Explore Istanbul’s Old City, Taste Two Continents, and Cruise the Bosphorus
Istanbul is not a city you simply “see.” You feel it. You hear the call to prayer echoing between centuries-old walls, watch ferries glide across the Bosphorus, and turn a corner to find a hidden courtyard that looks untouched by time. It is also a city that can feel intense for first-time visitors: big crowds, big distances, and a lot of mixed advice.
That is exactly why we built Private Istanbul Walking Tours around one simple idea: make Istanbul easy, meaningful, and enjoyable with a private local guide you can trust.
We are a women-owned travel agency, and our tours are designed for travelers who want a high-quality experience with clear values:
No hidden costs.
No pressure to shop.
No kickbacks from stores.
Just honest guidance, smart planning, and unforgettable moments.
Whether you are visiting from the USA, Canada, Australia, or the UK, our goal is to help you experience Istanbul in a way that feels personal, safe, and beautifully paced.
Istanbul is better with a private guide
A private guided tour changes everything about how you experience the city.
Instead of spending your day figuring out logistics, reading confusing signs, or wondering what is worth your time, you can relax and enjoy Istanbul with someone who knows how it works: the best times to visit, how to avoid unnecessary waiting, how to connect the “big sights” with the real city, and how to make each stop meaningful.
A private guide is also the best way to balance Istanbul’s two personalities:
the iconic, historic “must-see” Istanbul
and the living, local Istanbul hidden in neighborhoods, backstreets, markets, and ferry rides
That balance is where Istanbul becomes unforgettable.
Our Old City walking tour: Istanbul’s icons, explained (not rushed)
Most first-time visitors dream of seeing Istanbul’s great landmarks. The Old City is where those dreams live: monumental architecture, deep history, and the feeling of walking through a place that shaped the world.
Our guided Old City walking tour includes the classics that define Istanbul:
Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia is not just beautiful. It is layered with meaning. It has been a church, a mosque, a museum, and again a mosque. A guide helps you understand what you are looking at: the symbols, the structure, the stories, and why it still matters today.
Topkapi Palace
Topkapi is the Ottoman Empire in architectural form. It is not one building, but a series of courtyards and rooms where power, ceremony, and daily life unfolded for centuries. With a guide, the palace stops being a maze and becomes a story you can follow.
Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque is one of Istanbul’s most visited landmarks for a reason. But timing is everything here. A well-planned route can help you experience it without feeling swallowed by crowds.
Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar can feel overwhelming if you walk in without direction. With a local guide, you can enjoy its energy and history, understand how it functions, and explore confidently.
Skip-the-line tickets included (with an important note)
When you book our Istanbul Old City tour, it includes skip-the-line tickets for Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace. This helps you avoid long ticket queues and keeps your day smooth.
However, please note: a security check is mandatory, and every visitor must pass through it.
Skip-the-line means you skip the ticket line, not security.
Taste of Istanbul: a private food tour across Europe and Asia
To truly understand Istanbul, you need more than monuments. You need the everyday Istanbul: the cafes, the markets, the ferry ride, and the flavors that tell the city’s story.
Our Private Istanbul Food Tour, also known as Taste of Istanbul, was created for travelers who want to connect with local culture in the most enjoyable way possible: through food and neighborhoods.
What makes it special is the experience of Istanbul as a two-continent city. In one day, you can go from Europe to Asia the way locals do, and you feel the rhythm of Istanbul change as you cross the water.
This is not a tour built around tourist traps. It is built around:
real local flavors
carefully chosen stops
and the idea that food should be a window into culture
If you are the type of traveler who loves learning through taste, conversation, and street life, this tour is often the highlight of the trip.
The Bosphorus on a private yacht: Istanbul’s most beautiful viewpoint
Some Istanbul moments do not need a long explanation. They just need the right view.
The Bosphorus Tour on a private yacht is one of those experiences. From the water, Istanbul feels cinematic: mosques and palaces, waterfront mansions, bridges connecting continents, and a skyline that changes every minute.
A private yacht experience is perfect if you want:
a calm, scenic break from walking
a luxury moment without stress
a special memory for couples, families, and celebrations
It is also an amazing way to appreciate what makes Istanbul unique: this city is not built around a river. It is built around a living strait, and the Bosphorus is the heart of it.
Two Continents Walking Tour: neighborhoods that show the real Istanbul
Not everyone wants their Istanbul experience to be only palaces and mosques. Many travelers (especially repeat visitors) want neighborhoods: the places where Istanbul feels alive and modern, where you can sense the city’s personality beyond the postcard views.
Our Istanbul Two Continents Walking Tour brings together diverse parts of the city in a way that feels natural, not forced.
It covers neighborhoods and cultural spots such as:
Galata
Pera
Kadikoy
The historic Old Ottoman Book Market
This tour is ideal for travelers who love:
stories that connect past and present
city walks with local context
markets, street life, and authentic neighborhoods
seeing both continents without feeling rushed
It is often the tour guests describe as “the Istanbul I did not know I wanted.”
What makes our tours different: transparent and pressure-free
Istanbul is famous for hospitality, but travelers also worry about something very specific: being pushed into shops, paying unexpected costs, or feeling manipulated into purchases.
We built our agency around the opposite of that experience.
We are a women-owned travel agency, and our priority is guest comfort, trust, and clarity:
We do not accept kickbacks from stores
We do not pressure guests to shop
We are clear about what is included and what is not
We focus on the experience, not commissions
This matters because your time in Istanbul is valuable. You should spend it exploring, tasting, learning, and enjoying the city, not negotiating discomfort.
A blog note for travelers: what “custom-made” actually means
“Customizable” is a popular word in travel. For us, it is a real service, not a marketing line.
We can tailor tours based on:
your interests (history, food, culture, photography, neighborhoods)
your pace (relaxed, medium, or fast)
mobility needs and comfort level
family-friendly planning (kids, strollers, breaks)
cruise schedules or limited time in port
dietary preferences and restrictions for the food tour
Istanbul is not one city. It is many cities stacked together. Custom-making your day is how you get the version that fits you best.
A smarter way to experience Istanbul: combine tours over 2 or 3 days
Many guests choose a multi-day experience because it gives them the best of both worlds:
the famous highlights
and the deeper, local Istanbul
A 2- or 3-day plan also keeps the days comfortable. Instead of trying to do everything at once, you can enjoy Istanbul in layers: history, neighborhoods, food, and the Bosphorus.
If you tell us your travel dates and what you love most (history, food, neighborhoods, views), we can create a 2- or 3-day plan that feels balanced and unhurried.
Istanbul is unforgettable when it feels personal
The best travel memories usually come from moments that are not rushed:
understanding a place, not just photographing it
crossing the water like a local
tasting something you would never have ordered on your own
hearing the story behind what you are seeing
That is what private guiding is for. It turns Istanbul from a checklist into an experience.
Ready to plan your private guided Istanbul tour?
If you want to explore Istanbul with a trusted, private local guide and a women-owned agency that values transparency, we would love to host you.
Website: privateistanbulwalkingtours.com
Email: info@privateistanbulwalkingtours.com
WhatsApp: +90 537 741 0062
Quick FAQs
Do you include skip-the-line tickets?
Yes. The Istanbul Old City tour includes skip-the-line tickets for Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace, but security checks are mandatory for everyone.
Can you combine tours for 2 or 3 days?
Yes. We frequently combine tours and tailor them to guest needs, pace, and interests.
Is the Taste of Istanbul Food Tour private?
Yes, it is a private tour and it includes the special experience of crossing between Europe and Asia.
