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Joined 2026
Zeynep K.
Available Areas
Istanbul (Living)
Languages
English (Native), Turkish (Native)
Response Time
19 hours on average
Availability Updated
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About Tour Guide Zeynep K.
I was born and raised to Turkish parents in the suburbs of Chicago, I moved to Istanbul after earning my degree in History from Western Illinois University. Before becoming a tour guide, I spent eight years working as a journalist at The Washington Post’s Istanbul bureau. Istanbul is my favorite place in the world, and I love sharing my passion for the city with visitors.
Tours
All tours can be customized for you. Send me a message with your requests!
Categories
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Istanbul Highlight Walking Tour
Explore Istanbul’s greatest highlights on this classic walking tour. Visit the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, and Hagia Sophia, uncovering the stories of Byzantium and the Ottomans. Descend into the magical Basilica Cistern, enjoy a short lunch break, then navigate the Grand Bazaar’s hidden corners. End at the peaceful Süleymaniye Mosque with stunning city views.
Istanbul Highlight Walking Tour
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Beyoğlu and its backstreets
Step beyond the crowds of Sultanahmet and discover the fascinating story of Beyoğlu, Istanbul’s most cosmopolitan district. This walking tour explores the grand avenues, hidden passages, and atmospheric backstreets that shaped modern Istanbul. From the bohemian neighborhoods of Çukurcuma, Galata, and Karaköy, we’ll then take a ferry across to the Asian side of the city for the bustling food market.
Beyoğlu and its backstreets
Reviews
Kerri M.
“Fantastic Guide”
Zeynep is professional, knowledgeable, and flexible. We booked her twice! She knows Istanbul inside and out and will help you have a great sightseeing experience.
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Zeynep K.
Thanks so much, Kerri! It was such a pleasure diving into the details with a guest as knowledgeable as you.
Seth T.
“Top class expert”
We had a wonderful full-day tour of Old Istanbul with Zeynep, and she was truly exceptional. Her English is at a native level, as she was born in the United States and spent more than 20 years there. Her professional background is equally impressive: she is an accomplished journalist who reports from Turkey for The Washington Times and has an extraordinary understanding of modern Turkish society, politics, and culture. With this background, Zeynep brings remarkable breadth and depth of knowledge to Istanbul’s many civilizations and historical periods. Her explanations are detailed, accurate, and engaging, but what makes her especially unique is her ability to adapt the tour to the interests and prior knowledge of the group. She can make the discussion highly technical and sophisticated, or provide an accessible introduction for visitors who are new to the subject. She is also extremely family-friendly and has a natural ability to involve children and keep them engaged throughout the tour. Zeynep is a genuinely remarkable and rather unique individual. We highly recommend her to anyone looking for an intelligent, flexible, and memorable tour of Istanbul.
Zeynep K.
Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words. It was a real pleasure spending the day with you and your beautiful family, and I'm so glad you enjoyed the tour. I truly appreciate you taking the time to write such a thoughtful review. Wishing you many more wonderful travels, and I hope our paths cross again someday.
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Yağmur B.
I’ve been a professional tour guide for9 years, and let me tell you, I absolutely adore my job. I love showcasing my country, Turkiye, with all its cultural, historical, and modern treasures. Every day, I get to share my enthusiasm and pride for my homeland with visitors. I truly enjoy making everyone feel like a cherished guest, and I take great pleasure in introducing them to the unique wonders of Turkiye with both joy and a touch of humor. For me, every tour is a delightful experience, and it’s all about making memories and having fun along the way!
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Göksel S.
Welcome to the Historic Peninsula! I'm a licensed professional tour guide specializing in Ottoman and Byzantine history. For years, I've been guiding travelers through Istanbul's most iconic landmarks from the Topkapi Palace to the Hagia Sophia. Whether you prefer to explore in person or virtually, together we'll bring these incredible stories to life and discover why Istanbul's Historic Peninsula is truly unforgettable. Let's dive into centuries of history together!
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Dilek O.
Hi everyone, My name is Dilek, a national - licensed tour guide. I am 42 years old and have been guiding for 14 years. My husband is from Mexico and with our two young kids we live in Istanbul. When I don't work I spend most of my time outdoor with my family, enjoy istanbul as much as we can. I am qualified in the knowledge of Turkish history, mythology, archaeology, history of religion and history of art. I speak English and Spanish. Following my university graduation, I lived in England for 5 years where I continued my education studying Travel and Tourism at Greenwich School of Management. After I lived a short time in Guatemala, Cuba to learn Spanish. In my tour I would like to show you architectural styles, historical fun facts, famous historical monuments, tell you about the peoples life in Istanbul, how we spend our days, where do people go to eat, what we eat, where we shop, what we listen, the best places to eat, drink and party. As your local guide, I am flexible to your wishes and needs. Making it interesting and enjoyable for you is my wish. With all of my years of experience in the travel industry, I hope to help you make the most of your time in beautiful Istanbul by taking a tour with me. I very much look forward to meeting you all!
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