Private tour in Istanbul Anil Ö

Byzantine and Ottoman Highlights in Nova Roma

5.0

(18) reviews

-
Hours icon 7 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-6 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Last-Minute Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 7 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-6 people
Your party size

1

View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Last-Minute Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later

Anil Ö.

5.0

Guide rating

20

Reviews

Tours delivered

12 hrs

Avg. response time

Greetings from Istanbul, The City that never sleeps. Thank you for choosing Istanbul as your next destination. I'm sure you'll love this city and bring good memories back home. I'm Anil. 38 years old. I was born and raised in Canakkale (a. k. a. Troy in English where Troy movie(2004) was shot). I graduated from Selcuk University in 2008 and studied Tourist Guide. Since our studies covered many subjects, I got courses in Art History, Religion, Archeology, Literature, etc. During my university years, I worked at hotels as a waitress and receptionist to cover my expenses for my studies. I got my license in 2009 and I've been working as a tour guide in Istanbul since then. History is my main focus but literature and cinema are my personal interests. I even took courses on scripting short movies from Cem Baseskioglu (Film Director). I would like to talk about my personal life a little. I live in the Asian Side of Istanbul, Moda/Kadikoy. I feel so lucky to live here because this neighborhood hosts Erasmus students, different cultures and religions such as Christians, and Jews. It's full of bars, restaurants, and theaters. Moreover, it's a very animal-friendly neighborhood. I can simply say it's the pearl of Istanbul. I live with my beautiful kitty called Luna. I have 4 rescued dogs and many cats in my hometown. As summary, You can experience the history of this city such as Justinianus's Hagia Sophia, the tiles of Blue Mosque, greatness of Topkapi and Dolmabahce Palaces. You can walk in the historical streets of Eminonu. You can taste famous ice cream, kebaps, veggie starters and so on. After that, you can navigate along The Bosphorus for a nice breeze. Please feel free to reach out to me after making up your mind. We can customize it together without any hassle. Licensed by Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Member of the Union of Tourist Guide Chambers. Due to the regulations declared by the government, some of the museums might be closed depending on the date of the tour. Please contact me for the further details. For instance ; Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays

Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Anil Ö.

Overview of your Istanbul tour

We start with the Roman Hippodrome where challenging chariot races were taking place like in Ben-Hur's movie. Even though there aren't many of those relics left, there are those famous columns standing for centuries. We then visit Blue Mosque famous for its 17th Century Iznik Tiles, one of the outstanding temples of Istanbul visited by millions every year. Just across from The Blue Mosque, standing marvelous Hagia Sophia dating back to the 6th Century where the two religions (Christianity and Islam) meet. As The Old City is surrounded by many restaurants, we can have our lunch in one of those famous local restaurants. Since we refreshed a bit, we can head to Topkapi Palace where 24 Sultans resided who left their mark on us. The famous Topkapi Dagger and the biggest diamond of the country (Spoonmaker's diamond) are waiting for us. We can conclude our exploration with one of the biggest and oldest bazaars in the world called Grand Bazaar. Plenty of shops depending on your interest.

Recent Reviews

Heather K.United States
May 2026

Anil was beyond amazing! She was able to get tickets ahead of time to Haggia Sophia so we could have time to see it! It closed at 1030 just out of the blue had she not done that we would not have seen it! She also knew to get to the place early and had we not done that we could not have seen it! She made reservations for us at Seven Hills and she also had recommendation for dinner and breakfast the next day! All were amazing! She was able to navigate the enormous crowds and she always made sure we were close taking our time at each spot! I highly recommend her! She’s amazing!

Tim B.United States
May 2026

Anil is a very knowledgeable and experienced guide. In addition, she is fun to hang out with.

Maye T.Mexico
October 2025

Anil es la mejor guìa! Convirtiò este viaje a Estambul en la memoria màs maravillosa. Primero que nada, nos sentimos 100% seguros con ella, arreglò para nosotros un transporte privado, nos llevò por un crucero privado espectacular en el Bòsforo. Conoce toda la ciudad como la palma de su mano. Nuestro grupo tenìa niños de 14, 12, 10 y un abuelo muy activo. Anil se preocupò por mantener a todos incluidos e interesados. Conocimos muchìsimos lugares en poco tiempo sin sentirnos apresurados. Nos llevò a restaurantes increìbles y deliciosos. Estamos convencidos de que vamos a volver a Estambul, tuvimos la mejor experiencia. Gracias Anil!

Thor F.
June 2025

Traveled with my family to Istanbul and Anil was superb. She was knowledgeable, personable and was able to adjust the tour to our needs. Anil was able to obtain skip the line tickets for us as well as share some of her favorite cafes and shops. Her insight into history and thoughts on modern day Turkey was very interesting. I would highly recommend Anil as your guide for Istanbul.

Claude W.
June 2025

It was the perfect tour for us. Anil shared her huge knowledge about Istanbul and Turkey with us. Time was running very fast. We saw what we expected and even more. Thank you Anil for this fantastic day!

