At Hagia Sophia, you'll explore one of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks, marveling at its stunning dome, intricate mosaics, and rich history. I'll guide you through its transformation from a cathedral to a mosque and museum, sharing stories of Byzantine and Ottoman empires. A truly unforgettable journey through art, culture, and history!
Explore the mystical Basilica Cistern, featured in From Russia With Love, with its ancient columns rising from the water. Built by the Romans, this hidden gem offers a peaceful escape beneath Istanbul's bustling streets. I'll share its fascinating history and legends as we wander through its cool, quiet corridors.
Step into the breathtaking Blue Mosque, a true masterpiece of Ottoman architecture. As we wander through its majestic prayer halls, you'll be surrounded by intricate blue tiles, towering minarets, and an atmosphere of serenity. I'll guide you through its fascinating history, from its role as a working mosque to its cultural significance in Istanbul. Don’t forget to wear your scarf for a respectful visit, as we enter this sacred space together. Prepare to be awed by the grandeur and beauty of one of Istanbul's most iconic sites!
Lose yourself in the vibrant maze of the Grand Bazaar, where colors, scents, and sounds fill the air at every turn. With over 4,000 shops, this is the ultimate place to discover Turkish craftsmanship—be it carpets, jewelry, or spices. I’ll guide you through the bazaar’s rich history, pointing out hidden gems and offering tips on how to haggle like a local. Whether you're hunting for unique souvenirs or simply soaking in the lively atmosphere, this is an experience that’ll ignite all your senses.
Embark on a royal adventure through Topkapi Palace, the opulent heart of the Ottoman Empire. As we stroll through its lavish courtyards, we'll uncover the secrets of sultans and their courts, exploring the Harem, the Treasury, and the palace’s stunning collections of artifacts. From the imperial kitchens to the breathtaking views of the Bosphorus, this tour will transport you back to a time of power and grandeur. Get ready to walk in the footsteps of emperors and discover the splendor of this historical treasure!
Walk in the footsteps of ancient charioteers at the Hippodrome, Istanbul’s historic arena where gladiators once battled and chariot races thrilled the crowds. Now a tranquil public square, this once-vibrant site is home to monumental statues, including the famous Obelisk of Theodosius and the Serpent Column. As we stand where history was made, I’ll share tales of the Byzantine empire, including the incredible events that took place in this once-grand arena.
Our guide took a lot of time for us, answered all of our questions very thoroughly, and shared so much interesting and helpful information. We really enjoyed the tour and had a wonderful experience. Highly recommended!
A personalized tour of the Blue Mosque, the Cisterns, an amazing rug store and the Market. Complete with history and unique stories.
We spent a day in Istanbul during our Costa Fortuna cruise and booked a private tour with Zafer. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of our trip. He was waiting for us outside the cruise terminal exactly as agreed and immediately made us feel at ease. Instead of using a car, he suggested travelling by tram and on foot to avoid Istanbul's traffic. It was definitely the right choice and allowed us to see much more without wasting time. Zafer knows the city and its history very well, but what we appreciated most was how relaxed and enjoyable the day was. We visited all the main highlights, skipped the longest lines, had lunch in a fantastic local restaurant that we would never have found on our own, and he even helped us while shopping in the bazaars. Most importantly, he carefully managed the timing and brought us back to the port well before our ship's departure, so we could enjoy the day without worrying. If you're looking for a private Istanbul tour or a cruise shore excursion, I can honestly recommend Zafer. He is professional, friendly and genuinely cares that his guests have a great experience.
Amazing time! Resul was a great guide and was very friendly. Highly recommend.
Zafer is a fantastic guide. We had a great day with him. He’s very professional and extremely knowledgeable - history, architecture and culture. You will be in great hands if you are lucky enough to tour through Istanbul with Zafer.
What a Guide what an excellent storytelling. Experianceing this Beauty of a City with the guidance of zafer was just a Great day. Thanks alot
We had a fantastic time on the Old City Highlights tour with Zafer! He was super friendly, knowledgeable, and made the whole experience really enjoyable. You could tell he genuinely loves sharing the history and stories of Istanbul, and he explained everything in a fun and engaging way. He was also very patient with questions and made sure everyone felt included. Highly recommend Zafer if you want a guide who makes the city come alive!
Our guided private tour was the highlight of our trip to Turkey. He made the history of Istanbul come alive in such an engaging and easy-to-understand way, and it truly felt like exploring the city with a friend. Our kids were laughing the whole time and absolutely loved the experience, which made it even more special for us. The food stops were also a fantastic choice. Places we would never have found on our own. Highly recommended! We we would absolutely book again next time.
I want to thank our city guide, Zafer! It was one of the best city tours with a guide. Firstly, we did not waste a minute of our time in lines at Hagia Sophia and other places. In addition to detailed museum information, we learned some subtleties and uninteresting facts about the work of the Grand Bazaar, the city's transport system (which saved considerable time and money in our subsequent explorations of the town). About the recycling system, the people who help keep the city clean, and much more. Zafer was busy with us the whole day and was very involved. Most importantly, he took many great photos of us.
