Traditions & Heritage • 4 hours 5.0 (6)

Istanbul’s history: where Europe meets Asia

2500 years of history, Ottoman mosques, and a mosaic-encrusted Byzantine basilica.

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

  • You’ll spend 4 hours immersing yourself in the culture of Istanbul and soak up its history as you explore the streets with your host by your side
  • Get what you want from your experience by discovering the truly unique culture of this city by strolling
  • Visit one of the oldest markets in the world and haggle for some bargains
  • See historic and beautiful mosques and churches, then discover more secret histories that aren’t in your guidebook
  • Stop to try some delicious local food along the way

What to know before you go

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

4 hours
Fully tailored to your preferences
English Other languages may be requested

What’s included

A private and personalized experience
4 hours with your host
Walking experience (if required, your host can suggest public transport or private taxi options)
Authentic local knowledge and insights
Hotel meet-up (available on request for central location)

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

Did you ever think you could travel across two continents and 2500 years of history in just 4 hours? Nope, us neither, but that was before we went to Istanbul. As the capital of four empires: the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Latin Empire, the Byzantine Empire (again), and the Ottoman Empire, there’s a lot to take in, but don’t let that overwhelm you.

You’ll flit between ornate mosques and mosaic encrusted basilicas, stroll through lush palace gardens and visit one of the oldest markets in the world. We won’t bore you with dates and facts, rather you’ll see the city’s history come to life as you explore with your local Istanbul host.

Stop to pick up street eats like flaky borek pastries or kebab - this is the country which introduced kebab to the world, and we think that counts as history too! Just let us know if you’d like to discover the impressive, world-famous minarets and domes which dot the city’s skyline or you’d like to lose yourself (figuratively, not literally) in the narrow, winding streets of a historic neighborhood - you’ll soon see why the city is so fittingly known as the Jewel in Bosphorus Strait’s Crown.

1. Select a date
2. Select start time
3. Tailor your experience
Answer a few quick questions to help your host craft the perfect day tailored to you.
1. What’s your preferred hosting style?
2. How would you like the pace of your day?
3. What’s your walking comfort level?
4. Are you celebrating something special?

Real Stories, Real Connections

See our hosts and guests creating memories

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What travelers think of this experience

Launa May 2023

Absolutely wonderful! Feruza went above and beyond the call of duty as our host! She met us at the airport, showed us the sites in Istanbul while providing detailed information and context, introduced us to some delicious foods, brought us back to our hotel and made sure we didn't overpay for our taxi ride back to the airport the next day. She is also one of the most pleasant, kind, and generous people I've ever met. This tour turned out to be indispensable to us because there is no way we would have been able to navigate our way through Istanbul on a 1-day layover by ourselves and see all that we got to see. Thank you, Feruza and City Unscripted!

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Jason Apr 2025

Emir was great, showed us around old town and into the highlight places to see. It was our first day and he explained a lot of Turkey and the local history.

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Hugo Apr 2025

We had a fantastic tour around the streets of Istanbul with Tugba. We wanted to get off the beaten track and see the city through the eyes of a local and this is exactly what Tugba delivered. Highly recommended!

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William Mar 2025

Really great tour - Emir tailored the tour to our tastes as we wanted to see more authentic places and not just the main tourist sites. We wanted to get a feel for what life was like in Instanul for the citizens and Emir delivered and more. She was friendly and was very knowledgeable. After our tour we felt we knew a much more about the city and had a better feel for life in Turkey.

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Jan Mar 2025

Ipek gave us an amazing private food tour! Very delicious and interesting information about the city along the way. She adjusted the tour according to our requests and needs. Highly recommended!

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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.

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