I’ve lived in Istanbul for 15 years
I speak English, Turkish
I am a Professional Tour Guide
Hi, I'm Tolga, a passionate local host from Istanbul! I love sharing the magic of my city, from the breathtaking mosaics of the Hagia Sophia to the lively stalls of the Grand Bazaar. Exploring Sultanahmet’s historic treasures and cruising the Bosphorus never gets old for me — the way Istanbul blends history, culture, and beauty is unforgettable. I know the city's neighborhoods inside out and enjoy helping visitors discover hidden gems, local flavors, and the rich traditions that make Istanbul so special. Whether you're a history buff, a foodie, or an adventurer, I'm excited to show you the best of this incredible city!
We arrived in Istanbul two days early for a group tour of Turkey so I scheduled a private walking tour with Tolga to see if he could show us something other than the typical list of sites that were on our group's itinerary. I felt certain that there were neighborhoods that he could show us which we wouldn't otherwise see and Tolga did not disappoint. Along the way, he filled us in on history, culture, religion, and current events. He took us to an historic place for baklava and a cute spot for a quick lunch. We rode the tram, the bus and two ferries, and walked 8 miles! After seven hours, we finally called it quits, but he would have continued longer if we had wanted. We definitely got our money's worth and counted that day as one of the best of our entire three weeks in Turkey.
June 2025
We arrived in Istanbul two days early for a group tour of Turkey so I scheduled a private walking tour with Tolga to see if he could show us something other than the typical list of sites that were on our group's itinerary. I felt certain that there were neighborhoods that he could show us which we wouldn't, culture, religion, and current events. He took us to an historic place for baklava and a cute spot for a quick lunch. We rode the tram, the bus and two ferries, and walked 8 miles! After seven hours, we finally called it quits, but he would have continued longer if we had wanted. We definitely got our money's worth and counted that day as one of the best of our entire three weeks in Turkey.
June 2025
Kiymet is awesome tour guide! She made this a memorable experience for my wife and I.
June 2025
May 2025