Small Group Tour: Essential Istanbul

Tour guide was amazing, just the sweetest person. She was so accommodating and knew everything and had an answer to every question I asked, very professional. 5 stars.

What a phenomenal tour experience! Zell is wonderful and full of radiance and positivity. Her personality complimented the tour for us and we left Istanbul in smiles with the memory of this tour. We were only in Istanbul for 2 days but got the maximum information we could possibly get from Zell.

This was an awesome tour. Zeliha (Zel) was amazing and the best tour guide I've ever had doing one of these types of tours. Very friendly and easy to talk with, she was happy to answer any questions, and taught and showed us a lot of information about Istanbul and its long history. We saw lots of the big sites around the Sultanahmet/Fatih area. Having a guide for Topkapi Palace was particularly helpful - it's so huge and expansive and she helped us navigate it to make the most of our time and provide with lots of information we would not have learned otherwise. She also taught us a lot about the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Sultanahmet Square/Hippodrome, the Ottoman Empire, Turkish culture - both modern and through the ages. She also gave us lots of tips and info to help us for the rest of trips. It was truly a fantastic time :)

Our guide was so knowledgeable. My husband is a history buff and there was not a question she could not answer. She was also very flexible and adaptable to what we wanted to do

THE best tour guide in Erkan, EVER! He had a wealth of knowledge, is very, very personable, funny and the nicest person ever. DO ask for him; you won't be disappointed.

We had a great time. Ozlem was an excellent tour guide. She explained things well and very patient & caring since I have trouble walking fast.

Having a guide who is both educated and fluent in English. Makes for a seamless and fun experience. She gave us a historical and regional overview that really adds to our understanding. We are viewing hundreds of years of history, so having it in manageable quantities, Helps to understand how and why people lived and built the beautiful world we live in. Zeliha Turkkan was really good no she was great!! This will be the highlight of my first trip to Istanbul. The memories will always be with us.

This is a comprehensive full day tour which takes in lots of sights. Wear good walking shoes and be prepared for a long day. Our guide Lale was brilliant and very friendly. We really felt like we'd made the most of the day.

I had a lovely tour with Zel who was informative and tailored the tour as it was just me. She collected me at my hotel and gave me information on tram stops and tips about the area I was staying in. She is passionate and knowledgeable about all aspects of Istanbul and Turkey and I liked her immediately. She gave me plenty of photo opportunities and became my photographer for certain photos! We toured the Blue Mosque, the Topaki Palace, the Hippodrome, the Grand Bazaar, & had lunch. I would 100% recommend Zel on this tour as your guide. Thank you Zel.

Turns out it was just me on the tour. It was a wonderful day. My guide tailored the tour since we had some time and I got to see a pottery demonstration and a rug knotting demonstration. I learned about the way the tiles for the Sultan’s palace were made and saw some amazing Turkish carpets. The Blue Mosque is so beautiful and the tour of the Grand Bazaar was great. I really enjoyed and highly recommend this tour.

My tour guide Zel was excellent. She was knowledgeable, kept a good pace and answered all my questions.

This tour ended up being just me, and it turned into one of the most meaningful experiences of my trip. Lale was absolutely wonderful, knowledgeable, warm, and incredibly attentive. Beyond the historical and cultural depth she brought to Istanbul’s landmarks, she was immensely helpful as a solo traveler. She generously shared practical tips on language, customs, transportation, and what and where to eat, all in a way that felt thoughtful and personal rather than scripted. The pacing was relaxed, the conversation engaging, and the experience felt more like being shown the city by a trusted local friend than taking a formal tour. I truly appreciated her care and insight and look forward to staying in touch with her. I couldn’t recommend this tour, and Lale, more highly.

The guide Ace was incredible very knowledgeable great communicator very interesting visit of major sites but also learned a lot about Istanbul and Turquia. We wish we had more time. We loved the cetamic visit the delicious turquish delight and the cashemir scarfs… we will definitely come back thanks to this amazing guide!!!

We did quite a bit of walking so wear comfortable shoes. I learned a lot and visited many sites on our day tour. Our guide, Alev was a gem. I enjoyed her very much and would highly recommend this tour.

Be able to walk and stand in lines. This was a good tour of the grand market area and at a good pace.

Ms Ozlem Karakafa, our guide, was outstanding. Very knowledgeable with a great personality. We had a wonderful time with her.

Simply terrific guide. Bless her what a wonderful soul. I enjoyed seeing the different places and the rich culture heritage in Istanbul. Highly recommended ❤️

Zel was great! She was very knowledgeable and fun to talk to. She took us to a great place for lunch and the group had a great time.