I enjoyed this tour and highly recomend it to everyone! The guide was knowledgeable, friendly and made the whole day fun and memorable! The carpet-weavers experience was amazing and very informative! Great to see the dervish show! A must do!
Young man was polite & knowledgeable. Wife & I felt safe during the tour. Informative. Took the time with extra stops so we could use the restroom and always had something to drink.
Zafer was a fantastic guide. Very attentive and always making sure our needs are taken care of during the trip. He is also very resourceful whenever we will need to change the itinerary in short notice during the trip.
I had a great private walking tour with Zafer in Old Istanbul! I learned so much as he was very informative and energetic about explaining each stop along the way. Because it was private, I was able to spend as much time as desired at each location! I highly recommend this tour and Zafer!
This was our first visit to Turkey and the plan would see us stay for 2 weeks. Our itinerary meant moving around famous places from Instalbul to Cappadocia, Pamukkale to Ephesus, Troy and Back. The means for us to move around was by land which meant road trip every couple of days. Turkey is such an amazing and place but highlight of this trip was our guide. From day 1 to day 14, Our guide was nothing short of perfection. He was very courteous, smart, articulate and well mannered. He constantly evolves, adjusting to the needs of each individual ( we were a party of 9). His knowledge about Turkey was inspiring. I absolutely recommend this tour service.
Our trip to Türkiye was truly an unforgettable experience—thanks to our amazing tour guide, Zafer. He expertly led us through a well-organized itinerary, ensuring every day was filled with rich cultural insights and memorable experiences. His deep knowledge of Türkiye history, landmarks, and local traditions made each stop more meaningful. He also went above and beyond to recommend and arrange the best optional tours—if Zafer says it’s a must, trust him, it definitely is! One of the highlights of the trip was the incredible food. He carefully selected restaurants and local spots that gave us a true taste of Turkish cuisine, and every meal felt like a culinary adventure. What made the experience even more special is Zafer’s attention to capturing memories—he takes amazing photos throughout the trip, so you go home not only with great experiences but also beautiful photos to remember them by. Most importantly, Zafer was always mindful and attentive to everyone’s needs, making the entire journey smooth, enjoyable, and stress-free. His professionalism, warmth, and dedication truly set him apart. Zafer is highly recommended—we couldn’t have asked for a better guide to show us the best of Türkiye!
Our guide Zafer was amazing! We booked a full day private tour, focussing on the Old Town and he was the perfect guide. Very knowledgeable and passionate about the city and its rich history, completely flexible with anything we wanted to see, or spend more/less time at, making it an wonderful, informative and efficient day. I will certainly be recommending Zafer to any of my friends who visit the city! Thank you so much! :)
We enjoyed the time of family bonding and learning as we travelled from place to place. Tour leader (guide) was able to explain the history of the places clearly
Hello. It was a wonderful trip for me and my friend. We saw incredible historical places. The tour guide showed us around in a very cheerful and entertaining way. Thank you and him very much. We will definitely come again.
I live in İstanbul actually but we would like to hear Istanbul from a professional tour guide. This is best decision ever, whatever we knew, is less or a bit different than original story. He is doing his job well, knowledge and method of explanation is very good - while listen to him we never bored, we had a local lunch aswell. I am very happy to get this tour with him and listen Istanbul's stories one more time.
İt was a great experience to walk through the ruins and stroll through the streets with the deep knowledge of our tour guide his knowledge brought this experience to a whole nother level for anyone who is going to visit Istanbul, I am recommending this daily excursion
The guide Zafer was professional, super knowledgeable about the cultural and historical sites, made his best effort to slot in Hot hair balloon on our last day in Pamukale and journey was arranged in a smooth and very pleasant manner overall. However, the only downside (for the tour itinerary itself, not the guide), was abit too many shopping spots to fill up the time and abit too little own time to do sourvenir shopping and have our own meals (at our own expense) in local authentic restaurants. Feedback to CTC is there should not be all meals included but some meals at own expense so we get to explore the local cuisine more.
Thanks to our tour guide Zafer, our trip is amazing and went smoothly. Zafer is very knowledgeable in history and friendly. He very helpful when we need help and recommendation. The shopping stop in our tour itinerary can cut down and food set meal can be improved.
Our guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about the city’s history and culture. The tour was well-organized, with great insights and local tips. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Istanbul! Tour in Istanbul!
Those were 2 really good and interesting hours that we have been able to spend in Istanbul so far. Thank you, dear Zafer. Julia and I wish you and your family only the best. If we come here again, we will get in touch with you. Should you come to Germany, you will get in touch with us. All the best 😊
The guide was very nice and explained everything very well. The tour covered the most important points and was very informative.
We had 2 great, entertaining, and very informative days with Zafer. There was a bit of everything and there were many insider tips. He catered to us well, speaks German very well, and we felt in great hands at all times. We would book the tour with Zafer again anytime.
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