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Beyoğlu and its backstreets

Beyoğlu and its backstreets

Art, Culture, & Historical

Joined 2026

Zeynep K.

5.00 / 5

(1 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Istanbul

English (Native), Turkish (Native)

4 hrs 30 mins

Private tour (only you and Zeynep K.)

Up to 5 people

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.

Itinerary

This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!

10:00 AM

Meeting Point

Cihangir Square (next to the Espresso Lab)

- Meet next to the Espresso Lab in the neighborhood of Cihangir Address: Kılıçalipaşa Mahallesi, Sıraselviler Cd. 115-A D:1, 34425 Beyoğlu/İstanbul Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qpde5GxBiKrKnkNW8

Çukurcuma

We will go through the winding streets of Çukurcuma, peek into antique shops, bakeries, local boutiques, and galleries, and get a feel for the neighborhood.

Galatasaray Square/Istiklal Avenue

We will spend some time exploring the passages that surround the main İstiklal Avenue, visiting Armenian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, and Catholic churches, wandering through a corridor of second-hand bookshops, and finishing with a cup of some of the finest Turkish coffee the city has to offer.

Galata Tower

We will walk to the Galata Tower and its surrounding side streets, pausing at some of the best photo opportunities along the way, visit one of Istanbul’s most eccentric shop owners in his mystical store of Anatolian brassware and local art, and view a couple of synagogues from the exterior.

Bankalar Caddesi

We will explore the old financial heart of the Ottoman Empire, descend the striking Kamondo Stairs, visit the former Central Bank building, now home to a stunning library, and uncover other hidden treasures along the way.

Take the ferry across to Asia

We will cross the Bosphorus to Kadıköy and visit its bustling food market, try a glass of tangy pickle juice, and conclude our tour there. From Kadıköy, you can either return to the European side together, or I can offer recommendations for continuing your exploration on the Asian side, as well as suggestions for lunch or dinner spots.

Ending Point

Kadıköy Food Market

Want to personalize this tour?

This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.

Inclusions & Exclusions

What‘s included

Guide fee

What‘s not included

Coffee, pickle juice, or any of the snacks picked up along the way

Tour Important Information

* This tour involves a significant amount of walking across varied terrain, including hills, cobblestones, and stairs, so comfortable shoes are essential.

*Please let me know in advance if you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions.

Cancellation Policy

Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time

Joined 2026

Zeynep K.

5.00 / 5

(1 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

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.

Reviews

Seth T.

5 / 5

Jul 14, 2026

Istanbul Highlight Walking Tour

Jul 14, 2026

Istanbul

5 hours

“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.