Istanbul Highlights Private Guided Tour
5
Istanbul Highlights Private Guided Tour
By Efendi Travel
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About
Private tour guidance in Istanbul to visit the highlights of the city, museums, shopping sites or local bazaars. If you will hire a local Turkish tour guide, you will have more flexibility on your visits and make your time as you like. You can meet with your guide either at the hotel, at the airport or cruise port and start the tour immediately. For instance, you can visit Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia Museum, Blue Mosque and Roman Hippodrome in one day. Moreover, you can still have extra time for shopping at the Grand Bazaar. Private guide rent in Istanbul is especially for reasonable for stop over travelers, cruise travelers and other visitors with short time in Istanbul.
Free cancellation • Full refund if cancelled up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time).
Reserve now & pay later • Secure your spot while staying flexible.
Lowest price guarantee • Find a lower price online? Get the difference refunded!
Ages 0-80
Duration: 7h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: German, English, Italian, French, Spanish
More
Highlights
- All Fees and Taxes
- Entry/Admission - Topkapı Palace
- Entry/Admission - Grand Bazaar
What's not included- Lunch
- Private transportation
- Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
- Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya Meydanı No:1, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, TürkiyeIN FRONT OF THE ENTRANCE
Hotel pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 13420P7- .
- Not Recommended for the travelers with walking disabilities.
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 13420P7
From
$274.86
per adult
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- Raj29120 contributionsTurkey TravelsThe tour was absolutely fabulous, Effendi travels especially Mr. Yusuf Karaca made it very convenient to travel within Turkey. All the arrangements was very good and seamless. Thanks Mr. Yusuf, who was always available over WA chat, made us feel welcome and comfortable throughout our trip. Good destination - Turkey.Written November 5, 2024
- Explorer7064260 contributionsFamily reunionOur tour was around Turkey , Yusuf our travel agent organized everything. We visited about 9-10 cities . He arrange all the transportation tour guides . Yusuf did an amazing job . Always available and responded right away . He was very helpful. If I go back I will definitely arrange it again with him. It was 6 of us different age and he accommodate everyone very nicely . We had an amazing time , thanks to Yusuf!Written July 19, 2024
- richs5660 contributions22 countries and this was in my top 3We've traveled the world and this was one of our best tours ever! It was all last-minute as a prior trip was cancelled. With 3 weeks to go, I found Efedi travel and took a chance. I had a response in 5 minutes and within 20 minutes, our entire trip was planned. Gokay provided 5-star service and communication every step of the way. We selected a private 5-Star tour and it did not disappoint. EVERY detail was planned from airport transfers, flights inside Turkey to Cappadocia and Kusydasi, all tours, tour guides, drivers, some meals, private beautiful vans for just the 2 of us. We made minor plan changes and the team snapped into action. I even left my phone and wallet in the van while rushing to the airport. The team worked to have it flown back to Istanbul where a courier met me at a restaurant returning my phone and wallet. I can't recommend Efendi travel enough...it was perfect. Thank you to Gokay for going over and above and to our guides Ebru, Mostafa, and Yeliz who were extremely knowledgable, fun, spoke perfect English and laughed with us as if we've been friends forever. We will NEVER forget this trip and can't wait to go back. THANK YOU EFENDI!Written July 13, 2024
- 304safaq0 contributionsWent for our honeymoon <3I didn't go on this tour specifically bc efendi will actually take into account how many days you are there. My husband and i went for our honeymoon for about 6 days. We had to reschedule last minute bc we both got really sick but thankfully the rep who helped me (Yusuf) was really helpful in rescheduling our days and extremely patient with us when things were up in the air on our end. He was always answering my questions and giving clarifications. And giving updates on timings which was great. The itinerary he sent us was spot on and really straightforward. It was our first time traveling abroad and using a tour guide for the entire trip. We felt very taken care of and the reason we went with a tour guide was bc we didn't know the language, culture, or anybody nearby and wanted it to be stress-free and Efendi and Yusuf really made it that way. The hotels were great, the places chosen was great too. We were half in Istanbul and half in Cappadocia for our stay. We were given a lot of downtime, coming back from the tour around 4:30-5:30 pm and having the rest of the day to ourselves which we really liked. I will say tho, this isn't for people who are wanting to go on vacation, this is for people who want to see as much as possible in an efficient way. Any way, I would highly recommend if it'll be your first time going to Turkiye.Written April 28, 2024
