Locally Istanbul — Local services in Beyoğlu

I heard about Locally Istanbul from a comment by “The Points Guy”. Brian had used them to tour Istanbul and spoke highly of them.

I contracted Erk and explained that we needed to be met at the cruise port, drop off our luggage at a nearby hotel, tour the rest of that day and the following 2 days and finally, transport to the airport.

Erk said no problem and asked what we wanted to see. We settled on historic sites day 1, shopping day 2 and the Asian Istanbul on day 3.

We had Ms Ivrim our first day. She did a marvelous job on educating us on Istanbul as we stood in a couple of lines (unavoidable since the gates to the site were closed). We moved quickly through our morning sites and then had a great lunch at a well known restaurant. We did more historical sites that were within walking distance. If you get a chance, be sure to visit the Basilica Cistern to see all the “repurposed” columns. We did the Spice Market and got our sweet purchases taken care of. In a brief time in the Grand Bazaar my wife found her first wall piece.

Erk was our guide on day 2. We did the Grand Bazaar and my wife made her heirloom ceramic and manuscript painting purchases. My wife had told Erk what she was looking for and Erk did not disappoint in knowing the right places and our budget. My wife wanted some gifts to bring home and Erk knew a one man shop that would likely have them. The store was perfect and my wife got a bracelet fitted to her small wrist. After a lunch at the “go to” place for Turkish Gyros, we headed off to where Erk would take friends to see the real Istanbul. We did a stop where Erk shops for jewelry for his wife and my wife did find some items for herself. Erk recommended a spot for dinner that was 2 minutes from our hotel and gave us the name of the Turkish wine grape we should ask for as our wine.

Ms Ivrim was back for day 3. We had a driver to get us to the Asian side of Istanbul, and to the key historical sites that were too far for walking. We had lunch at the best Kabob place in Istanbul, and given the crowd, it must be very popular. We took a ferry back to the cruise port and then had to stop for the best Baklava in Turkey (in business for 160+ years and just 2 locations: hometown and Istanbul). An even bigger crowd this time. We skipped dinner on day 3 after having tried so many “best of” items.

Erk and Ivrim were a delight to work with: very personable, excellent english and very...

We reached out to Erk and company at the strong recommendation of a trusted colleague from a tour she took years ago. As their first touch points, they asked what kind of tour we’d be interested in and sought to learn more about us, then offered a couple options with clear pricing structure. We arranged a tour and date for the two of us (American couple in our early 30s). Erk and his business partner Ümit were in frequent communication with us from the beginning and connected via WhatsApp the day before our tour. Ümit met us at our hotel exactly as promised and quickly established a rapport with us, setting our expectations on what to expect from him and the tour for the day. He eagerly entered into the role of ambassador for this beautiful crossroads of humanity, sharing details about everyday Istanbul life, Ottoman history, Islam, Turkish orthography and linguistics, food, and culture, as we walked through the neighborhoods of Pera/Beyoğlu. We stopped at mosques, coffee shops, baklava makers, the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Market, and more. Even more fascinating than the places we saw was the commentary and insight Ümit could provide for each and every thing we encountered. He had a way of putting us at our ease and engaging with others to facilitate our tour. We always felt safe and well taken care of. The entire process was seamless and Ümit ensured we knew our way home at the end. As the cherry on top, he shared a great deal of expertise for our coming days of self-guided touring, making sure we didn’t miss a couple off-the-beaten-path sights, and giving us permission to skip a couple overplayed destinations. Ümit and Erk, we can’t thank you enough for being such a formative part of our first experience in this beautiful city. We would recommend you to anyone and can’t wait to see you again...

Our trip to Turkey with Erk and Locally Istanbul was simply phenomenal! From the moment we booked until the very last goodbye, they went above and beyond to make our experience truly unforgettable.

Each day was meticulously planned, yet still allowed for spontaneity and personalization, giving us both structure and freedom. Our guides were incredibly knowledgeable, not only about the iconic sites in Istanbul like Hagia Sophia, or Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys, but also about the rich history, culture, and hidden gems of Turkey. They shared fascinating stories, local legends, and personal insights that brought the country to life in a way that felt deeply meaningful.

Some of the highlights were our experiences in small, family-owned workshops in both Istanbul and Cappadocia that we never would have found on our own. We got hands-on with local artisans and learned about centuries-old traditions (silk rug making and pottery) in such an intimate setting. Locally Istanbul arranged everything flawlessly, and it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Beyond the amazing sights, what really stood out was how much they genuinely cared about our experience. They accommodated every request, including last minute schedule changes based on our interests. Erk was very quick to respond with any questions, and made himself available to us throughout the duration of our trip.

If you’re considering a trip to Turkey and want a company that treats you like family, respects the local culture, and provides an outstanding, well-rounded experience, look no further than...