Istanbul Old City Highlights and Hidden Gems Tour
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
You will spend a day with a professional licensed tour guide exploring the beautiful city of Istanbul. You will learn about the history of Istanbul, visit Byzantine and Ottoman monuments from both historical and art historical perspectives. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to taste local food and drinks recommended by a local professional. With the guide's privilege, you will be able to skip some queues. You will also have chance to have detailed information about other importart atractions and recomendations (such as, food restaurants, hamams, shopping, other important touristic routes, etc.) from local guide who is also a world traveller who had travelled 34 countries and many cities all around the world. This multicultural knowledge will be your advantage of planning rest your holiday and you will find many answer for your questions about Istanbul City and Turkey. Upon your request if all members agree we can customize your route which will be tailor-made for your group.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
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.
What To Expect
TopkapI Palace
Topkapı Palace / Short Route (Topkapı Palace is closed for Tuesdays if your tour is in Tuesday it will be w/out Topkapı Palace no worries we will still enjoy our day with many others :)
Hippodrome
Ancient Roman Hippodrome - open air museum and monuments
Options
Istanbul Old City Highlights and Hidden Gems Tour
Pickup included
What‘s Included
Professional Licensed Tour Guide (English Speaking)
Culturel Heritage Professional Guide
Archeology Professional Guide
As tour will be a whole day programme we will have 60 minutes lunch break and 30 minutes coffee/tea break
Coffee and/or Tea
Museum Entrance Fees > Topkapı Palace: 2750TL /per person (approx. $63)
Museum Entrance Fees > Basilica Cistern: 1950TL/per person (approx. $44)
Museum Entrance Fees > Hagia Sophia: 25€/per person
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
59 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A Perfect Day Exploring Istanbul with an Outstanding Guide
gokanmay,May 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My girlfriend and I spent a full day exploring Istanbul with Eylem, and it was easily one of the highlights of our trip to Türkiye. We visited some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, including Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Basilica Cistern. What made the experience special was not just seeing these incredible places, but understanding their history, culture, and stories through Eylem’s engaging explanations. She has a remarkable ability to make centuries of history feel interesting, accessible, and fun. Throughout the day, she answered all of our questions with impressive depth and knowledge while keeping the tour relaxed and enjoyable. It never felt like a lecture. Instead, it felt like exploring Istanbul with a knowledgeable friend who genuinely loves sharing the city with visitors. One of our favorite parts was taking breaks for authentic Turkish coffee and delicious baklava at excellent local spots that we would never have discovered on our own. Those small touches made the experience feel even more personal and memorable. My girlfriend was visiting Türkiye for the first time, and Eylem helped make her first experience in Istanbul unforgettable. We learned a lot, laughed a lot, and came away with a much deeper appreciation for the city’s incredible history and culture. If you’re looking for a guide who is knowledgeable, friendly, professional, and genuinely passionate about Istanbul, I highly recommend Eylem. She made our visit both educational and memorable, and we would gladly book another tour with her on a future trip.
fun, informative, and memorable way to experience Istanbul
99onatb,May 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We booked a private one-day tour of Istanbul’s Historic Peninsula as a birthday surprise for my wife, based on a recommendation from a close friend, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip. I’m currently studying tour guiding, while my wife is a medical doctor with a strong interest in history and culture, so keeping both of us engaged is not always easy. Our guide did exactly that. The information was insightful and well balanced—never overwhelming, but never superficial either. She shared fascinating details about places like Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Basilica Cistern, and was always happy to answer our questions in depth. What we appreciated most was how natural the experience felt. At times it felt like exploring the city with a knowledgeable friend; at others, like having an archaeologist or historian walking alongside us. She managed to combine expertise, storytelling, and a great sense of humor throughout the day. Her recommendations for food and her knowledge of the area were excellent as well, which made the whole experience even smoother and more enjoyable. We finished the day having learned a lot, laughed a lot, and enjoyed every minute. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a fun, informative, and memorable way to experience Istanbul.
An Exceptional Guide – Truly Above and Beyond
V1532YAsultana,Dec 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an absolutely wonderful experience with Eylem as our tour guide in Istanbul. From the very beginning, she was incredibly knowledgeable, warm, and accommodating—but what truly set her apart was how genuinely caring and flexible she was. On the morning of our tour, our daughter became sick, and Eylem immediately reworked the entire plan without hesitation. She thoughtfully slowed the pace, adjusted the itinerary, and made sure we visited one site at a time so our daughter could stay comfortable and enjoy the experience. Her empathy and professionalism in that moment meant the world to us. Beyond that, her deep knowledge of Istanbul’s history, culture, and hidden details brought every site to life. She struck the perfect balance between informative and engaging, and we never once felt rushed or stressed. This was one of those rare travel experiences where you feel truly looked after. We are 100% looking forward to booking with Eylem again on our next visit to Istanbul and would recommend her without hesitation to anyone traveling with family, especially those who value flexibility, kindness, and an exceptional guide. Thank you, Eylem, for making our trip so memorable!
We'll be back again.
QIONG W,Nov 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Because it was our first time in Istanbul, Turkey, we had no concept of this ancient and great city. Luckily we met Elyem, who was knowledgeable, well prepared and very patient. It left a lot of good memories of our trip. Thank you.
Excellent Guide reveals Istanbul‘s history
Hikealot123,Oct 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Eylem Yalcinkaya is a brilliant gem of a tour guide. Recommended to us by a friend, she responded quickly and clearly to an inquiry and within a few days sent us an itinerary with costs. She kept in touch when we arrived in Istanbul. The tour itself was excellent. She met our small group and spent the day with us. She quickly understood who we are and morphed the day to meet our curiosities and energy levels. Certainly it was great to skip the lines at the main tour sites but even better was the insights and deep understanding Eylem was able to impart on us as we immersed ourselves into the rich historical landscape of Istanbul.
Informative, insightful, excellent
282katew,Oct 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Eylem is an amazing guide and is the best I have ever had in over 85 countries she is warm, kind and knows so much about Turkish history and culture. Book her immediately if you can. She is great and uses photo aids and other tools to make sure you really appreciate this amazing city
Amazing tour with Elyem
446manij,Oct 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Eylem is absolutely amazing… she is knowledgeable, fun, and very flexible. My friends and I really enjoy the Istanbul tour and can’t wait to go back to see the rest of the city and explore more with Eylem. She went above and beyond to make sure we enjoy our tour and see as many places as possible in the short time we had. THANK YOU
A great two days in Istanbul with Eylem
Agnes M,Sep 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We spent two wonderful days with Eylem in Istanbul. It was money well spent. She has a great grasp of relevant historical information and skillfully tailor’s it to her guests needs and wants. She provided well organized days of activities at the depth we were looking for. She is flexible and quick to adjust plans. She met up with us at our hotel and delivered us back at the end of the day, teaching us how to navigate public transit, local neighborhoods, and beyond. Did I mention shopping? So helpful. Highly recommended!
Incredible Tour!!
M6474HZmichaelb,Sep 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had the most incredible time with Elyem. It was like an old friend bringing us around the city. She was so knowledgeable, kind, and tailored the entire experience to exactly what we wanted. We walked everywhere, and she even brought us to amazing artisan stores where we bought gorgeous, authentic Turkish goods. If you’re in Istanbul, you MUST go with her!
Perfect day in Istanbul with Eylem
N7323NHcindyw,Aug 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Eylem is a wonderful tour guide! Our day was fun, informative and she took great care to ensure we were comfortable, well fed and spent the perfect amount of time at each site ❤️
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Operated by Eylem Yalcinkaya (Istanbul Guide)