Istanbul, since 2012
Small group and private walking and food tours, led by licensed local guides who take you where they take their own friends.
Meet other travellers, with a local guide.
Your own guide, at your own pace.
Turkish breakfast, street food and local drinks.
Make time for the city between flights.
Written about by
Our tours
Food on two continents, the old city at its quietest hour, neighbourhoods most visitors never reach. Tours are led by licensed guides who grew up with these streets.
A full morning of eating across two continents, starting with a proper Turkish breakfast and finishing with künefe and Turkish coffee.
Istanbul at its best hour. A ferry across the Bosphorus as the light goes, then the Asian side eating and drinking its…
A representative meets you just outside Gate 13 and walks you to your driver. The price is agreed before you fly, so…
The four sights everyone comes for, in the right order, at the right time of day, with a licensed guide who gets…
The Istanbul most visitors walk straight past. Working neighbourhoods, small mosques, hidden courtyards and a buryan lunch that is worth the walk…
Coloured houses, a Greek Orthodox patriarchate, old synagogues and antique shops, in the two neighbourhoods that show how many Istanbuls there have…
The palace the Ottoman court actually lived in, including the Harem, with a private guide who can spend the time where your…
Five sights you can walk between, in half a day, with the guide talking only to your group. Hagia Sophia, the Basilica…
The old city given the time it actually needs. Everything on the half day tour plus Topkapı Palace, and a lunch stop…
Why travel with us
10-12
people on a walking tour, and ten on a food tour. Never more, because past that the guide is talking to a crowd and you are queueing for a table.
Licensed
by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. That licence is what lets a guide take you inside Hagia Sophia and Topkapı and talk there, which an unlicensed one legally cannot.
Who you travel with
Founder and licensed guide
I'm Salih, a professional licensed tour guide and the founder of My Local Guide Istanbul. I have been guiding travellers since 2007, and in 2012 I founded My Local Guide Istanbul with a simple idea: to offer visitors a more personal, authentic and local way to experience this incredible city.
The guides who lead these tours with him
Licensed guide
Turkish and English
Licensed guide
Turkish and English
Private and custom tours
Private tours are priced individually, because a family of three and a group of ten want different days. Send us a note and you get a plan and a price, not a checkout.
Pick a tour you like as a starting point, or simply tell us what interests you.
Dates, how many of you, your hotel, walking pace, anything you cannot eat.
We send a tailored itinerary with a clear price. Adjust it as much as you like.
What guests say
Left on Tripadvisor and Google after the tour. Read the full profile for the rest of them.
Salih was an outstanding guide for this walking tour through Fener, Balat, and the old Greek and Jewish quarters. His knowledge of the neighborhoods' history was impressive; he brought the streets to life with stories about the different communities that shaped this part of Istanbul over the centuries. He was engaging, spoke excellent English, and clearly loved sharing his city with visitors. He also gave us great tips for exploring on our own afterward. Highly recommend this tour, and ask for Salih if you can. He made the experience truly memorable.
Exploring Balat in Istanbul was easily one of the highlights of my trip. The tour brought this historic neighborhood to life with its colorful streets, charming old houses, and deep cultural history. Walking through the narrow alleys felt like stepping back in time, with every corner offering something unique, from vibrant cafes to hidden churches and local artisan shops. What really made the experience special was the guide. They were incredibly knowledgeable, sharing stories about the neighborhood's diverse past, including its Jewish, Greek, and Armenian influences. It wasn't just sightseeing, it felt like understanding the soul of the area. I also loved how authentic Balat felt compared to more touristy parts of Istanbul. It's a perfect mix of history, culture, and everyday life. If you're looking for something beyond the typical attractions, this tour is absolutely worth it. Highly recommend for anyone visiting Istanbul, especially if you enjoy photography and history.
The tour was wonderful. Onder Denker is an excellent guide, kind, attentive, and he explains how other peoples, such as the Greeks and Jews, have been part of Istanbul's history. The Fener and Balat neighborhoods, with their hillsides and colorful houses, are delightful. The stop to have tea and a traditional dessert was wonderful. Having a guide on this tour is essential, as it's the only way to learn about the history of the area, including the churches we visited. I highly recommend it!
Before you arrive
Where to meet, how the trams work, what to eat first and what to skip. Practical advice from the guides who live here.
Ready when you are
Tours with a calendar can be booked on the spot. Anything private, or anything you are not sure about, gets a written answer from Salih.