Zel our travel guide was absolutely amazing. So knowledgeable on all the historic landmarks we visited and such a lovely person to talk to

This was the best day! I made 3 new friends on the tour, and there were only 4 of us on it. That’s a 100% success rate 👍😃 Tim was our guide, and he got me the best bargain on the most beautiful jacket. Cheers Tim, I owe you one. The Blue Mosque I will remember forever ❤️

I was very lucky to have undivided attention in this tour. Zel was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and passionate about Istanbul. I learnt so much about the city’s history. We visited places ahead of the larger tour groups which was fantastic. True there is a lot of walking, but it is mainly inside the attraction sites and there are stops for self exploration and photos. I definitely recommend this tour.

I was going to Africa and had a layover in Istanbul for a day. I booked my tour, there it said it was a three hours tour that was perfect for the day. Mr. Burhan was my guide tour, he seems very knowledgeable about the history of Istanbul and also took me to the Grand Bazaar which he help me to buy some souvenirs from my trip. I was fortunate enough that I was by myself doing this tour. I love it and recommend. Thank you!

Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. Good tour. Mehmet had studied his Turkish history and was very informative.

Tour was really good! Guide was knowledgeable and everything was well organized. Had a great time and would recommend it

First timers to Turkey. Although we arrived late for our meet and greet at the airport Mustafa was extremely helpful in advising what we can see and do in Istanbul. He advised us on how I can obtain money through working atm machines to taking public transport around. My daughter and I did the Bosphorus boat cruise and Istanbul day tours. And we absolutely loved it perfect guides who knew their city well, articulate and very proud of their heritage. Most importantly they gave us time to explore on our own. The walking tour with Lale was awesome through her knowledge we were taken back through time. I was in a small group which was great and enjoyed the whole entire day. Lale also directed me to a place in the grand bazaar who was well trusted and sold absolutely stunning and beautiful handcrafted jewellery.Thank you Lale! Before Turkey we were in Egypt and Greece and visited sights on our own. But I am glad we did tours with GTS in Istanbul. The transfers to and fro from tour’s hotel and airport was of high calibre as well. Istanbul is a fantastic city full of culture history and vibrancy. Absolutely loved it wish we could have stayed longer. But I will return to see more of the beauty Turkey has to offer.

My wife and I took the "Small Group Essentials in Istanbul" tour with Global Travel Services in Turkey in June 2025, and it turned out to be one of the most disappointing and misleading experiences we’ve had while traveling. First, the tour description clearly stated hotel pickup and transportation by air-conditioned minivan, which was a major factor in my booking. However, when we arrived Istanbul, I received a message from the company asking for an extra TRY 2400 per person (approx. $60 USD) — a charge that was never mentioned upfront. Then came the second surprise: despite promising hotel pickup, we were told to go to a meeting point instead. That was already frustrating, but the worst was yet to come — this tour, which was advertised as including transportation, ended up being a WALKING tour, with only transport from a hotel to the first scene. The fourth surprise involved a TRY60 surcharge at the restaurant arranged by Global Travel Services. The restaurant claimed this was for tax, yet our tour guide stated it was a service fee—a contradiction that, along with earlier issues, made us feel we were being scammed. This tour company’s description is blatantly misleading, and their conduct feels like a bait-and-switch scam. Charging hidden fees, breaking promised services, and misrepresenting the nature of the tour is unacceptable. Avoid Global Travel Services in Turkey unless you want to be ripped off and frustrated. Please see screenshots below for their original tour description, how I fight for hotel pickup, the lunch receipt from the restaurant and more.

This small group tour was excellent - our tour guide made all the difference. The group was 7 big - a great size. Our guide explained the history of Istanbul and Turkey as it related to the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace and the artifacts in the museum. She pointed out other buildings and their historical significance in the old town. We also went to the Grand Bazaar where the guide provided shopping tips and what to watch out for and ended the day in an art studio to see ceramic made on a wheel. A full educational and cultural day!

Özlem was an incredible guide! She brought the Grand Bazaar, Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace to life with her knowledge and stories. The local food stops she shared were delicious and authentic — places we’d never have found on our own. A perfect mix of history, culture, and cuisine. Highly recommended!

A lot information on the subject,so you get all necessary details. Our guide was excellent Ms Zeliha she is a human dynamo. She is great at getting ahead of the queues, definitely recommend.

Zehlia was great. So knowledgeable. It was a small group so she answered every question. She navigated the crowds really well.

