My Local Guide Istanbul - Best Walking Tours & Food Tours in Istanbul
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Create your own private tour of Istanbul

Our private tours of Istanbul will take you to the top historical sights and modern neighbourhoods of the city. The only hard part is deciding which sights to see first. Don't spend hours to create your own travel itinerary, chose from our recommended private tours for Istanbul and experience less stress when planning your next holiday in Turkey. 

When booking your private tour please let us know which of the tours below you would like. If these don't suit you, we can design a tour for you if we know your list of must see Istanbul attractions. 

Please note, we can also combine half-day tours to create a full-day tour, though, duration and finish times may vary depending on factors outside of our control.

All our private tours of Istanbul provide:
  • Professional and friendly licensed local guides 
  • Priority entrance to sites (skip the long lines)                                                                
  • Lunch at local restaurants 
  • Pick up from all the top hotels of Istanbul

Our private tours run by English speaking guides, German speaking guide, Spanish speaking guide and Italian speaking guides. 

Our public tours are also available as private tours with a minimum of four people. Ask us today for a quote.

When requesting your booking please know that some attractions are closed on particular days, they include:
  • Ayasofya/Hagia Sophia closed Mondays (from September to April. Open every day May to August)
  • Topkapi Palace and Harem closed Tuesdays
  • Dolmabache Palace closed Monday and Thursday
  • Chora Church closed Wednesday
  • Rumeli Fortress closed Wednesday
  • Grand Bazaar closed Sunday
  • TripAdvisor

PRIVATE TOUR 1:
​TOP SITES OF OLD ISTANBUL (HALF-DAY)


Tour duration: 4 to 5 hours

Sites included: Ayasofya, Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome Area and Grand Bazaar.

Price: Quoted upon submission of booking form.

Price includes: Guiding fee. Public transportation fees. Entrance fees.

Price excludes: Food, drinks and shopping expenses.
Itinerary: Your guide will meet you at your hotel or cruise ship port where they will confirm the itinerary with you. You will then travel to the first attraction by tram or by walking depending on the location of your hotel. Travel to each attraction thereafter will be via walking as they are in close proximity to one another. Please note, travel via private vehicle in Istanbul’s traffic congestion is likely to incur delays. At the conclusion of your tour you would then be free to visit other sites of interest, or your guide can accompany you back to your hotel.

Photo of the Basilica Cistern by Leeann Murphy @ leeannmurphy.net

PRIVATE TOUR 2:
​SULTANS AND SHOPPING TOUR (HALF-DAY)

Tour duration: 4 hours

Sites included: Topkapi Palace (Harem is optional extra), Spice or Grand Bazaar.

Price: Quoted upon submission of booking form.
​
Price includes: Guiding fee. Entrance fees to Topkapi Palace (except Harem Section). Public transportation fees.

Price excludes: Food, drinks and tickets for the Harem of the Palace (15 TL pp).
Itinerary: Your guide will meet you at your hotel or cruise ship port where they will confirm the itinerary with you. You will then travel to the first attraction by tram or by walking depending on the location of your hotel. Travel to each attraction thereafter will be via walking or public tram as they are in close proximity to one another. Please note, travel via private vehicle in Istanbul’s traffic congestion is likely to incur delays. At the conclusion of your tour you would then be free to visit other sites of interest, or your guide can accompany you back to your hotel.

Photos by Leeann Murphy @ leeannmurphy.net

PRIVATE TOUR 3:
​THE ULTIMATE OLD ISTANBUL TOUR (FULL-DAY)

Tour duration: 7-8 hours

Sites included: Combine private tour 1 and 2 in a full day tour and see the Ayasofya, Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome Area, Topkapi Palace (Harem is optional extra), and Grand Bazaar or Spice Bazaar.

Price: Quoted upon submission of booking form.

Price includes: Professional licensed guide. Entrance fees (except Harem Section of Topkapi Palace). Public transportation fees.

