Top-Rated Sights of Istanbul Private Tour

Semih was an excellent guide, he opened up the city (“his” city) in ways we never could have experienced on our own. His depth of knowledge was remarkable, explains the many diverse historical levels from Istanbul’s early beginnings from the Eastern Roman Empire to the Ottomans to the present day. We did two days with Semih and could easily have continued. He was personable and funny taking us to corners we never could have found on our own. As I write this I am flat out exhausted but with a full and happy heart. I wish I could give home more than 5 stars ⭐️. If he is unavailable change your travel plans. Bravo Semih.

Semih was an excellent guide for us. He was very knowledgeable on the places we wanted to visit, and had additional information on all the spaces in between. He stayed with us and guided us through the transportation, including the tram and ferries, and was a key to our success in having a meal that met our dietary restrictions, but still gave us a taste of the country. Through the full day we kept a constant conversation on things related to and not related to the tour. Having Semih as a personal guide was more like having a discussion among friends than a tour with a guide. We would recommend him very highly.

Semih made our short stay in Istanbul memorable. Not only was the tour great, he gave us suggestions on hotels, boat tours, and how to get around. We saw things I'm sure we would have walked by without him, and he answered all our questions with insight and humor.

We had two great days of touring with Semih. Our first day was focussed on the Sultananahmet area, with tours of Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Grand Bazaar, and Topkapi Palace. Semih gave excellent descriptions of the history and allowed us to focus on the highlights. He took us to a small restaurant near one of the entrances to the Grand Bazaar where we had the best Kebab lunch of our entire 3 week trip to Turkey. Our second day included the Blue Mosque, the Ancient Walls, Cora Museum, Balat & Fener Neighborhoods, Patriarchate and Iron Church. Lots of walking, but very rewarding. Again, we would highly recommend Semih G. as our guide for Istanbul. Very informative, knowledgeable, flexible and easy to understand. A great introduction to the sights of Istanbul.

What an amazing experience going on a walking tour of Istanbul with Semih as our guide. His knowledge of this city is seemingly endless. He took the time to answer all our questions and we never felt rushed through any part of the tour. Semih is so friendly and engaging making an excellent ambassador for his city and country. He took us to many of Istanbul’s historic sights and also to some of the lest touristy areas which provided a nice glimpse of everyday life in this busy city. 100% recommend Semih!

Semih really made our (limited) time in Istanbul special. From customizing our tour back when we booked, to adjusting on-the-fly for a rainy day and our preferences. Semih was very knowledgeable about the sites we visited, and told stories that tied things together and provided historical context. He also provided great recommendations both before and after our tour. We considered him a friend immediately, and hope to meet again someday.