Reviews from guests across the world.

ToursByLocals★★★★★

"Ayfer was an absolutely delightful guide and the perfect introduction to Istanbul. Her tour struck exactly the right balance between history, culture, atmosphere and practical orientation. Rather than rushing through an exhausting checklist of sites, she created a relaxed and engaging experience that genuinely helped us understand the city and how its different layers fit together."

Duncan P. — May 2026

ToursByLocals★★★★★

"Ayfer was fantastic! Warm, personable, loves doing this, loves the area and knows the local foods inside out — and steered us to the best! It was a delightful 3 hours and we'd highly recommend!"

Lou K. — May 2026

ToursByLocals★★★★★

"Ayfer was wonderful. Warm, welcoming, and a great introduction to Turkish cuisine. We found some dishes we would never have tried on our own and were glad we went early in our trip, since it allowed us to keep ordering the 'greatest hits' from Ayfer's tour. She was also very helpful with follow-up and had many good recommendations."

Beck W. — March 2026

ToursByLocals★★★★★

"Ayfer was fantastic! She covered everything — history, culture, food and shopping. Such an enjoyable day!"

Dennis B. — March 2026

Withlocals★★★★★

"I had a wonderful 6-hour tour of Istanbul with Ayfer. From the very beginning, she listened to what I was interested in and tailored the day around my love of history, architecture, culture, shopping, and food. Ayfer was full of knowledge, stories and insights that brought Istanbul's history and culture to life. She also introduced me to some great local food and shopping spots that I would never have found on my own. If you want a personalised, informative, and enjoyable tour experience, Ayfer is the perfect guide."

Marie — May 2026 · "A day in Istanbul"

Withlocals★★★★★

"Ayfer is a phenomenal guide! She is so easy to talk to and modified our itinerary to accommodate our specificities. Do not hesitate to book any of her tours; she is a STAR. Thank you Ayfer!"

Margaret — April 2026 · "A fantastic day"

Withlocals★★★★★

"Our Kadıköy food tour with Ayfer was one of the most memorable afternoons of our trip. She encouraged us to try dishes we would never have ordered ourselves, and every single one was delicious. It didn't feel like a tour at all, but more like sitting down to dinner with a friend who just happens to know all of the best spots. If you're looking for a food experience that's as much about connection and conversation as it is about great dishes, this tour with Ayfer is a must."

Danielle — April 2026 · "Food for the soul"

Withlocals★★★★★

"Ayfer was a very sweet, lively, and historically knowledgeable guide during my tour in Istanbul. She shared fascinating insights and stories that really brought the city's history to life. She also gave me great insider tips and made me feel like a local, especially while exploring the Grand Bazaar. Highly recommended!"

Julia — April 2026 · "Excellent and welcoming!"

Withlocals★★★★★

"Ayfer was amazing — highly recommend! She followed my exact request for the sites we wanted to see."

Amy — March 2026

Withlocals★★★★★

"Only had a 6-hour stopover but worth spending every minute in Istanbul under professional and super friendly guidance."

Oliver — January 2026 · "Too short but really good"

Withlocals★★★★★

"We (2 couples) spent three days in Istanbul and two days with Ayfer touring us around both the European and Asian sides. She was fantastic, knowledgeable, personable, and helpful. In my 50 years of traveling, I would rate her in the top five of all the tours I have ever taken. If you're coming to Istanbul and you want a private tour, it would be a mistake not to hire her. I would write her a 15 out of 10."

Richard — November 2025 · "Fantastic Tour with Ayfer!"

Withlocals★★★★★

"Had a wonderful time with Ayfer, who was generous with her time and gave me real insights into Istanbul and Turkey, especially from an historical perspective. We covered all the areas I expressed interest in. A delightful experience."

Vicki — November 2025 · "Excellent guide"

Withlocals★★★★★

"We had an amazing time with Ayfer, sampling foods and learning about life and culture in Istanbul. Ayfer was an open book and so gracious answering our many questions. The food was also amazing — we went so many places, tried an incredible amount of food, and loved the experience. This is a must-do in our book."

Joe — October 2025 · "A standout experience in Istanbul"

Withlocals★★★★★

"Ayfer was AMAZING! Her knowledge depth and breadth made every landmark come alive. The Grand Bazaar, overwhelming in itself with so many hallways and shops, became a magical treasure trove of art. We could never have experienced our limited 24 hours in Istanbul like this without Ayfer's delightful energy and conversation. Cannot recommend highly enough — 10 stars."

Rebeka — September 2025 · "Wonderful from start to finish!"

