
2500 years of history, Ottoman mosques, and a mosaic-encrusted Byzantine basilica.
Here’s everything you need to know before your day unfolds.
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.
Trusted and recommended by travelers worldwide, including 99% on Google and TripAdvisor.
A really interesting and varied tour. Saw and noticed things we would never have seen on our own or on a conventional tour. Burak was relaxed, honest, adaptable and so knowledgeable.
Show moreIt felt like we were just popping into places with a friend. Lots of opportunities to find out more about Turkish culture and life.
Show moreAbsolutely 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!
Show moreOur guide Burak was fantastic! We learned a lot about the city, and ate some absolutely incredible food. The tour absolutely exceeded our expectations in every way!
Show moreMy guide, Feruza, was timely and met me at the discussed meeting location. She inquired about my sightseeing priorities. Her English was very good. She was a delightful guide. L
Show moreEmir was our excellent personal Guide that made our entire day with him in Istanbul an amazing lifelong memorable experience. He took the time to teach us about his City, Culture and Country. Emir ensured that we tried all types of local street foods, Turkish teas and coffees. We traveled to all the various neighborhoods of Istanbul and Emir did everything to ensure we were learning as much as we could.
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