- 298nirajj0 contributionsEfendi delivers!We had a wonderful 10 day vacation in Turkey facilitated by Efendi Travel. We reached out to a few different travel agents and decided to go with Yusuf Karaca at Efendi for 3 reasons: he was very responsive - responded to our queries promptly and comprehensively, and was willing to work with us to create an itinerary that met our needs. Everything worked as planned, right from the arrival at the airport. We had selected the option of touring with small groups (8-16 people) and we were apprehensive as we had always traveled by ourselves - however, this worked our great as the actual groups were typically 8-12 people, and worked quite smoothly. There were a couple of minor bumps along the way and I was impressed with Yusuf every single time - he responded immediately regardless of the day/time, and tackled the problem until it was resolved. The hotels and guides picked by Yusuf were all very good and we couldnt be happier with our experience.Written November 13, 2023
- kathyhR4240VW0 contributionsTurkish experienceAppreciate efendi for making extra mile to make our trip memorable. Tour guide are very good. Highly recommendedWritten October 30, 2023
- 630katd0 contributionsGreat Travel ExperienceOne of the things that we like the best about working with Efendi Travel Turkey and see was that when we had a question, they were always there within minutes to answer and help us. The best place if they book is in Istanbul where is the Golden Horn Hotel. That place is absolutely amazing and if you stay on the right floor in the right direction, you have a view of the Haga Sophia, and a little mask all lit up at night.Written September 19, 2023
- narsaniyer0 contributionsWonderful trip to Istanbul, Cappadocia, Kuşadası and BodrumYusuf organized a private tour for my family covering Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus, Pamukkale and Bodrum. He organized all the transfers as well as private tours at each location. Transfers were seamless and all the tour guides were very knowledgeable. Yusuf was very responsive and helped us customize our tour, always ready to make changes on the fly. He was also very reasonable in terms of setting expectations and provided good counsel on a range of topics from food, hotels to attractions. I would strongly recommend Efendi Travels for trips to Turkey!Written August 9, 2023
- Dr Richard J S0 contributionsTrip of a life time.12 diversified people in our group, lots of fun. Hot air baloon ride in Kapadocia.Visit to Gallipoli and Lone Pine, Ephesus, over.night train to Konya, whirling Dervishes, great guide (Elif) was knowledge and kind, nothing was too much trouble for her. Highly recommend this tour.Written June 13, 2023
- Runbikeskimove0 contributionsMagical Trip - Istanbul, Cappadocia, Kusadasi, FethiyeEfendi Travel Agency with the guidance of Gokay Eskizambak made our trip to Türkiye exceptional. We were impressed with the efficiency and quality of our tours and transportation. As this was our first trip to the Middle East, we were very pleased with the punctuality of all our transportation and transfers. Efendi welcomed us and made it easy to travel around the country. We are well into our retirement and we would find navigating the roads in Türkiye to be extremely challenging however Efendi provided easy, comfortable transportation. As for the tours, we saw the Best of the Best. Gokay acknowledged that we had limited time and that we needed some rest in order take in the magnificence of the country. He prepared a perfect itinerary with all the must see attractions. The tour guides were articulate and the group sizes ranged from 4-14 participants. The restaurants and hotels met our needs and we were treated to a luxurious surprise at MDC Hotel in Urgup, Cappadocia. Our belly’s were full and we slept well, ready for the next day’s adventure. We were thrilled to have everything prearranged and taken care of by Gokay. Lovely that we just had to show up and we floated into a magical dream.Written May 28, 2023
- 308cindyv0 contributionsWonderful trip with Effendi TravelWe picked our itinerary and Gokay from Effendi Travel set up all accommodations, transfers and some group tours. Everything ran smoothly, tours were excellent and accommodations were perfect, in great locations. I highly recommend this team to anyone planning a trip to Turkey.Written May 23, 2023
- 412zachariahc0 contributionsTurkey Tour, Sightseeing and ExperiencesAs our Travel Agent in Turkey, arranging for all local tours (with Guides / Bookings / Transport) in Istanbul, Kusadasi, Denizli and Keyseri, Effendi Travels and our allotted consultant Gokay Eskizambak did a marvellous job in taking care of all our requirements (from itinerary planning to delivery). Our Turkey trip was a resounding success with so many good memories. Thank you, Gokay and Effendi!!Written April 17, 2023
- AldieGirl20 contributionsHorrible Airport Pickup - Do Not Use!!We have used Efendi Travel for airport pickups many times before and for tours during our trips to Istanbul and always found them profession and pleasant to work with. However, this time was horrible and we will NOT be using them again. They were supposed to pick us up at door 9 of International arrivals. When we walked out they were not there. No one was there holding up a sign/tablet with our name on it. So we called them and they said "They were on the way". After 20 minutes we called them again and they said they were there and than a man holding a phone started walking across to us and started yelling at us for not waiting in front of the exit door. We had moved to the side because you cannot stand in the middle of the exit! Than he asked us to follow him to the side. Where he continued to be rude and said we had to wait till the car arrived. Than another younger gentleman took us down in the elevator to where we were supposed to be picked up. Another 20 minutes later the van arrived. The driver made NO effort to assist us with our bags. The only reason we put up with this behavior is that we had already paid for it ahead of time.Written April 3, 2023
