You’ll feel very different about Istanbul and Turkish food culture than you did 6 hours previously! -
Orientation Beyoglu | 3 hrs | Private
Enrich your stay with some insiders’ knowledge early on. 120 Euros for up to 4 and then each extra person is 20 Euros. This walk will introduce you to Beyoğlu. You’ll be equipped with valuable insider’s knowledge to make your visit a much richer and more memorable one. You’ll gain confidence in the city around you and start to see your own way of making the most of it during the rest of your stay. Our experienced, characterful and clear English-speaking walk leader will meet you in of your building, then take you out to get the bearings of your new neighborhood. You’ll be shown well-hidden, special places to eat, drink, shop and explore while given practical information about nearby links (metro, tram and ferry) to journey further afield later on your own. You’ll gain fascinating insight into how local people live here now, what they do with their time (and have done for hundreds of years) in the streets around. Your guide will be intuitive and sensitive to your particular interests as much as time allows. You’ll feel very different about Istanbul than you did 3 hours previously!
