Istanbul Neighborhood Tour: Experience Local Life

Experience the real Istanbul on this afternoon walking tour. Explore the neighborhoods of Fener, Balat, Piere Lotti, and Golden Horn, and immerse yourself in the local lifestyle, from using public transport to sipping tea at local cafes.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Fener - Leave the main tourist precincts behind for an afternoon and explore the outer historic western area of Istanbul with the Istanbul. This tour will take you off the normal tourist trail and show you the former Greek and Jewish heritage, 18 & 20 century houses, Golden Horn and the rich Byzantine and Ottoman history that exists near the old city walls of Istanbul.

Visit colorful Ottoman houses which located by the Golden Horn and visit the neighborhood where Jews, Christians and Muslims lived together for centuries. Discover the residential neighborhoods of Istanbul and feel the culture on the streets.
Cruise down the Golden Horn; see the colorfully Ottoman houses near the UNESCO World Heritage precinct.

What's Included
  • Return tram tickets
  • Visit residential neighborhood to see local living
  • See colorful Ottoman houses in UNESCO World Heritage site
  • Licensed English-speaking guide
  • Entry to St. George Church
  • Entry to Bulgarian Church
  • Snacks
Additional Information

This tour takes you to neighborhoods far from the main tourist areas of the city, offering a genuine experience of Istanbul. On this afternoon walking tour, you’ll be introduced to the local lifestyle of Istanbul. We’ll begin by using the tram, then visit residential neighborhoods to see how locals live in this cosmopolitan city. We’ll relax at local cafes to sip cay tea and observe social interactions. We’ll also pass through local markets, bakeries, and tea houses. Additionally, we’ll learn about the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453.

Location
İtimat Fabrika Satış Yeri
Avrupa Yakası
Our meeting point is in front of the İtimat Fabrika Satış Mağazası which is a diary store located at the right side of the entry gate of the SPICE/EGYPTIAN MARKET ( Mısır Çarşısı in Turkish ) Please stay in front of the shop and our guide will come and find you.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(50 Ratings)
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Lucia_r
Jun 14, 2024
Istanbul Fener and Balat - We had a great experience with our guide Salih very relaxed and informative guide to to Fener and Balat made the day easy with tram tickets to and from and helped us with tram back to our ship The beautiful streets and colourful buildings and wonderful homemade lemonade at cafe was so refreshing Thankyou so much great experience
Review provided by Viator
Angela_r
Jun 9, 2024
Great tour and guide - Salih gave a wonderful tour of these neighborhoods with a lot of history. He gave great context for what we were seeing, and I learned a lot about this history of Istanbul. His English is excellent. Even though I was the only one booked for the tour, there was no cancellation so I had a private tour.
Review provided by Viator
Tina_c
Jun 5, 2024
Great experience and tour - It is a tour worth taking, very different from the old town. You get to meet and see the local people. The colorful steps and houses are very unique. The tour guide Omar is very knowledgeable about the history and area. I highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Albert_c
May 28, 2024
Great experience - This turned out to be an individual tour--just me and the guide. The guide was a very knowledgeable and personable guide. Excellent English, friendly, and outgoing. We wandered about the neighborhoods, up and down very steep and narrow streets. We also stopped at a Cristian church and the Iron Church. We had a snack at a rooftop restaurant. A very pleasant Sunday afternoon.
Review provided by Viator
Viv
May 26, 2024
Characteristic - You get there with t5 and then you walk, you go up. Some houses still need to be renovated but it feels like it will soon be perfect and its colorful houses are very cute. Excellent restaurants in the town, we went to the golden moon, an old museum transformed into a cafe. Cute but they are hateful. Rude so I didn't stop to eat and drink. There it is, full of tourists taking photos on the stairs
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carina
May 20, 2024
Recommended - I am lucky enough to get one for a trip, very nice guide. Plenty of time to look around and take pictures. Lovely neighborhood with a slightly slower pace
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pc0k
May 8, 2024
A lively neighborhood to see! - This district is away from the center but the new tramway provides easy access. There are trendy cafes but above all lots of colorful houses and interesting streets.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jeff_k
May 5, 2024
Off the beaten path… - Off the beaten path…very small group…entire experience was focused on a walk through two connected, historic neighborhoods that are a bit out of the way. Very knowledgeable guide…perfect English skills.
Review provided by Viator
Meghan_o
Apr 16, 2024
Not to be missed! - This tour was super cool and off the beaten path! It was great hitting the streets! Taking in the beautiful coloured houses and learning about the architectural changes over the years. Cute cats everywhere! Love the little cafe we stopped at. A real Turkish experience! Our guide was amazing and even came to find me when I got lost off the tram! Definitely recommended!!
Review provided by Viator
915enricas
May 7, 2024
a different aspect of the city - It was interesting even if the weather wasn't good, our guide, a very kind, cultured and pleasant person, explained the history of the Ottoman Empire and the diaspora between Greeks and Turks very well to us, we certainly learned many things that we didn't know
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 10 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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