Full Day Private Istanbul City Tour For Cruise Ship Visitors with a Private Van+Driver

Our tour guide, Seyhan, was a 17th-generation “Istanbulite,” and his obvious pride in the city, combined with his thorough insider knowledge, made the experience truly special. He was able to answer virtually any question we had, whether about Istanbul’s fascinating history or its modern-day life as a vibrant metropolis. As a former teacher, he had a wonderful ability to explain things thoughtfully, thoroughly, and honestly. He was also very attentive to the interests and energy level of our group and effortlessly adjusted the itinerary and pace to make sure we had the best experience possible. He met us promptly at the agreed-upon location and was ready to begin. Throughout the tour, he was personable, knowledgeable, and genuinely enjoyable to spend time with. He provided fascinating historical context at every site while also connecting what we were seeing to modern life in Istanbul. His deep ties to the local community were evident and gave us perspectives we would not have experienced on our own. We especially appreciated that he: ● Arrived on time and was ready to begin ● Was very personable and easy to talk with ● Provided a comfortable vehicle ● Gave us choices about which sights we wanted to visit ● Prepared us in advance for any tickets or documentation we would need ● Gave us plenty of time for photographs, offered to take pictures for us, and pointed out excellent photo opportunities ● Created a wonderful mix of major tourist sights and local areas, explaining the history and character of each ● Chose an excellent restaurant for lunch and helped us navigate the menu so we could enjoy authentic Turkish food. Thanks to his knowledge, experience, and genuine love for Istanbul, we experienced the city at a comfortable pace while gaining both historical insight and a sense of how locals experience it today. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with him and would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, thoughtful, personable, and flexible tour guide in Istanbul.

We (6 of us)booked Seyhan for an 8hr tour with driver and it was perfect. Not only did we see some of the major sights such as the New Mosque with a spectacular view of Istanbul and the Hagia Sophia; we got to experience an area away from the tourist congestion. Seyhan took us to a local area that showcased Istanbul’s ancient and diverse history. A beautiful little church across from a beautiful mosque, tiny plots in a garden for locals to grow produce or flowers. It was charming, with coffee shops and stores catering to locals, including a barbershop where our friend Charlie got the full 1/2 hr shaving experience. He’ll be talking about it for a long time. Great memories! Thank you Seyhan.

Seyhan was a great guide and DID CUSTOMIZE the tour for us. The only thing we would have enjoyed is more interaction with our group while driving, etc... He was very knowledgeable and did visit with us but seemed to check out while traveling from place to place. It could have been because we were an older group. He visited with the driver rather than us. Took us to a great place to eat & we did enjoy the day!

Seyhan is an outstanding guide, personable and knowledgeable.

Our plans for the day changed, and Seyhan was wonderful. He took us to places we never would have seen without him. We would recommend Seyhan without reservation!

Seyhan was fantastic! He willingly personalized the tour for our family. He knew how long to stay at each site so the 20 year old kids didn't get bored. He was very knowledgeable and fun with a great sense of humor. Highly recommend him and Istanbul is beautiful.