Istanbul, told your way.
For more than a decade İsrafil has guided travellers through Istanbul’s caravanserais, mosques and museums. On a private day, the route, the pace and the stories are shaped entirely around your interests.
A day of your own, in three steps.
1 · Get in touch
Share your dates, group and interests via Instagram or the contact form.
2 · Receive a plan
İsrafil suggests a route, duration and price that fit you, and you fine-tune it together.
3 · Explore
Explore the city with a licensed guide who points out the details crowds walk past.
Build your day around these.
These are only starting points. Pick one, combine a few, or ask for something entirely different.
ClassicsHeart of the Old City
Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome and the layers from Byzantium to the Ottomans.
BazaarsBazaars & hans
The Grand Bazaar, the courtyards of historic hans and the scents of the Spice Bazaar.
CarpetsCarpets in museums
Read centuries-old masterpieces at the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts and the Carpet Museum.
ArchitectureOttoman masterpieces
The proportions of the Süleymaniye and the İznik tiles of Rüstem Pasha.
ViewsGolden Horn & Bosphorus
Ferry rides, Galata and a skyline spread across two continents.
SignatureAdd the caravanserai experience
Round off your day with live weaving and motif reading.
A guide with a teacher’s eye.
- Licensed professional tour guide in Istanbul, with more than ten years’ experience
- Fifteen years as a teacher: complex stories told clearly and memorably
- Independent researcher preparing for a PhD in the philosophy of art
- Local tips guests love: tourist-free lunch spots and the best ice cream
About private tours
How long is a private tour?
That’s up to you. It can be planned as anything from a short half-day walk to a full day, at a pace that suits your group.
How is the price set?
Pricing depends on duration, group size and route. Get in touch and you’ll receive a clear quote. Museum entrance fees are usually not included.
Can I combine it with the carpet experience?
Yes. The caravanserai experience fits naturally into an Old City day, since the meeting point is already in Sultanahmet.
