It was a great introduction to Istanbul old city and I would highly recommend this tour to any one going there, esp if it’s your first time.
I found Turkish tours and Co through Google search and contacted them because of their reviews and the price was slightly lower than some others.
It is a private tour and the guide collects you from the hotel. We had Erkan as our guide who was very knowledgeable, helpful and friendly.
We covered all the sites mentioned on their tour and because blue mosque is undergoing renovation, went to Eyup Sultan museum which was really beautiful.
Erkan thoroughly covered Ottoman Empire history relevant to the sites and modernisation of turkey since the sultan was exiled after WWI.
It’s easy to just turn up to these sites using Google map but without someone explaining the context, background and pointing out the nuances, you wouldn’t appreciate the landmarks for what they are. For example, I realised there is a strong influence of women in Ottoman Empire history from respecting mother Mary in mosques to the queen mothers’ influence on the empire.
I also found out that the tour guides have all done a university course for 4 years before they get their license.
Erkan chose the right time to go to Hagia Sophia when the queue was at its lowest and was queueing for us whilst we went to get pics of blue mosque from an optimal angle. Guides can also bypass queues at Topkapi palace so we didn’t have to wait to get the tickets. I was with my elderly mum so not having to stand in lines was much appreciated.
We stopped at a tea place and a restaurant for lunch, this was as recommended by Erkan, and the food was good but if you prefer healthier options, let your guide know.
We stopped at an artisan boutique sweets and spices shop after lunch which is like the Waitrose of Istanbul. I really enjoyed the experience as the explanation of the products was very good, service was exemplary and the quality of the products seemed very good. I also spent £290 on sweets, tea and scarves (!) so if you don’t fancy buying anything, ask to skip the shop or have better self control! I would def recommend buying Turkish delight at this (Sirvani) shop though because they make it themselves and the quality is excellent.
The tour lasted 7-8 hours and we finished it with Eyup Sultan mosque. The day wasn’t hurried and we had loads of time to talk about each site, ask questions, and appreciate the history. It was prayer time at the last mosque so we were lucky enough to witness that and get some spiritual peace listening to the Imam (we aren’t of Islamic faith). Erkan explained the 6 commandments of Islam which was an eye opener.
We also loved talking to Erkan about the Turkish culture, current state of affairs and political atmosphere. He was very candid about religion, politics and the economy which is very refreshing and a unique feature to this day.
Thank you for a lovely day!
Tips:
Comfortable shoes, and dress for the weather.
Make sure you’ve had a hearty breakfast before setting off.
Take your curiosity to learn about another culture with you, 🙂