Family day in Istanbul with a local

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!

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 .

Burak, the guide for our walking tour around Istanbul, took us around the highlights in the Old City. Burak is an excellent guide, tremendously knowledgeable about the city and the sights within. He has a nice way of explaining them, and the pace is comfortable, but he makes sure you get to see what you want. I highly recommend him.

Burak was amazing! He listened to our requests and took us to many non touristy places just like we asked. His knowledge was incredible and I would highly recommend him as a guide!

We had an amazing time exploring Istanbul with Öztürk. Right from the start, he was warm, friendly, and clearly passionate about his city. He began the tour by showing us a brief history of Türkiye on his iPad, which helped us understand what we’d be seeing throughout the day. He didn’t just guide us—he truly took care of us. Whether it was helping us plan the day’s route or negotiating great prices at the Grand Bazaar, Spice Market, or even Hafiz Mustafa, Öztürk was on top of it. He seemed to know everyone! We started calling him “the mayor of Istanbul” because of how connected and respected he was. The highlight for me was our time at Topkapı Palace. The way he explained the palace’s history, especially the Islamic and Ottoman parts, made it feel like he had lived there himself. He brought the stories to life in a way that was both educational and enjoyable. If you want a guide who is knowledgeable, kind, and makes you feel like you’re exploring the city with a friend, I would 100% recommend Öztürk. This tour was a highlight of our trip.