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No minimum number of attendeesNo minimum number of attendees is required for the tour
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Free booking and cancellationFree payment tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free
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Hi, my name is Haktan. I am a licenced tour guide who is in love with Istanbul! I traveled to 30+ countries joining free walking tours whenever I had a chance and collecting the good practices of other guides. I studied in the USA and taught at different universities so I know how to keep people's attention when I tell the incredible stories of this amazing city. If you read the reviews about my tours you'll see the word "funny" in almost every review. I don't want to brag about humour but let me tell you this much I once made a group of Polish people laugh 😎. Last but not the least, The Guardian published an article about my tours. I use audio headsets during my tours so you won't miss anything even when we are walking and talking. Looking forward to meeting you! Haktan
Constantinople has been the crossroads of the world throughout the history where different ethnicities and creeds lived side by side. In that mosaic of cultures, Karaköy and Galata represented the western face of the city. Inhabited by predominantly Christians and Jews, these neighborhoods are still home to some of the most magnificent churches and synagogues of the city.
Being the center of Russian refugees who escaped to Istanbul in 1917, the area still has several Russian churches that you may never see unless someone takes you there :)
What is surprising though is the presence of Islamic places such as Galata Sufi Lodge (Dervish Convent) and Underground Mosque where Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) companions are buried! On the way we will visit Kılıç Ali Pasha Mosque, a masterpiece of architect Sinan.
Apart from religious diversity, the area is also known for its iconic buildings such as Galata Tower, Kamondo Stairs, our new 1.8 billion-dollar Galata Port and some mysterious masonic symbols...
During the tour we are going to talk not only about buildings that we will see but also buildings that mysteriously disappeared overnight!
On the way, I will show you many food points such as the best place to buy authentic Baklava, the most traditional Turkish Ice-cream or what Kokoreç is all about and etc etc...
Useful information for the traveler:
-No ticket is needed for any place we will enter.
-You may want to bring a scarf to enter the mosques.
-When the tour ends you will be able to pay the guru whatever you consider fair. Some will pay €10, others $50. It's up to you! (minimum contribution is €10 per person around the world.)
Looking forward to meeting you!
I will be in front of Murat Muhallebicisi which is very close to Karaköy Tram station. I will have a tour guide tag and an ORANGE UMBRELLA.
Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).
