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- English-speaking guides
- Meet at your hotel
- Private — just your group
- No payment to request
How booking a private guide in Istanbul works
No packages to compare and no fixed bus schedule. You set the plan, your guide shows up.
Pick your day
Choose the date, how many people and what time you want to start.
Tell us your hotel
Your guide meets you in the lobby — or at Galataport if you arrive by cruise ship.
We confirm
We reply by WhatsApp or email with the details. Nothing to pay to send a request.
Sample one-day route in Istanbul
A classic first day in the Old City. Your guide adjusts the order for prayer times, closing days and crowds — and you can change anything.
- 9:00 AM
Meet at your hotel
Your guide picks you up in the lobby.
- 9:30 AM
Hagia Sophia
Nearly 1,500 years of history under one dome.
- 10:30 AM
Blue Mosque & Hippodrome
İznik tiles inside, Roman obelisks outside.
- 11:30 AM
Basilica Cistern
The columned Byzantine reservoir and the Medusa heads.
- 12:30 PM
Lunch in Sultanahmet
Kebab, köfte or meze — your guide knows the good places.
- 1:45 PM
Topkapı Palace
The sultans' palace, treasury and, if you like, the Harem.
- 4:00 PM
Grand Bazaar
Wander the covered market and shop with a local by your side.
- 5:30 PM
Back at your hotel
Or keep going: Spice Bazaar, Galata Tower or a Bosphorus cruise.
What you can see with your guide
Every tour is private, so the route fits your group. These are the places most visitors to Istanbul ask for.
Hagia Sophia
Nearly 1,500 years of history under one dome — church, mosque, museum and mosque again.
Blue Mosque
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque and its famous blue İznik tiles, right across from Hagia Sophia.
Topkapı Palace
Home of the Ottoman sultans, with the treasury, the harem and views over the Bosphorus.
Basilica Cistern
The vast underground Byzantine reservoir with its forest of columns and the Medusa heads.
Grand Bazaar & Spice Bazaar
Thousands of shops — your guide helps you find the good ones and shop with confidence.
Bosphorus & Galata
Cross between Europe and Asia by boat, then walk up to Galata Tower and the old Pera streets.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book a private tour guide in Istanbul?
Fill in the short form above: choose your tour day, number of people, start time and the hotel where you are staying. We confirm by WhatsApp or email.
Do I have to pay to send a request?
No. Sending a request is free and does not commit you to anything. We reply with the details first, and once you confirm you can pay by card (Stripe) or Zelle.
Where does the tour start?
Your guide meets you in the lobby of your hotel at the start time you choose. Any hotel in Istanbul works, and cruise passengers can choose the Galataport cruise terminal.
Are the guides English-speaking?
Yes. Tours are guided in fluent English for travelers from the US and other English-speaking countries.
How many people can join a private tour?
Any group size from a solo traveler or couple to families and groups of up to 50 people.
What can we see with a guide in one day in Istanbul?
A typical Old City day covers Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace, the Basilica Cistern and the Grand Bazaar. You can also add the Spice Bazaar, Galata Tower or a Bosphorus cruise. The guide tailors the route to your group.
Can I pay online?
Yes. Once we confirm your tour and price, you can pay securely by card through Stripe (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, JCB, Diners Club) or by Zelle — we send the Zelle details with your confirmation.
What time can the tour start?
You pick the start time, anywhere from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM Istanbul time.
Ready to see Istanbul with a local?
Pick your day and hotel — it takes 30 seconds.
Request my guide