Private Guide in Istanbul
Oct 21st, 2009, 03:47 AM
#2
I usually recommend that you ddo it yourself because most of the must see sites are within easy walking distance of each other at or around Sultanahmet.
aside from the historic sites and the archeological museum, the bazaar and a Bosphorus does not necessarily need a guide unless you like to listen to trivia you will soon forget.
You will definitely not need a mobile guide except to cross the Bosphorus bridges and set foot on the residential Asian site and walk on the nice promenades and shopping streets.
However, if you have special requests, needs or handicaps, a guide would make life easier for you.
in that case the only company I will recommend is Fest Travel. You can contact them through their web site in English. I am sure that there are many other good ones, but this one I know because many friends and my wife used them for culture tours in istanbul and abroad and were very pleased.
aside from the historic sites and the archeological museum, the bazaar and a Bosphorus does not necessarily need a guide unless you like to listen to trivia you will soon forget.
You will definitely not need a mobile guide except to cross the Bosphorus bridges and set foot on the residential Asian site and walk on the nice promenades and shopping streets.
However, if you have special requests, needs or handicaps, a guide would make life easier for you.
in that case the only company I will recommend is Fest Travel. You can contact them through their web site in English. I am sure that there are many other good ones, but this one I know because many friends and my wife used them for culture tours in istanbul and abroad and were very pleased.
Oct 21st, 2009, 05:07 AM
#3
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I recommend the private guide that my husband and I used last month:
Mr. Yavuz Ozdeniz
Telephone: 90-532-263-2306
E-mail: [email protected]
$250 per day for a driving tour, $150 per day for a walking tour
We did two days of walking and one day of driving.
Day 1: Topkapi Palace, Harem, Underground Cistern, Grand Bazaar
Day 2: Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Haghia Sofia, Bosphorous Cruise, Spice Market, ferry crossing to Asian side
Day 3: Eyup Mosque, Chora Museum, Camlica Hill, Dolmabahce Palace, Pierre Loti Hill via funicular
While you could see the major Istanbul sights on your own, having a guide is a great time-saver, and it's like having a walking encycopedia with you to explain things.
I thought Yavuz's prices were more reasonable than some of the other guides that I contacted. Others were charging $300 per day whether you walked or drove.
Check out my trip report for more information.
Mr. Yavuz Ozdeniz
Telephone: 90-532-263-2306
E-mail: [email protected]
$250 per day for a driving tour, $150 per day for a walking tour
We did two days of walking and one day of driving.
Day 1: Topkapi Palace, Harem, Underground Cistern, Grand Bazaar
Day 2: Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Haghia Sofia, Bosphorous Cruise, Spice Market, ferry crossing to Asian side
Day 3: Eyup Mosque, Chora Museum, Camlica Hill, Dolmabahce Palace, Pierre Loti Hill via funicular
While you could see the major Istanbul sights on your own, having a guide is a great time-saver, and it's like having a walking encycopedia with you to explain things.
I thought Yavuz's prices were more reasonable than some of the other guides that I contacted. Others were charging $300 per day whether you walked or drove.
Check out my trip report for more information.
Nov 9th, 2009, 09:41 AM
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allways the best ıs getıng a locol guıde.ı lıke to alone and do my own ıtınary.ın june we were ın ıstanbul for few days.we were not plannıng to get a guıde but one of my frıend recommended a guıde ın ıstanbul.we called hım and he orgonısed 2 days for us.we have seen the all the hıghlıghts of the cıty and allso many locol parts too.ıf we spend even 10 days we can not see that much ourself.the most ımportant part we were ınformed a lot about Turkey and locols..
hıs name ıs Necip Edis.ofıcıal guıde and very knowledgeable about hıs cıty and country..you can reach hım wıth that maıl adress:[email protected]
hıs name ıs Necip Edis.ofıcıal guıde and very knowledgeable about hıs cıty and country..you can reach hım wıth that maıl adress:[email protected]
Nov 10th, 2009, 09:36 PM
#6
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Istanbul is such an easy city to manuver on ones own. I usually like a guide but didn't deem it necessary there. Chris
We did have a guide in Capadocia and Kusadasi-but they were bigger & we didn't have a car. Istanbul is a magical city.
We did have a guide in Capadocia and Kusadasi-but they were bigger & we didn't have a car. Istanbul is a magical city.
Nov 11th, 2009, 05:47 AM
#7
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It's totally up to you, but I don't see why you couldn't do all of the following on your own and at your own pace. There are trip reports posted here by people who have done it.
<<Day 1: Topkapi Palace, Harem, Underground Cistern, Grand Bazaar
Day 2: Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Haghia Sofia, Bosphorous Cruise, Spice Market, ferry crossing to Asian side
Day 3: Eyup Mosque, Chora Museum, Camlica Hill, Dolmabahce Palace, Pierre Loti Hill via funicular>>
Do some research online and in books before you go. The guide, no doubt, is a walking encylopedia, but how much information can you absorb?
