Hi, I’m Ipek
Hi, I’m Ipek
I’ve lived in Istanbul for 14 years
I speak English, Turkish and some Spanish
I am a Tour Guide
Hi, I’m İpek, and I love sharing the magic of Istanbul! For me, this city is like stepping into a living museum, where history and modern life blend seamlessly. From Byzantine churches to Ottoman palaces, every corner of Istanbul tells a story. I love exploring new international restaurants and discovering hidden gems—whether it’s a cozy café or a quiet spot with an incredible view. I know the neighborhoods of Sultanahmet, Taksim, Üsküdar, Kadıköy, and Beşiktaş really well and can introduce you to their unique charm. I’m also great at finding hidden spots even most locals don’t know about, and I have a knack for finding places where you can shop without breaking the bank, from local markets to hidden gem stores. Let’s explore Istanbul together!
My knowledge & interests
Tourist Guiding
Food
Drinks
Arts
Nature / outdoors
History
Shopping
Culture & customs
Music
Street food
Local cuisine
Desserts
Food markets
Fine dining
Unique & unusual foods
Theater
Cinema
Parks
Gardens
Scenic routes
Wildlife
Political history
Social history
Religious history
Cityscape photography
Street photography
Portrait photography
Modern architecture
Wine
Whiskey
Third wave coffee
Local beers
Department stores
Street markets
Handicrafts & souvenirs
Traditional culture
Popular culture
Religious customs
Lifestyle culture
Rituals & ceremonial customs
Local speciality drinks
Traditional drinks
Digital art
Second-hand markets
Specialty shops
Food photography
Commercial photography
Post-modern architecture
Baroque architecture
Ottoman architecture
Pop music
Rock music
Traditional music
My reviews
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Fantastic Family Day in Istanbul with Ipek We were so lucky to have Ipek as our guide in Istanbul! As a family of three with a 10-year-old, we wanted something engaging beyond the typical sights we’d already seen. Ipek crafted the perfect day—exploring the Asian side via tram and ferry, wandering through Kadıköy and Moda, and making it fun for our son with a street cat-spotting challenge and feeding simit to seagulls. She introduced us to a great local lunch spot with new dishes to try, and we wrapped up at Miniatürk, an open-air miniature park that was surprisingly fun for all of us. Ipek was warm, thoughtful, and made the day truly memorable. We left inspired to return and explore more of Turkey!
Jul 2025
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Our private vegetarian tour with Ipek was the perfect day of digesting history and culture in Istanbul. She promptly picked us up from our hotel and immediately began sharing her knowledge on the unique and ancient area we were walking around. She answered all our questions along the way, and we were extremely impressed with the images and extra info she carried in her bag and iPad. She took us to many important landmarks and highlighted other significant locations casually found around town. Ipek also helped us with our (very broken) Turkish, and even got our fortunes read from our coffee grounds haha. It was awesome to eat like a local, with a local at all the local spots - and we were so full from all the food. 10/10 - would book again for the Asian side next trip :)
Jul 2025
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Ipek was a wonderful host - I really don’t believe we would have got as much out of the tour if we had done it ourselves - it would have taken so much more time and we would have missed out on enjoying the special moments .
Jul 2025
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Our guide, Ipek, was knowledgeable and flexible. She was open to giving us an off-the-beaten-path sort of tour. It was magical and she was amazing.
Jun 2025