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Istanbul Old City Highlights and Hidden Gems Tour
5.0
41 Ratings
Fatih
Discover Istanbul’s hidden gems and iconic sites with a local guide. Enjoy history, culture, and cuisine on a personalized tour.
Discover Istanbul’s hidden gems and iconic sites with a local guide. Enjoy history, culture, and cuisine on a personalized tour.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
-
Topkapi Palace - Topkapı Palace / Short Route
(Topkapı Palace is closed on Tuesdays. If the tour falls on a Tuesday, it will proceed without Topkapı Palace, but rest assured, the day will still be filled with many other enjoyable experiences.) - Hippodrome - Ancient Roman Hippodrome - an open-air museum with monuments
- Blue Mosque - A…
-
Topkapi Palace - Topkapı Palace / Short Route
(Topkapı Palace is closed on Tuesdays. If the tour falls on a Tuesday, it will proceed without Topkapı Palace, but rest assured, the day will still be filled with many other enjoyable experiences.) - Hippodrome - Ancient Roman Hippodrome - an open-air museum with monuments
- Blue Mosque - A historic Ottoman mosque
- Basilica Cistern - An underground cistern from the 6th century Byzantine Era, offering a unique experience
- Hagia Sophia Mosque - This monumental building serves as both a museum and a mosque today. Originally constructed as the largest operational cathedral in Constantinople (now Istanbul) during the Byzantine era, it holds significant importance for both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Visitors can observe the layers of architecture and art history spanning centuries.
- Arasta Bazaar - A historical Ottoman bazaar where many traditional Turkish stores and products can be found. Upon request, there will be opportunities for mini workshops and tastings.
- Sultanahmet Square - A 30-minute coffee/tea break will be taken here, at personal expense.
- Sultanahmet Square - A 60-minute lunch break will be taken here, at personal expense.
What's Included
- Professional Licensed Tour Guide (English Speaking)
- Cultural Heritage Professional Guide
- Archaeology Professional Guide
- Professional Licensed Tour Guide (English Speaking)
- Cultural Heritage Professional Guide
- Archaeology Professional Guide
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Tea and coffee
- Museum Entrance Fees > Topkapı Palace: 2000TL /per person (approx. $53)
- Museum Entrance Fees > Basilica Cistern: 1300TL/per person (approx. $34)
- Museum Entrance Fees > Hagia Sophia: 25€/per person
- Lunch
- Tea and coffee
- Museum Entrance Fees > Topkapı Palace: 2000TL /per person (approx. $53)
- Museum Entrance Fees > Basilica Cistern: 1300TL/per person (approx. $34)
- Museum Entrance Fees > Hagia Sophia: 25€/per person
Additional Information
Spend a day with a licensed professional tour guide exploring the enchanting city of Istanbul. Discover the rich history of Istanbul as you visit Byzantine and Ottoman landmarks, gaining insights from both historical and art historical perspectives. Savor local food and drinks recommended by a local expert. Enjoy the privilege of skipping some queues…
Spend a day with a licensed professional tour guide exploring the enchanting city of Istanbul. Discover the rich history of Istanbul as you visit Byzantine and Ottoman landmarks, gaining insights from both historical and art historical perspectives. Savor local food and drinks recommended by a local expert. Enjoy the privilege of skipping some queues with your guide. Get detailed information about other important attractions and recommendations, such as restaurants, hamams, shopping, and other key tourist routes, from a local guide who has traveled to 34 countries and numerous cities worldwide. This multicultural expertise will help you plan the rest of your holiday, answering many of your questions about Istanbul and Turkey. Upon request, and if all group members agree, we can customize your itinerary to create a tailor-made experience for your group.
- This is a walking tour. After I meet you at the meeting point, in our route, we won’t be using any transportation. All the attraction points stated in the route are in historical center and close to each other. Our walking time in between the points, and waiting for the ticket queues etc. are all inclueded in the durations. So depending on the day and group it will be a minimum 6 hours maximum 8 hours route.
