Walks In Istanbul

So much to do… so little time. Istanbul is a gorgeous city, where the East meets West and results in a multitude of colors, cultures and people… but conquering it within 48 hours is no mean challenge! Enter Walks in Istanbul. Our two day ‘Highlights of Istanbul’ tour with Walks in Istanbul and our guide Ebru was one of the best decisions we made during our short Istanbul trip.
Here’s the lowdown:
Ebru gave us a precise directions on where to meet and the meeting point was easy to find. She also communicated with us two days before confirming the itinerary and other details. Ebru has a fantastic sense of humor, is warm and a virtual powerhouse when it comes to Istanbul. We loved our time with her — she was patient when we wanted to take a dozen pictures in the same spot, but also managed to herd us along and made sure we stuck to our schedule.
We were a small of group of four and this was a really personalized tour, unlike being shepherded in a group of people on a shuttle or bus. We walked around Sultanahmet soaking in the sun and sights and took the tram/​train when we had to get from point A to B. All this added to our experience of getting to know the city intimately and get a local flavor.
On Day 1 of the tour we started with the Hippodrome and then visited the Ayasofya, followed by the Underground Cistern. After lunch we did the Bosphorus cruise and the Spice Bazaar. Day 2 was reserved for the Blue Mosque, the Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar.
My favorite parts of the tour with our guide were the Ayasofya, the Cistern, lunch at Hamdi restaurant and the Blue Mosque of course.
Observations and comments:
* We were given enough time to soak in both the Ayasofya and the Basilica Cistern and loved every minute of it.
* The Blue Mosque felt a tad rushed (barely 15 minutes) and would have liked some more time to soak in the brilliance of this splendid piece of history.
* Topkapi palace IMHO could have been a shorter visit — I felt dedicating 5 hours to it was a bit too much… I understand it’s an important pit stop, but I would have liked Ebru’s expertise a bit more to navigate the complicated labyrinth of the Grand Bazaar.
* At the end of each day Ebru left us at one bazaar — 1^st day the tour ended at the Spice Bazaar & the next day at the Grand Bazaar. After giving tips and tricks to navigate both, most guides leave you to do your own thing. If you want more of their time or have specific questions — ask or make a list beforehand so you can maximize within the given time.
* Lunch at Hamdi restaurant on Day 1 was excellent — the food, service and views were all beyond par. It was a great choice for vegetarians as well.
* With a lot of other walking tour companies the entrance fee to major attractions and lunch is included. With Walks in Istanbul it’s not.
To sum up, none of this detracted us from enjoying or getting the complete essence of Istanbul’s major highlights.
While I was debating on which tour company to choose, I did email a few other before picking this one. Arzu, the owner and proprietor of this company was always prompt to respond and infinitely patient with all the hundred questions we had… she also sent in a detailed helpful list of ‘Useful Hints to the City’ and these small details went a long way. Splendid experience over all.