Customize your own tour 😃of ISTANBUL 👍

Our family had such an amazing day with Nesime and our driver. So thoughtful and took the time to share her knowledge with us. Thank you so much!!

Nesime was an awesome “local”. She knew when and where to tour (off the beaten path) of Istanbul. We never would have seen the sites or enjoyed the food of Istanbul without her guidance. Highly recommend her!

Our first day in Istanbul with Nesime was outstanding from start to finish. She was scheduled to meet us at our hotel, and when I messaged to say we were running about 15 minutes late, she kindly came up to the breakfast room to meet us there instead. It was a thoughtful gesture that immediately set the tone for the day. She introduced herself warmly, made an effort to learn everyone’s names, and made the whole group feel comfortable right away. We began with tea together before setting off through the historic streets of the old city, where she pointed out landmarks and shared engaging snippets of history as we walked. We then met our driver and headed to Topkapı Palace. As we approached, Nesime explained the monuments and significance of the surrounding square, which added so much context before we even entered. It was a public holiday and exceptionally crowded, but she navigated the queues skilfully and kept everything moving smoothly. Inside the palace, she highlighted the most important areas and brought them to life with fascinating stories — from royal council chambers and ceremonial spaces to palace kitchens, historic tableware, garments, talismanic robes, and the finest viewpoints overlooking the city. Despite the crowds and long visit, she remained cheerful, patient, and energetic throughout. For lunch, she recommended a famous local pudding house where we enjoyed delicious, reasonably priced food in a comfortable setting. It was exactly the sort of place we would never have confidently chosen ourselves. She had also remembered that several of us were interested in home décor and textiles, so she thoughtfully incorporated shopping stops suited to our interests. At a carpet shop, one couple in our group purchased a beautiful rug at an excellent negotiated price. Later, at a spice, nuts, and tea merchant, she helped us secure additional discounts and even arranged for our purchases to be held while we continued sightseeing. At Grand Bazaar, she assisted with prices, translations, and helped us locate exactly the kinds of shops we were seeking — towels, cushion covers, lamps, and gifts. By then we were tired, but she still made sure everything was effortless. To end the day, she brought us to meet the driver and even helped us shop at a lively local street market near our dinner destination, where we picked up olives, fruit, and local cheese. Nesime was incredibly helpful, resourceful, and generous with her time all day long. She combined strong historical knowledge with genuine care for our interests, plus a real talent for helping visitors navigate shopping and local culture confidently. We felt exceptionally well looked after. Highly recommended.

We had the pleasure of spending a second full day in Istanbul with Nesime, and once again she delivered an excellent customised experience for our group of six women. We met at 9:30am, and both Nesime and our driver were already waiting punctually at our hotel doorstep. The day was tailored to our pace and preferences, which we greatly appreciated. We began in Beyoğlu, exploring the lively pedestrian avenues and surrounding lanes. Nesime brought the district to life with insights into its architecture, layered history, neighbourhood culture, and hidden corners we would never have found on our own. Along the way, she introduced us to local sweet shops selling baklava, jams, and Turkish delight, guided us through atmospheric backstreets known for nightlife, and pointed out fascinating historical residential courtyards and passages that have since evolved into shopping arcades. We also chanced upon St. Anthony of Padua Church, which she contextualised beautifully. She was flexible throughout the day. We changed plans on the fly several times, and she adapted everything seamlessly. She even secured us a reservation at a highly regarded restaurant, called ahead to pre-order, and coordinated timing perfectly with the driver. Our afternoon included the Basilica Cistern and Blue Mosque before returning by 5:30pm exactly as requested. What impressed us most was her ability to balance efficiency with warmth. We had one elderly guest and another who walked slowly, yet the pace was comfortable for all. Managing seven enthusiastic women who were constantly distracted by shops cannot have been easy, but Nesime handled everything with grace, humour, and professionalism. She is highly knowledgeable, especially in Ottoman and Istanbul history, and shares stories in a lively, memorable way. More than competent, she is thoughtful, organised, and genuinely excellent company. We would recommend Nesime without hesitation to anyone seeking a flexible, intelligent, and deeply rewarding private tour of Istanbul.

Nesime provided an excellent experience during our family visit to Istanbul. A very professional tour guide that accommodated our changing needs while providing very interesting visits to all the main historical sites, the history behind them and very colorful stories that complemented our visit. Thanks again for your services!!!.