Turkiye · WALKING TOURS
The good walking tours go early in a Turkish summer. Below: 15 to lock in ahead, what each includes, and where they differ.
Explore Fener and Balat on a three-hour Istanbul walk through Greek, Armenian, Jewish, and Bulgarian history for $20.
“Yunus was amazing! So personable, knowlegeable, funny, and not shy about talking about topics outside of the tour. He gave us great historical perspectives and stories that otherwise you won't read in tour books. Thank you Yunus! Best wishes to you always! 🙏🏽 - Jayant and Kate”
Walk Istanbul’s historic core with a small group, visiting the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, and Grand Bazaar.
“Enjoyed our day in Istanbul old town. Tour and guide were great, liked the Blue Mosque in particular.”
Taste Istanbul from spice-market breakfast to Kadıköy kebabs, baklava, coffee, and ice cream on a small-group food walk across two continents.
“this tour is a great introduction to the istanbul food scene”
Explore Istanbul’s Fener and Balat on a three-hour walk through churches, synagogues, colorful streets, and Ottoman-era stories.
“Yunus was an excellent and passionate tour guide. His knowledge of the area and his dedication to the areas of Fener and Balat in Istanbul is impressive. I would recommend this tour to everyone coming to Istanbul.”
Explore Istanbul’s Fener and Balat with an English-speaking guide, historic churches, colorful streets, Ottoman houses, and Turkish coffee for $18.
“Jan did such a great job showing me the city definitely enjoyed it”
Cross the Bosphorus by ferry, explore Kadıköy’s food market and bar streets, and get local tips on Istanbul’s relaxed Asian side.
“My friend and I had a wonderful evening on the Asian side walking tour. Our guide, Haluk, was friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable and excited to share his insights on where to eat in Kadiköy with the group. I learned a lot about the area and couldn’t have been more impressed with Haluk, an Istanbul local who was an excellent guide with over 30 years experience. Thank you Haluk for a wonderful experience! I highly recommend this tour to anyone who is keen to learn more about a less touristed part of Istanbul.”
See Istanbul’s major Old Town sights, learn mosque customs, visit the Grand Bazaar, and enjoy Turkish delight on a tip-based walking tour.
“Absolutely brilliant walking tour. Guide was so knowledgeable with some great details. Taken to all the main sites around the area and then to the shop for our free Turkish delight and fruit tea, both of which were amazing. Definitely recommend it.”
Explore Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and Grand Bazaar with a guide, skip lines, and travel in a small group.
“John, Jordan and I (Monina) enjoyed the entire day with Hakan! He is so knowledgeable and taught us so much about the rich history of Turkey ! We were so impressed that the time went by so quickly! Thank you Hakan! We will definitely recommend his tour to our friends”
Explore Istanbul’s Old City with a private guide, from Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace to the Basilica Cistern and Grand Bazaar.
“This tour was fantastic and Naci was amazing!! Naci asked us which activities we wanted to do and built the day around our plans. He knew everything about the history of the area and gave us time to take pictures. Such a kind man. He also showed us an amazing lunch spot and gave us advice about the rest of our trip. 100000% recommend!”
See Istanbul’s top sights with a private guide, flexible routing, and priority ticket access to Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace.
“Great lecture about Islam, history of Turkic culture and the area of Istanbul. I especially enjoyed the flexibility of the guide tailoring the route based on our preferences. The most professional guided tour I’ve experienced in my life. Well done Korhan! Thank you”
Review of Ephesus Insider’s private Kusadasi tour, with skip-the-line access, less walking, Mary’s House, Ephesus, lunch, and practical tips.
“Our tour and guide, Begum were great. We were so happy to get to see the House of Mary and the ancient city. It was a packed day, but we loved getting to see so many sites! Would definitely recommend.”
Explore Ephesus from Kusadasi or Izmir with a private guide, less walking, flexible stops, local food, and easy cruise-port transfers.
“Our Guide, Cem, was great! Very knowledgeable about the area and the history of Ephesus. Highly recommend! Julie S”
Explore Sapadere Canyon, swim at Dim River, visit Dim Cave, and enjoy lunch on a lively 7.5-hour nature tour from Alanya.
“It was a unique and unforgettable trip. The driver, photographers, and guide were terrific, friendly, cheerful, playful, and organised. The crowd of people made them forget their age and feel indescribably great. The feeling that we felt on this trip is priceless. Thank you guys. Good luck, keep going and take care. We recommend this trip to EVERYONE, because it is valuable for our health. We love you guys: Lilija & Jonas, the UK. We appreciate what you did for us. xx”
Walk Istanbul’s Old City in a small group, seeing Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace, and more.
“Great, comprehensive tour, would definitely recommend to see the old city and get an insight into Istanbul’s past and present, fascinating to discover the stories behind the hidden elements you wouldn’t even know to look for! Thank you Ensar”
See Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, and Grand Bazaar with a private guide in one full day.
“We booked a 1-day Istanbul private walking tour and it far exceeded our expectations. Our guide, Sofya, reached out to us a couple days before the tour to finalize details and to provide additional information. On the day of, she met us at our hotel right on time and it was off on our tour. I cannot emphasize how useful it was to have a guide compared to schlepping around on our own. Sofya knew the shortcuts, knew who to talk to to get us better seats at lunch and pointed out the hidden gems that most tourists walk by. She was personable, insightful, funny and very accommodating to our…”
Pick a coast, a ruin, or a room full of steam.