Price excludes: Food, drinks and tickets for the Harem of the Palace (15 TL pp).
Itinerary: Your guide will meet you at your hotel or cruise ship port where they will confirm the itinerary with you. You will then travel to the first attraction by tram or by walking depending on the location of your hotel. Travel to each attraction thereafter will be via walking or public tram as they are in close proximity to one another. Please note, travel via private vehicle in Istanbul’s traffic congestion is likely to incur delays. At the conclusion of your tour you would then be free to visit other sites of interest, or your guide can accompany you back to your hotel.
​
Please note: Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays, therefore Dolmabahce Palace will be visited instead if you book your tour for a Tuesday.

PRIVATE TOUR 4:
​MODERN TO MEDIEVAL ISTANBUL (FULL-DAY)

Tour duration: 7-8 hours

Sites included:  Dolmabache Palace, Taksim Square, Istiklal Street, Galata Tower, and 1.5 hour Bosphorous Cruise with public ferry. 

Price: Quoted upon submission of booking form.

Price includes:
Professional licensed guide. Tickets to Galata Tower, Dolmabache Palace and Bosphorus cruise. Public transportation fees.

Price excludes: Food, drinks and shopping expenses.


Itinerary: Your guide will meet you at your hotel or cruise ship port where they will confirm the itinerary with you. You will then travel to the first attraction by tram or by walking depending on the location of your hotel. Travel to each attraction thereafter will be via walking or public transport. Please note, travel via private vehicle in Istanbul’s traffic congestion is likely to incur delays. At the conclusion of your tour you would then be free to visit other sites of interest, or your guide can accompany you back to your hotel.

Photos by Leeann Murphy @ leeannmurphy.net

PRIVATE TOUR 5: BYZANTINE & OTTOMAN TRACES (FULL-DAY)


​Tour duration: 7-8 hours

Sites included:  Fener and Balat quarters, Byzantine city walls, Chora Church Museum, Eyup district with Pierre Loti cafe break, cruise on the Golden Horn with public ferry.

Price: Quoted upon submission of booking form.
​
Price includes: 
Professional licensed guide. Tickets to museum and ferry. Public transportation fees.

Price excludes: Food, drinks and shopping expenses.
Itinerary: Your guide will meet you at your hotel or cruise ship port where they will confirm the itinerary with you. You will then travel to the first attraction by local municipality bus. Travel to each attraction thereafter will be via walking and public transport. Please note, travel via private vehicle in Istanbul’s traffic congestion is likely to incur delays. At the conclusion of your tour you would then be free to visit other sites of interest, or your guide can accompany you back to your hotel.

Photos by Leeann Murphy @ leeannmurphy.net

PRIVATE TOUR 6:
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK ​ISTANBUL TOUR ( FULL DAY )

Tour duration: 7-8 hours

Sites included: Ortakoy neighborhood, Rumeli Fortress, Bosporus Bridge, Beylerbeyi Palace, Camlica Hill (the highest hill of Istanbul with spectacular view), lunch break at Kadikoy food market, Turkish coffee break in Üsküdar with the view of the Maidens tower and ferry cruise to Europe.

Price: Quoted upon submission of booking form.

Price includes: 
Professional licensed guide, private car with driver, entrance fees and Turkish coffee 

Price excludes: Food, drinks and shopping expenses.
Itinerary: Your guide can meet you at your hotel where they will confirm the itinerary with you. You will then travel to the first attraction by private car.Travel to each attraction thereafter will be via car.  At the conclusion of your tour you would then be transferred to your hotel or port wherever you stay. 
  • TripAdvisor
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  • Welcome
  • Turkey Tours
  • Private Tours
  • Small Group Tours
    • Secrets of Istanbul
    • Fener-Balat & Piere Lotti Hii
    • My Local Guide Istanbul - The Ultimate Food Tour of Istanbul
    • Istanbul Food Walk
    • Highlights of Istanbul
    • The Other face of Istanbul
  • Layover Tours
    • Topkapi palace
  • Tours Designed by You
  • Testimonials
  • Bookings
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Resources >
      • Maps of Istanbul
      • My Local Guide Istanbul | Istanbul Weather Conditions
      • My Local Guide Istanbul | Currency Converter
      • Turkish Translations
      • Photo gallery and credits
      • Istanbul attraction
    • Provide feedback
  • Best of Blog