- I421OGahmeda0 contributionsGreat ,I will used again and recommend to everyone i knowUsed this service for the second time Customized trip to my preference. Great service and fast response in all times 24/7 Also great response in making changes In hotels and internal flights. Transportation and all tour reservationsWritten February 19, 2023
- Jeffrey E0 contributions9-Day travel tour from Kayseri and making a road tour to Istanbul. We toured Cappadocia, then to Konya.We started our journey from Cappadocia and with our guide drove to Konya, Narli Gol, Ihlara Valley, Museum of Mevlana, Alaaddin Mosque, drive to Antalya to Aspendos, Perge, Side, then to Pamukkale, Hierapolis, Kusadasi, Çanakkale Ephesus, Pergamum, Troy, and GallipoliWritten December 19, 2022
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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Vijay
6 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
Visited Istanbul and Coppadocia with Efendi Travel - organised by Mr Yusuf and it was very enjoyable and happened to see most iconic monuments. All transport arrangements were punctual and special appreciation for Mr Yusuf , who was 24 hours available for help and support. Keep it up good eork
Written November 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raveen A
6 contributions
I rarely write reviews but this was an extraordinary experience. I met Mr. Yusef Karaca while staying at the Empress Zoe with our daughter and grandkids.Mr. Yusef arranged our Bosphorus cruise( charged us less than the brochure price and he said he was passing some of his commission to us. Also for the mandatory PCR tests( 2 separate appointments) for me and my wife and our daughter/ grandkids. Prompt , punctual follow up and follow through with the reports and costs. Saved us at least 900TL over what was quoted. Me. Yusef arranged our 2 airport transfers( again deeply discounted) for the family.
Undoubtedly this exceptional service in a tourist hot spot is unlikely. We travel the world a lot and honestly this is my first review of a travel / tourist personnel.
I strongly recommend and encourage my fellow travelers to use Mr. Yusef Karanca’s services if you want a straightforward, honest and thoughtful experience.
Undoubtedly this exceptional service in a tourist hot spot is unlikely. We travel the world a lot and honestly this is my first review of a travel / tourist personnel.
I strongly recommend and encourage my fellow travelers to use Mr. Yusef Karanca’s services if you want a straightforward, honest and thoughtful experience.
Written March 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Zahid S
1 contribution
Sep 2022 • Friends
Everything about this tour group is amazing, from the airport pick to the hotel, to the daily tours and the drop back to the airport. Our main contact was Yusuf Karaca who was very efficient, always available to us to answer back our queries, anytime during the day or be it late at night. He was very patient and accommodative with regards to multiple changes to our travel plans and he always supportive and made sure our requests were handled right away. He was very professional and pleasant to talk to from the get go.
Our guide Ebru, was equally impressive and hard working. She is truly passionate about her culture and her city as was evidenced on multiple occasion where she used every moment to educate us about Istanbul. She always has a smile on her face. She stayed with us on our tours way past her allotted time. She shows her dedication and commitment. She is truly an asset to the organization.
Our guide Ebru, was equally impressive and hard working. She is truly passionate about her culture and her city as was evidenced on multiple occasion where she used every moment to educate us about Istanbul. She always has a smile on her face. She stayed with us on our tours way past her allotted time. She shows her dedication and commitment. She is truly an asset to the organization.
Written October 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TapasTourist
California17 contributions
Dec 2022
Excellent from start to finish. Very good communications, clear and prompt, with Mr. Gokay Eskizambak. On the ground, we had very good knowledgeable guides who met our preferences, imbuing us with deluges of history. Timely and efficient driver services. Excellent hotels (though 5-star ratings were slightly flattering). In addition the tour was reasonably priced.
Highlights included the balloon ride in Cappadocia, and the Istanbul cisterns. Lowlight: the glacial Istanbul traffic, and absence of cabs, so we couldn't go to any restaurants beyond walking distance.
We never did get inside Hagia Sophia, because the lines every day were immense, slow, and the weather cold. Could Efendi have had a fast pass to the front of the line?
Highlights included the balloon ride in Cappadocia, and the Istanbul cisterns. Lowlight: the glacial Istanbul traffic, and absence of cabs, so we couldn't go to any restaurants beyond walking distance.
We never did get inside Hagia Sophia, because the lines every day were immense, slow, and the weather cold. Could Efendi have had a fast pass to the front of the line?
Written December 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dhanpat K
1 contribution
Jun 2023 • Family
Worked with Yusaf for our private trip to Istanbul & Cappadocia - excellent experience, very responsive communicator. Both our guides in Istanbul & Cappadocia were knowledgeable & polite. All the airport transfers were seamless.
Written June 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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