Customize your own tour 😃of ISTANBUL 👍

We had been to Istanbul before and seen most of the common tourist sights. We asked Nesime to give us an itinerary that most tourists would miss. She was equal to the task and provided us with an interesting and informative day. She is very engaging and has a great sense of humour. We would recommend her to anyone.

Nessy is a pleasant tour guide who is knowledgeable and passionate about Istanbul and its history. Our city tour involved a fair amount of walking with one person using a wheelchair and unfortunately the early part of the day was rainy. My wife was drenched in the early part of the tour making the next couple hours very unpleasant until things dried off. It's mostly (but not completely) on us that we should have spoken up and asked Nessi to reorganize the tour and do indoor activities such as the market first.

Nesime provided a tour of areas that we had not seen before that were individually unique and amazing. With multiple stops along the way we got a sense of neighborhood life in Istanbul, something we were looking for. Overall, a great guide and very knowledgeable.

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.