Daniel H.Switzerland
May 2025

Anil was an outstanding tour guide. Every orher guide we met by chance on our tour said that Anil is the best guide in Istanbul. Well, based on our experience we can say that she is super nice, she took such great care of my mother-in-law, she is extremely knowledgeable down to the last detail about history and sites of this incredible city and she always knew someone at the entrances to skip the queues, that alone was worth the price :-) Do not look any further, Anil is your guide for Istanbul and beyond. Muchísimas gracias por todo, los 2 días contigo fueron magníficos!

Your Istanbul tour itinerary

During this tour, We will see some of the most beautiful places, such as: -Roman Hippodrome -Blue Mosque -Hagia Sophia -Lunch (Local restaurant) -Topkapi Palace -Grand Bazaar (Shopping) -Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesday (can be replaced with Basilica Cistern of Dan Brown's Inferno, James Bond, From Russia with Love movie) -Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday (can be replaced with Arasta Bazaar. A smaller local market) -Since we visit mosques, corresponding dressing is required ( Head scarf for female guests. Dresses under knees for both male and female guests). The itinerary is flexible, for any changes please let me know. Admission fees: Topkapi Palace 2400₺ (60 USD) Underground Cistern 1300₺ 33 USD Paid by Credit Card only Hagia Sophia 30 USD

Want to customize this tour?

Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.

Transport details
Type: Walking

Since this is a walking tour and all the highlights are in the same zone, there is no need for transportation except reaching to the area. If your hotel is too far from the zone, private transportation can be arranged.

What's included
Private Guide
What's not included
Other: Personal expenses.
Meeting location

Istanbul, İstanbul, Türkiye

I can pick you up from the hotel or cruise port., etc. Sultanahmet districtGerman Fountain

  • You can request a specific meeting location (for example, your hotel) during the checkout.
Other details
Tour categories
City Highlights
History
Art And Culture
Tour reference number
1147811
Languages
Turkish
Spanish
English
Activity level
High

Traveller reviews

5.0

FAQs

Who is this private tour in Istanbul best suited for?

This private tour in Istanbul is perfect for history enthusiasts and travellers interested in exploring Byzantine and Ottoman highlights. It's ideal for those who want to connect with a local guide like Anil Ö. for deeper insights into the city's rich past.

What should I bring or wear?

Can this private tour in Istanbul be customized to focus on what I want to see and skip places I've already visited?

How long is the tour, and can the start time or duration be adjusted?

Where does the tour start and end?

Is transportation included?

Is this private tour in Istanbul suitable for cruise ship passengers as a shore excursion?

What happens if a site is closed, crowded, or the weather changes?

What languages is this tour offered in?

AI-generated. Please confirm details with your guide

-
Hours icon 7 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-6 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Last-Minute Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 7 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-6 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Last-Minute Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
More tours in Istanbul by Anil Ö.
Similar tours in Istanbul
Explore more of Istanbul
Multi-Day Istanbul Private Tour: Two Days of Discovery:Skip the line ticketsThe Wonders of Istanbul (full-day private tour)Highlights of Istanbul - Skip the lines Full Day Private Istanbul City Tour For Cruise Ship Visitors with a Private Van+DriverHighlights of IstanbulPrivate Istanbul Highlights & Skip The Ticket LinesExplore Istanbul Highlights with your local guide - private walking tourFull Day Private Istanbul Old City Walking TourTop five most visited sites of Istanbul full-day walking private tourWalking in Istanbul old city - Full-day tour in IstanbulIstanbul Highlights: Exclusive Private Full-Day Tour :Skip the line ticketsHalf Day Customized Tour in the Old City (Private Tour)Two Wonderful Days in Istanbul & Best Private TourMulti day Tour- 2 day Istanbul Tour by Private Guide : Best itinerary with VehicleIstanbul city exploring from Cruise ship Galataport Multi-day Istanbul Private Tour-Three Days:Skip the line ticketsBreakfast in Europe, lunch in Asia, and crème de la crème sites of Istanbul - full-day shore excursion2 Day Private Istanbul Tour with Hidden GemsPrivate tour of half day city tourIstanbul-Private Culinary Walk on the Asian Side (Half Day Tour)Multi-day tour: Istanbul Highlights in two daysIstanbul’s Must-See Spots: A Local’s Guide Custom Made Tour with Private TransportationHighlights of Asiatic Istanbul with droolworthy upto 16 specials sampling menu option2 Full Day Private Istanbul Tour Between 2 Continent360 Istanbul Tour! Hidden Beauties combined with Food TourA perfect day in IstanbulIstanbul Private Half Day Customized TourHighlights of Istanbul - Half Day Private ExperienceIstanbul full-day Private Walking Tour with Main HeritagesVIP Private Half-Day Istanbul Tour: Highlights & Basilica Cistern with Your Local Guide - Private Transportation with Separate DriverPrivate multi-day tour in Istanbul / 3 daysPrivate Walking Tour of Istanbul - Full DayCustomize your own tour 😃of ISTANBUL 👍Skip the Lines: Istanbul Highlights – Hagia Sophia, Topkapi & MoreIstanbul Old City Private Tour2-Day Private Tour in IstanbulThe Highlights of IstanbulDesign Your Own Istanbul Day Tour – Private & Customizable ExperienceHistorical Old City and Local Lively Areas in 2 Days