Stories & Culture
5 (95)

Istanbul’s history: where Europe meets Asia

4 hours English
5 (95)
100% Personalized

2500 years of history, Ottoman mosques, and a mosaic-encrusted Byzantine basilica.

How It Works

Book your date

Choose your preferred date, start time and group size for your experience.

Share your interests

Complete your personalisation form after booking, for a tailored experience.

Explore with your matched host

We match you with a local host who shapes the route around you.

Experience Overview

Time:

4 hours

What to expect:

Fully tailored to your preferences

Language:

Hosted in English (Other languages may be requested)

Meeting point:

Your hotel/apartment or any other central location

Cancellation:

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience

What to bring:

  • We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and carrying a light bag for your essentials.
  • Public transport may be used during the experience - please bring a travel card or small amount of cash for fares.

What’s Included:

A private and personalized experience
4 hours with your host
Walking experience (if required, your host can suggest public transport or private taxi options)
Authentic local knowledge and insights
Hotel meet-up (available on request for central location)

What’s Excluded:

Food and drinks
Tickets to any attractions
Transportation costs
Gratuities (optional)
Mostly walking, with food, drinks, transport and entry fees paid separately unless stated.

Reviews of Our Istanbul Experiences

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 .

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J
Joanna
Istanbul

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.

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M
Michael
Istanbul

A really interesting and varied tour. Saw and noticed things we would never have seen on our own or on a conventional tour. Burak was relaxed, honest, adaptable and so knowledgeable.

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P
Paula
Istanbul

It felt like we were just popping into places with a friend. Lots of opportunities to find out more about Turkish culture and life.

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P
Paula
Istanbul

Absolutely wonderful! Feruza went above and beyond the call of duty as our host! She met us at the airport, showed us the sites in Istanbul while providing detailed information and context, introduced us to some delicious foods, brought us back to our hotel and made sure we didn't overpay for our taxi ride back to the airport the next day. She is also one of the most pleasant, kind, and generous people I've ever met. This tour turned out to be indispensable to us because there is no way we would have been able to navigate our way through Istanbul on a 1-day layover by ourselves and see all that we got to see. Thank you, Feruza and City Unscripted!

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L
Launa
Istanbul
See all reviews

Istanbul, Our Guests Way

Here are our guests exploring on a City Unscripted experience.
Beautiful memory

Beautiful memory

Beautiful memory

Beautiful memory

Tugba_Kurti_Istanbul_BR-1267458343

Tugba_Kurti_Istanbul_BR-1267458343

Smiling faces amidst the ancient columns of Istanbul's past.

Smiling faces amidst the ancient columns of Istanbul's past.

Sharing smiles on a cool day in vibrant Istanbul.

Sharing smiles on a cool day in vibrant Istanbul.

Smiles all around at an iconic mosque in Istanbul.

Smiles all around at an iconic mosque in Istanbul.

Evening lights softly illuminate a bustling Istanbul riverside walkway.

Evening lights softly illuminate a bustling Istanbul riverside walkway.

Admiring vibrant modern art along Istanbul's scenic waterfront.

Admiring vibrant modern art along Istanbul's scenic waterfront.

Chandeliers illuminate the intricate details of Istanbul's stunning architecture.

Chandeliers illuminate the intricate details of Istanbul's stunning architecture.

Amidst white tulips, a lone pink flower catches the eye.

Amidst white tulips, a lone pink flower catches the eye.