Withlocals★★★★★

"We had a lovely afternoon with Ayfer around the Asian side of Istanbul sampling local foods and learning about the Turkish culture and history of the area. Ayfer also helped us with suggestions for restaurants for the remainder of our trip. Would highly recommend!"

Paula — September 2025 · "Great city tour!"

Withlocals★★★★★

"We had a perfect day with Ayfer. She took care of everything from meeting us at our boat to dropping us off at the same location 7 hours later. Her knowledge of Istanbul and the history was excellent and we learned a lot. Her English was perfect and she was extremely friendly. We highly recommend her if you need someone to show you around Istanbul!"

James — August 2025 · "Ayfer is the best!"

Withlocals★★★★★

"Our family of 5 (including 3 teenagers) had a fantastic 3-hour tour of Istanbul with Ayfer! She was really friendly and engaging, and made us all very comfortable asking questions. She is so knowledgeable about the city and history and includes lots of interesting stories and details. Ayfer really went above and beyond — we would highly recommend her for an insightful and memorable tour of Istanbul!"

Jamie — August 2025 · "Fantastic Tour of Istanbul"

Withlocals★★★★★

"I had a 24-hour layover in Istanbul and decided to do a quick tour before catching my next flight. Ayfer was a wonderful guide. She gave me a marvelous overview of Istanbul. I was able to see the most famous sights and I learned a lot about the history of the city. I would love to return and book a more in-depth tour with Ayfer."

Sue — July 2025 · "Quick Tour of Istanbul"

Withlocals★★★★★

"My wife and I met Ayfer for a food tour in Kadıköy. Within 5 minutes, she surpassed the guide we had hired for the previous two days. She took us to excellent restaurants that are not on Lonely Planet and therefore not crowded. I am a veteran of probably over 20 food tours and this is by far the best. Ayfer is awesome. Once again, start your Istanbul vacay here."

Armando — July 2025 · "More Than A Food Tour"

Withlocals★★★★★

"On our last full day in Istanbul, Ayfer took me and my 12-year-old daughter to the Basilica Cistern, and to the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market for some supported shopping (it can be quite overwhelming to choose among the 4,000 shops). We ended our day with a narrated cruise around the Bosphorus and Golden Horn at sunset, for the perfect farewell to a beautiful city. I would recommend Ayfer strongly to any visitor, especially those who love history."

Rachel — July 2025 · "Just Like Family"

Withlocals★★★★★

"Ayfer was very knowledgeable about Istanbul's history, politics and culture as well as being a lovely person. We took a tour of the neighbourhoods and learnt how to take the trams, ate the best fish wraps and discovered fermented turnip drink. We expressed an interest in Turkish rugs and she incorporated this into the tour. I would highly recommend Ayfer as a tour guide for this fascinating city!"

Hugh — June 2025 · "Excellent guide"

Withlocals★★★★★

"We had a wonderful half-day tour with Ayfer exploring Byzantine architecture. My dad has difficulty walking quickly and needs frequent breaks, and Ayfer was incredibly thoughtful in adjusting the pace. She also shared great recommendations for restaurants, shopping, desserts, and hammams. I highly recommend a tour with her."

Kartika — June 2025 · "A Fabulous Visit"

Withlocals★★★★★

"We booked Ayfer for a 3-hour walking tour of the main sights and insights into historic and modern Istanbul. She was great company, really easy to talk to and a lot of fun. She took us on a magical journey across the Bosphorus to a vibrant enclave full of foodie shops and trendy cafes. A really interesting morning with a superb guide. We cannot recommend her enough."

Sylvia — June 2025 · "A comprehensive insight into Istanbul"

Withlocals★★★★★

"Ayfer took us on a morning tour of Istanbul — we were 4 friends visiting the city for the first time. Ayfer's knowledge and interest of the city old and new was exceptional, taking us from its beginnings to the present day. All delivered with great communication and enthusiasm."

Ben — May 2025 · "Engaging and knowledgeable guide"

Withlocals★★★★★

"We had the pleasure of spending two half-days in Istanbul with Ayfer. A proud local with fluent English, she has that rare ability to weave together history, culture, and everyday life in a way that's both insightful and engaging. Istanbul is an extraordinary place, and with Ayfer, it felt even more alive."

Ebba — May 2025 · "Amazing days in Istanbul"

Withlocals★★★★★

"Ayfer was a fantastic guide for our family of 5 (children ages 5-12). Her knowledge of the city, both historical and present, was invaluable to us to kick off our stay in Istanbul. She made things fun for our younger children, and was very patient and friendly to them. We would definitely recommend Ayfer as a guide to anyone."

Sam — April 2025 · "Great experience with Ayfer!"