Istanbul

Full day in Istanbul with a local

Flexible Full-Day Discovery • 8 hours 4.9 (18)

Full day in Istanbul with a local

The Bosphorus Strait, a meyhane tavern, and some good old market haggling.

Bargaining is an integral part of the carpet-shopping experience in Turkey so don't be shy and just go with the flow!

What makes this experience special

Key highlights

Spend the day with a host who will create an experience that's fully customized to your interests and what you'd most like to see
See Istanbul’s iconic attractions as well as some secret Istanbul spots
Get a unique local perspective as you explore the city - avoiding tourist traps is key
Discover the highlights of the area or neighborhood that you explore
Eat and drink like a local, picking up street food from a food stand or popping into a meyhane tavern
Chat to your host, getting tips and advice on exciting things to do and places to see during the rest of your trip

What to know before you go

Here’s everything you need to know before your day unfolds.

At a glance What’s included Things to know

8 hours

Fully tailored to your preferences

English Other languages may be requested

What’s included

A private and personalized experience

8 hours with your host

Hotel meet-up (available on request for central location)

Walking experience (if required, your host can suggest public transport or private taxi options)

What’s not included

Food and drinks

Tickets to any attractions

Transportation costs

Gratuities (optional)

Meeting point

Your hotel/apartment or any other central location

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience

What to bring

We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and carrying a light bag for your essentials.
Public transport may be used during the experience - please bring a travel card or small amount of cash for fares.

How your day could unfold

A flexible, unscripted experience designed entirely around your interests. Your host will adapt the day based on what excites you most

What you’ll do

Oh, the places you’ll go on your day in Istanbul! Most experiences don’t offer you the opportunity to hop between continents, but then it’s not every day you’re in Istanbul. You’ll join one of our local Istanbul hosts who can’t wait to share with you their favorite places to hang out, where to get your hands on the best food and show you what makes their city so unique.

You’ll weave your way through a neighborhood or two (we recommend checking out one on either side of the Bosphorus Strait), showing you a glimpse into life in Istanbul, which is lived out in the streets.

From dazzling waterfront spots to artistic neighborhoods on the Middle-Eastern side, you’ll discover some secret spots as well as landmarks like the Blue Mosque or Grand Bazaar.

Whether you see yourself lounging on a terrace of a meyhane tavern and feasting on mezze, then haggling your way through markets or you’re in for something faster-paced, you’ll feel like you’re spending the day with a friend.

Real Stories, Real Connections

See our hosts and guests creating memories

17,500+ 5-Star Reviews and Counting

Trusted and recommended by travelers worldwide, including 99% on Google and TripAdvisor.

recommended by 99% of travelers on google

recommended by 99% of travelers on tripadvisor

We don’t make deals with businesses - giving you unbiased and authentic local experiences.

What travelers think of this experience

Elizabeth Mar 2025

Feruza was a great guide. We told her we wanted to go off the beaten path as we could see the major tourist sites on our own. She took us to some really interesting neighborhoods in Istanbul that gave us a real flavor for the city. Highly recommend.

Kevin Mar 2025

We had Feruza who was amazing! I would highly recommend this tour as we learnt a lot and a walking tour in Istanbul is perfect way to explore the city. One thing we were concerned about when picking a tour was some of them hard sell you but Feruza tailored our tour based on what we wanted and didn’t take us anyway to sell anything, in fact it was almost like walking around with a friend. She also took us to a hidden lunch gem spot which was the most delicious we had!

Colin Mar 2025

Really enjoyed our trip today. We were tired after several intense days and despite his huge knowledge and wealth of options he managed to cater to our needs and made everything interesting and worthwhile

Cordelia Feb 2025

My son and I had a wonderful time learning about Istanbul with Feruza. We booked our walking tour for the first day of our stay in Istanbul and visited the Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace, several places along Istiklal Street, and the Galata Tower area. We also took a ferry together to the Asian side of the city. Feruza was a wealth of information, answered all of our questions, and gave us ideas on what to do with the remaining days that we were going to be in Istanbul. Feruza showed us a city that is vibrant, beautiful, and very well run, and I highly recommend her if you are looking for a personalized tour of Istanbul with a local!

Fetine Sep 2024

Hands down the best decision my mate and I made with booking a private tour guide in Istanbul. We were VERY lucky to have Ekrem as our guide. He was very knowledgeable and gave us all the local insight into the city. My mate and I gave him a list of places to explore and he created an itinerary that ensured we explored all the places on the list whilst enjoying a long day worth of walking and catching transport. Did I also mention the mouth watering lunch we had thanks to his recommendation. Samsun pide in Kadıköy is a must. Definitely recommend booking a private tour guide through this agency (can also be booked via get your guide app). Thanks Ekrem for all your hard work. Look forward to catching up with you on our next trip

Cheryl Sep 2024

Feruza was a warm and engaging tour guide with lots of local knowledge and great photography skill Loved our day exploring Istanbul!

SEE ALL REVIEWS