I agree with Michael, Rick Steves' Istanbul, a small enough book to carry with you, will tell you all you need to know and then some.
<<Day 1: Topkapi Palace, Harem, Underground Cistern, Grand Bazaar
Day 2: Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Haghia Sofia, Bosphorous Cruise, Spice Market, ferry crossing to Asian side
Day 3: Eyup Mosque, Chora Museum, Camlica Hill, Dolmabahce Palace, Pierre Loti Hill via funicular>>
Do some research online and in books before you go. The guide, no doubt, is a walking encylopedia, but how much information can you absorb?
I agree with Michael, Rick Steves' Istanbul, a small enough book to carry with you, will tell you all you need to know and then some.
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Nov 11th, 2009, 08:40 PM
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www.turkeytravelguide.com
Tom Brosnan who has authored popular travelguides to Turkey has names of recommended guides.
He also recommends that you tell the prospective guide that you learned of them thru his website to help you get fair treatment.
Tom Brosnan who has authored popular travelguides to Turkey has names of recommended guides.
He also recommends that you tell the prospective guide that you learned of them thru his website to help you get fair treatment.
Nov 12th, 2009, 06:55 PM
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Last year I hired a guide (and a car and driver) from the agency VIP Turizm
I can't recall her name, but the agency was very professional, prompt, and reliable.
They also arrange airport transfers, etc.
I had one day of touring with the VIP guide for Jewish sites, and a separate day for the major sites of Sultanahmet, including the Rustem Pasa Mosque which is not as well-known, but one of the best things I saw in Istanbul. I also used another guide (no car or driver) from Context Istanbul (they have outposts in other European cities) just for a morning at Topkapi. I enjoy details, don't soon forget them, and am a history sponge, so while the Rick Steves books are good, I wanted more.
At least on these occasions, I thought the VIP guide better than the one from Context but that may have been a personal rapport thing.
I LOVED Istanbul. I keep up my trip file; if you'd like to see it, email me at ESL1051 at yahoo dot com.
I can't recall her name, but the agency was very professional, prompt, and reliable.
They also arrange airport transfers, etc.
I had one day of touring with the VIP guide for Jewish sites, and a separate day for the major sites of Sultanahmet, including the Rustem Pasa Mosque which is not as well-known, but one of the best things I saw in Istanbul. I also used another guide (no car or driver) from Context Istanbul (they have outposts in other European cities) just for a morning at Topkapi. I enjoy details, don't soon forget them, and am a history sponge, so while the Rick Steves books are good, I wanted more.
At least on these occasions, I thought the VIP guide better than the one from Context but that may have been a personal rapport thing.
I LOVED Istanbul. I keep up my trip file; if you'd like to see it, email me at ESL1051 at yahoo dot com.
Nov 14th, 2009, 10:54 AM
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<<... including the Rustem Pasa Mosque which is not as well-known, but one of the best things I saw in Istanbul.>>
Sounds like hiring a guide worked well for you, but I'm curious. Have you looked at the Rick Steves Istanbul guide book? It's written by two Istanbul natives who have been tour guides for years. They give detailed directions to get to the Rustem Pasa Mosque and information about who he was and what he did.
The R.S. book was the best of several that I looked at before going to Turkey; it had the best maps (the only one that showed the funicular from Taksim) and more detailed information than most others, so I recommend it to anyone going to Istanbul who is not hiring a private guide.
Sounds like hiring a guide worked well for you, but I'm curious. Have you looked at the Rick Steves Istanbul guide book? It's written by two Istanbul natives who have been tour guides for years. They give detailed directions to get to the Rustem Pasa Mosque and information about who he was and what he did.
The R.S. book was the best of several that I looked at before going to Turkey; it had the best maps (the only one that showed the funicular from Taksim) and more detailed information than most others, so I recommend it to anyone going to Istanbul who is not hiring a private guide.
Nov 14th, 2009, 04:53 PM
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Yes, in fact I had the Rick Steves book with me, and recommend it. He's a great resource. However, there are times when I want even more detail and history, and other resources like a Michelin Green or a knowledgeable guide can provide that for me.
For example, my guide and I had a great conversation about the development and importance of design and production of Iznik and Kutahya ceramic tiles (such as are in the Blue Mosque, the Rustem Pasa mosque, and Topkapi.
I did see the Taksim Funicular on other maps, I think my Insight guide or Insight map had it (or, another one did.)
I do like the Rick Steves series, I sometimes want more (or, simply different) information.
For example, my guide and I had a great conversation about the development and importance of design and production of Iznik and Kutahya ceramic tiles (such as are in the Blue Mosque, the Rustem Pasa mosque, and Topkapi.
I did see the Taksim Funicular on other maps, I think my Insight guide or Insight map had it (or, another one did.)
I do like the Rick Steves series, I sometimes want more (or, simply different) information.