Fantastic tour guide. Very knowledgeable and good fun. We learned a lot, visited all the locations outlined.

The tour guide was excellent and because this was a small tour she was able to modify the agenda slightly to take us to the hamam to get some information.

Our tour was amazing! We loved our guide Lale, who asked that we call her Tulip. She was extremely knowledgeable, very accommodating, and just generally wonderful to be around. We learned so much from her and she was so patient with all of our questions. The tour description was a little different than the experience that we had, however. For instance, there was no air-conditioned vehicle, but everything is in walking distance, so it would have not been helpful to have a vehicle. Also, we thought we would go into the Hagia Sophia. The tour description was a little unclear here. There was no way to jump the line with a guide, and it would have been a waste of our precious time with Tulip to wait in the line, so we didn't go in. It was definitely okay, but the tour description could have been clearer here. Overall, our day could not have been better and Tulip was awesome, so we have only praise for the tour itself, but the tour description should be perhaps updated and made a little clearer.

Great tour. Our guide was very, very good and she is a beautiful human being as well :). Very manageable pace. A great deal of historical information and very freely can ask questions. Tour went from 9a-6p and it was perfect in every way. Thank you, Ozlem (Ozzie) for a very memorable experience.

Our tour guide, Tulip, was absolutely superb. I have done quite a few tours and she was the most knowledgeable guide I have ever had. We were a small group and I learnt a lot not only about the sights we saw but about all of Turkey. The day was extremely interesting and memorable. Highly recommended

Absolutely amazing tour experience! Highly recommend for when you have limited time in Istanbul but want to learn more about the history and culture.

Was a very good tour. Alev, our tour guide, was giving us the history behind every corner we go to. Amazing History also. I will definitely recommend for my friends and family.

Mrs Alev was punctual, personable, savvy and very knowledgeable. She gave a rich history of Ayasofya and Sultan Ahmet Camisi (the blue mosque) and knew all the best people to show us quality wares (carpets, ceramics, bags, jewellery, scarves). This tour was the perfect start to our Istanbul stay.

Our tour guide Burhan was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. Very personable and nice. Adjusted to our small group’s needs, particularly with some challenging weather conditions. Would definitely recommend this tour.

Very informative with a knowledgeable guide. Excellent summary of major events in the history of Constantinople and Istanbul.

I had a wonderful tour with Mr. Coskun. He shared so much history, including dates and anecdotes. He gave me cultural insight into Istanbul, both now and in the past. Everything went smoothly and both his colleague and he were in touch before the tour to provide details and answer questions. Mr. Coskun also chose a spot for lunch frequented by locals, which was refreshing. I also want to mention that he knew the perfect spots for photos and is a great photographer! I fully enjoyed my tour and would give it 10 stars if I could. It was fascinating!

Zel was an excellent guide. She reviewed the geography and history of Istanbul, coordinated visits to many sites, and navigated use of public transportation.

A very helpful and useful introduction to the major attractions of the old city. Our guide was very knowledgeable and the skip the line facility was most useful!

Would highly recommend covered so much in such a short time great into to Istanbul. Their tour guide very knowledgeable and picked me up from hotel

FYI this is a walking tour and as the name suggests “Essential “. Our guide Zel was on time, on point and knowledgeable about the need to know sites and history of Istanbul as we navigated the streets to include the bazaar. Remember to dress modest bc head covering is required for females entering the mosque and top with sleeves. However, in my opinion I think this tour is a bit pricey as you still have to pay extra for select places, and the fact that the drop off doesn’t appear to work out due to Istanbul traffic congestion . It’s a ok tour otherwise.

Mrs. Alev was so very informative about the history of not just the viewed sites but the city and culture as well. Polite, courteous and helpful to even those outside our small group.

This was the worst tour ever. The guide just did not care, he told no stories just rattled off dates and most of all was extremely difficult to understand. He used his cellphone numerous times with no explanation both to receive calls and seemingly to be texting. We are two couples travelling together and agreed after one hour to leave the tour. We were just getting more and more frustrated and then angry. We have requested a refund but the operator has referred us to Viator- we await their response. It could have been great if we had someone who was interactive, could speak English well enough and who cared about the enjoyment of the customer.

Had to skip Hagia Sophie and Blue Mosque due to VERY long lines (no fault of the tour operator). Good tour, decent amount of information provided by the tour guide. Lots of walking with a small group.

Our guide Erkan was extremely kind and helpful. He tried his best to give thorough historical and cultural information about the country and the attractions. At the same time, he helped pushing the wheelchair for my elderly friend all the way. His professional service is highly recommendable.