Location
At Meydanı Cd 17 D
At Meydanı Caddesi
I will be meeting you at Sultanahmet Square, right in front of German Fountain (Alman Çeşmesi). I will be holding a card on which "Eylem Yalcinkaya" "Professional Tour Guide" and "Viator Booked Walking Tours" written. It is only 2minutes walking distance from Sultanahmet Tram Station.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(41 Ratings)
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Ccdubai
Apr 23, 2025
Like Exploring Istanbul with a Local Friend - We had an amazing day in Istanbul with Eylem! She was warm, right on time, so easy to chat with, and full of fascinating info. She customised the day to suit us, was really flexible, and made everything feel effortless. It honestly felt like exploring the city with a super knowledgeable local friend. Highly recommend booking a tour with her!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
170ozlemc
Apr 22, 2025
Great experience - I had an incredible experience with Eylem in Istanbul! We planned a 2-day private tailor-made tour with my friend. Eylem's deep knowledge of the city's rich history, vibrant culture, and fantastic food made our 2 days truly unforgettable. Eylem was not only informative but also very engaging and friendly. Eylem's knowledge on Istanbul was evident in every story and fact shared, and the recommendations for local spots including the great food were the best. I highly recommend Eylem for anyone looking to explore Istanbul in a fun and insightful way!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Martijn
Apr 18, 2025
Top day with Eylem! - Had a great day with our knowledgeable and friendly guide Eylem. She knew a lot about the history and could talk about it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kakaop2025
Apr 13, 2025
She is a wonderful tourguide/ human being ^-^ - Eylam id a wonderful tourguide! She asked us for our priorities and made cohesive tourplan for the day. For every location she had something interesting to say. When I had questions she was able to answer them and even recommend me other cities or topics which could interest me. While I tended to ask more question, the rest of my family was more laid back and she tried her best to make everyone happy. She even made beautiful fotos and sent them to us and showed us some shops where we could buy some souvenirs/ delicacies. On the way to the several location she always gave tipps where we could go or eat for the days after. We even went the next day to a popular kebab (since 1969) shop near one of the entrances of the grand bazar which she said was good. And also to the Baklava shop and etc...
All in all she is really friendly, cool and it was a pleasure to have meet her :)
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Wander31271673600
Apr 10, 2025
Exceptional Guide for exceptional experience - Eylem Yalcinkaya was the guide I was so fortunate to get for the short two days I had to visit Istanbul. She was very knowledgeable on the history, culture including archaeological details of all the sites we visited. We went to Blue Mosque , Hagia Sophie, Grand Bazaar, Basilica Cistern, Dolmabahce Palace. In each of these sites, Eylem was able to provide many history details that really enriched my experience and also knowledge. She was very passionate, personable and engaging. She also brought us to many places to try local snacks and delicacies and made the experience very much localised (and not touristy).
And it was very considerate too - all the logistics was well managed so we had a smooth trip, not rushed and yet covered a lot of grounds. She really made my trip very memorable and fun! I would highly recommend all the sites above.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Elane2016
Apr 9, 2025
Historical and Current Day Tour of Istanbul - I spent a fantastic day with Eylem. I was in Istanbul with a colleague on the weekend prior to some business meetings. We booked a tour with Eylem to be able to capture some of the historic spots (Cistern Basilica, Dolmabahçe palace) as well a hop over to the Asian side.
Eylem was super energetic and passionate about her job. She has tons of anecdotes and rich knowledge of the history. It was also interesting talking to her about the current day life in Istanbul.
We had a very diverse tour with a driver for part of the time, the tram and a ferryboat.
Eylem was super flexible with our agenda and was able to change course based on our interests. On the Asian side we were able to taste some of the local foods, immerse in the local atmosphere and do as the locals.
Eylem was super personable and fun to be with. I would highly recommend her if you are planning to spend some time in Istanbul
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mohsink997
Apr 8, 2025
Hippodrome, blue mosque, ayasophya, cisterns, bazaar. - Amazing trip!!! She is fantastic, extremely knowledgeable, enthusiastic, passionate about her city and country but above all a genuinely kind and loving person. I will recommend her to anyone that wants to get deeper understanding of the ancient city. Just the best.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
D9026ibcristinam
Mar 25, 2025
A beautiful experience - We visit the Sultanahmet area and it was very interesting. In addition to being a very prepared person, she fulfills your every request in the best way. We had a great time and will definitely contact her again if we return to Istanbul.
Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
814ziam
Feb 17, 2025
Best tour guide in Istanbul - A Truly Unforgettable Tour with Eylem in Istanbul!
We had the absolute pleasure of touring the Sultanahmet area with Eylem, and we couldn’t have asked for a better guide! She took us to the five most stunning mosques in the area, each one more breathtaking than the last. Her deep knowledge of Istanbul’s history, architecture, and culture made every stop fascinating, and she shared insights that we never would have discovered on our own.
Beyond her expertise, Eylem is a genuinely warm and wonderful person. She made us feel completely at ease, tailoring the experience to our interests and making sure we had the best possible time. Her passion for Istanbul is contagious, and she goes above and beyond to ensure her guests leave with unforgettable memories.
If you’re looking for a knowledgeable, kind, and engaging tour guide in Istanbul, Eylem is the best choice. We can’t recommend her highly enough and would book another tour with her in a heartbeat!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Andrea
Feb 16, 2025
Eylem best guide in Istanbul - Eylem has been an amazing guide. Kind, well prepared and full of precious reccomendations. Definitely suggested for a tour in Istanbul!
Review provided by Tripadvisor