Private Istanbul Full Day 7 To 8 Hours Guided Tours / Group Opt.

Our guide Emel was very knowledgeable and patient. She taught us the history of all the places we visited and her restaurant recommendation was wonderful. A day well spent. Truly personalized to match our small group of 4. Although admission fees weren’t included it was no hassle getting in. Overall it was a great experience and highly recommend doing it. Our driver also navigated the street with great ease. Although it was busy with such a small group we never felt rushed and the pacing was perfect.

Amazing experience with Mrs Buse Canyurt! Such a nice person, with a lot of knowledge and care for her guests. Can’t recommend more you take this tour. Thank you so much for the lovely day!

We visited the blue mosque, Hagia Sofia, Topkapi palace and the Grand Bazaar all in one long afternoon which, unfortunately, was all the time we had. Our guide had entrance tickets where needed which saved a little waiting time. Lines were long but manageable (mid May). We did 19,000+ steps in the afternoon so people with limited mobility could find it hard (not many stairs but some long ramps). Our guide was very knowledgeable, friendly and accommodating.

Tour guide Leyla was an exceptionl kind,competent guide, so helpful, very knoledgeable, took care of us personally.

Actually, it was a private three-day tour of Istanbul. Our guide met us with minivan and driver at the Galataport Cruise Terminal, but on the upper level. We were not advised to go up to the street level and we waited over thirty minutes at the lower, disembarkation level. Only after a couple of phone calls, did we get straightened out. Leyla was very knowledgeable and thorough, very attentive to our circumstances. My only comment would be that either Curio or Leyla made too many assumptions about American tourists. At times, I felt programed and on the last day, after seeing some attractive shops in a non-tourist area of Istanbul, I asked if perhaps we would not have found just as good and maybe less expensive gifts items here, rather than in the Grand Bazaar. She said, yes, but everyone needs to visit the Grand Bazaar. Maybe so, but she could have at least asked what we were looking for. We had requested a visit to a hammam and she recommended a lovey 300 year old Turkish bath, where we had a fabulous experience. The next day, I told her how much we enjoyed it. She said she thought we would, as it's preferred by tourists, who might not withstand a genuine Turkish bath experience, whatever that means. I can't complain, it was great, but again, we were never offered any options. It was just assumed that we wanted a more gentle (and I guess more expensive) experience. Curio might reconsider that aspect of their service. Not all "tourists" are created equal. Otherwise, we had a wonderful "first visit" to Istanbul, thanks to Leyle. She was patient and always prompt and knowledgeable.

Our favorite was the Hagla Sophia and the history of it as well as the overwhelming excitement and shopping of the Grand Barzzar.

Our guide Ulku was fabulous. We traveled throughout the city with her and she brought the city to life. It was such a good experience we booked her for the following day to continue our experience.

Guide was amazing. Istanbul is a very busy place. We were navigated through it as best as possible. A mix of history and modern

Semic is by far the best tour guide we've ever come across in our travels around the world. A true professional in every sense of the word, his in-depth knowledge in the history and cultural heritage of his amazing city, unique insights and perspectives, and intelligent, thoughtful, engaging conversation exceeded all our expectations.

Our family enjoyed our tour! Our tour guide was so knowledgeable. He showed us a lot of great historical sites and provided a wealth of information for each site.

We were a group of 19, all of us had an amazing time on the tour. Our tour guide, Volkan picked us up outside the Galataport cruise terminal and boarded a minibus to take us to Sultanahmet Square where we walked through the Hippodrome to visit the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Mosque, and Basilica Cistern. Volkan took us to Deraliye Restaurant (2023 Michelin Star Restaurant) for lunch in the Sultanhmet historical district. Once we were seated we were introduced to Master Chef Necati Yılmaz where we had group pictures with him. The cuisine served was straight out of the Ottoman Empire - all our dishes were delicious. After our wonderful lunch, we headed to the Grand Bazaar to do some shopping. Everyone in our group loved the tour with Volkan who was knowlegable in its history. Overall, the tour was a great value compared to what our cruise line offered for a similar experience. I would recommend this tour for anyone visiting Istanbul for the first time or as a refresher for one who visited years ago.

Today was a feast for the senses! Ozge is exceptionally knowledgeable and passionate about sharing the beauty, history and culture of Istanbul. Even with all we saw and did, can’t wait to rey turn!

Istanbul is a city with a rich and storied history, stunning sights, and a dynamic vibe. Our tour guide, Ceren, was friendly, knowledgeable, professional and thoroughly engaging. We couldn't have asked for a better experience!

spending the day with Leya was great. she really knew her history. I had a problem walking and she made the tour very easy. make sure you know that it is a waking tour.

We had an interesting day in Instanbul. It happened to be Turkish Independence Day, so the place was hopping. We were glad to have a knowledgable guide who efficiently steered us through the crowds. We visited the Haga Sophia, the Spice Bazaar, and had lunch at a wonderful kebab restaurant. We also appreciated the comfortable van transportation. A good day.

We were transported in a comfortable van to visit the Haga Sophia and the Spice Bazaar. Our guide was very knowledgeable and also directed us to an excellent kabab restaurant.

We toured Istanbul with guide Serkan. Serkan was very knowledgeable and helpful. We toured the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace, the Underground system, the Grand Bazaar. In the Grand Bazaar we ate lunch. The driver and Serkan picked us up at the port and delivered us mid-afternoon. It was a very enjoyable day.

Old Town Istanbul is compact and therefore very walkable. But without a guide with local knowledge, it would have been nearly impossible for my wife and me to quickly find, learn about and understand the historical significance of the city's famous landmarks. Our Curio guide, Serkan Pastutmaz, was prompt in meeting us and very pleasant to talk with (in perfect english). Serkan efficiently guided us around the highlights of Old Town Istanbul, but also shared fun facts along the way and pointed out other spots to check out on our own, including a hole-in-the-wall near the Grand Bazaar with delicious local gyro-like sandwiches. Serkan was candid in answering our questions about life in present day Turkey. If you are considering a private tour in Istanbul, we wholeheartedly recommend Serkan as your guide.

This was a private tour. Excellent tour guide. She provided very good explanation and background on all the monuments visited.