“Instanbul with Dilek”

Dilek was great - very knowledgeable and flexible in allowing us to dictate where we wanted to go and offering suggestions. Also she made it very easy on us and met us at the port terminal and we took a tram in to city center. She was also very understanding when we went to the wrong meeting point and when I called she located us within minutes. I would without hesitation recommend Dilak as a guide if visiting Istanbul.

“Lovely morning with Dilek”

We were 2 adults, 2 elderly and one 6yo and had a lovely morning, full of history with Dilek in Istambul. She is very knowledgeable and nice and accomodated our requests and respected our specific pace. I recommend her and this tour, no doubt.

Dilek O.

(10 reviews)

Dear Maria Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this wonderful review! It was a pleasure spending the morning with your lovely family and sharing the history of Istanbul together. I try to make my tours comfortable and engaging for all ages, so I am so happy to hear that our pace and itinerary worked perfectly for everyone, from the youngest to the oldest. Thank you again for your high recommendation. I hope to welcome you back to Turkey in the future!

“A Custom Heritage Tour That Exceeded Every Expectation”

We requested a fully custom heritage tour for my 88-year-old mother-in-law, Nora, tracing her mother's footsteps through 1920s to 1930s Istanbul, and Dilek was the perfect partner for it. Before the tour, she worked closely with me by email to understand what we were hoping to find, researched the historical context herself, and even consulted a colleague who specializes in Armenian heritage tours. That preparation showed from the start. Dilek picked us up right on time with a spacious, wheelchair-accessible van and narrated everything as we crossed to the Asian side. At the Armenian school, she spoke with the caretaker in Turkish and got us inside a building that's normally closed, where staff pulled out historical photos once they saw Hazel's 1930 graduation certificate. In Moda, she walked us onto the pier, pointed out the islands where Armenian families once kept summer homes, and doubled back so we could photograph a street sign. She also knew exactly which market stall made the best börek, which Nora loved. The high point was the Üsküdar American Academy, Nora's mother's old school. Security turned us away at first, but Dilek and the paperwork we'd brought changed their minds. An administrator rode in our van so we could photograph the historic administration building, and the principal came out to greet Nora in Armenian and English. It was an incredibly emotional, unexpected gift, made possible because Dilek knew how to advocate for us in the moment. If you want a custom, deeply personal tour of Istanbul rather than a standard sightseeing route, I can't recommend Dilek enough. She treats a custom request as a project worth researching properly, not just a checklist of stops. This was one of the most meaningful days of our entire trip.

Dilek O.

(10 reviews)

Dear Stephenie Thank you from the bottom of my heart for these kind words. Helping Nora connect with her mother’s past in Istanbul was one of the most special and emotional tours I have ever had the pleasure of guiding. From the historic archives at the Armenian school to our walk on the Moda pier, every moment felt magical. Thank you for your trust, your wonderful energy, and for letting me be a part of this unforgettable day. Much love to Nora!