Tour of Major Sights of Istanbul (entrance fee not included)

Posted By : csanc049
We heard about Metin from. Rick Steves forum where many visitors recommended Metin as a guide. He lived up to and surpassed all expectations. My wife and I were able to see many of Istanbul’s highlights efficiently and enjoyably over the course of 2 days. He drew up an itinerary tailored to our interests and kept us on schedule and helped us skip all the lines. We felt safe the entire time and he helped us navigate any language barriers at restaurants, sites, etc. We felt like friends and that we knew him for more than two days by the end of the tour with Metin.

He also coordinated with various transportation and tour companies in other cities in Turkey such as Cappadocia and Izmir so that we would picked up in a private transportation from the airport and have a private guide at all other destinations.

Highly recommended!
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Posted On : 2024-06-06 16:31:05

Posted By : Jephlee
2 days with Metin in Istanbul were perfect. We saw the essentials, with historical background. More importantly, I wanted a winding path through the city to see what it’s like to live here.

We spent time in less crowded areas, usually with no other tourists. We saw under appreciated, equally beautiful sites. Again, we were often the only ones there.

I heard just the sounds of the locals and the city, without the crowded tourist chatter.

It felt like I had a cousin in Istanbul to me around. Exactly what I came here for.

10/10 I recommend Metin.
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Posted On : 2024-06-03 02:57:43

Posted By : B1877NQvictoriac
As mentioned over & over again in these reviews, he’s friendly & extremely knowledgeable. Metin's knowledge of the city & its history & culture runs deep. An art & history nerd, I had told him what I was interested in when I first contacted him, & he did not disappoint. We, of course, hit the “biggies”, but as I listened to other guides sort of just ramble off stuff one could find in any tour book, Metin went into the details. He is also VERY good at pointing out the best places from which to get the best photos 😀

I spent two days with Metin. He is a kind person, funny, & flexible. He will tailor a tour to your interests. If you’re interested in buying souvenirs he knows the honest dealers. If not (like me) then he doesn’t question your decision. And he gives valuable information for your time away from him including how to use the metro, how to deal with taxi drivers, when to go places, where to eat, & what to avoid. And, since everyone in Istanbul seems to know him, there is no waiting in line!
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Posted On : 2024-05-24 08:37:06

Posted By : Wes M
I came to Istanbul in May 2024 with my wife and my parents. We researched guides and found Metin. Thank God we did. Of all the vacations I’ve been on, Metin is by far the best tour guide I’ve ever found. His knowledge of the Hagia Sophia was especially detailed. We got there early and he took us right to the best spot for pictures before the crowds showed up. Then he took us all over the best places to see. Metin was fantastic. He also had great recommendations for dinner and other things to see after we left him. If you are in Istanbul and want a great tour guide, look no further.
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Posted On : 2024-05-05 04:54:14

Posted By : cdurleytravels
Istanbul is a big city with a lot of history. You could read many books and watch many videos but nothing can replace time with someone like Metin, who both knows and loves the city and its history. What you are paying for is both the depth of his knowledge of the sites and also how to navigate through all the sites. On our own we probably would have been able to see only Hagia Sophia on our first day, as the lines were so long and we would have wandered through aimlessly. Metin had pre-purchased tickets so we entered right away and he led us through purposefully, pointing out the highlights and suggesting spots for photos. As well, we visited The Blue Mosque, the Basilica Cistern, the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Market, the Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent, and took the tram and helped us get a tram pass for the week ahead. All in one day!! It was worth every penny. Moreover, Metin is warm, personable and very easy to spend the day with.
Highly recommend!!
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Posted On : 2024-04-02 03:24:30

Posted By : KatiI87
Amazing day - we loved Metin! We’ve had many private tours in various cities and this one ranks at the top. Metin was the perfect guide who provided as much or little information as we requested. Highly recommend for any Istanbul tour!!
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Posted On : 2024-03-27 03:56:59

Posted By : pennyannte
Metin loves his city and feels it in his bones. He conveys it well with stories and history (and even tips on the best places to photograph . There are so many layers and nuances to Istanbul. This tour was a joy. And an eye opener.
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Posted On : 2024-03-24 11:32:11

Posted By : Jacquie_18
Metin was an awesome tour guide!! We were a group of 7 and he did a wonderful job showing us the highlights of Istanbul and provided very interesting information and spent the entire day with our group making sure we saw everything we wanted to! His knowledge, expertise and experience was evident throughout the day. He is so easy to be around and talk to I highly recommend him!!
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Posted On : 2023-11-13 17:55:44

Posted By : marksV2685BC
We were lucky enough to meet Metin outside of Hagia Sophia to begin the day and couldn’t be happier with the result. He led us in as one of the first visitors, took some fantastic pictures before it became crowed and then relayed the history of the church and now mosque and how it fit into the history of Istanbul. After Hagia Sophia he led us through several other sites like the Blue Mosque, Basillica Cistern, Suleymaniye Mosque, the spice market among others. It was a great experience.

Metin not only went above and beyond giving us suggestions for the following day but also helped my wife and I arrange tours and activities for two days in Cappadocia. Amazing.

We definitely recommend anyone visiting Istanbul to contact Metin. You won’t be disappointed. Look for Michigan hat!

Thank you Metin! You’re awesome!
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Posted On : 2023-11-10 07:12:11

Posted By : lauralW5693BC
We can only echo what others have said about Metin. Exceptional guide! He took us around Istanbul for the day and we were so so glad we had him. For us, he is the premier guide for Istanbul. He met us at the cruise terminal, showed us how to use the tram to Old Town, had a first spot in line to Hagia Sophia, and we visited the Basilica Cistern, the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Bazaar, and the Sultanahmet Mosque, then he helped us develop an itinerary for the second day we were in Istanbul. He is so knowledgeable, his English is excellent, and he was spot on with all his information and advice.
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Posted On : 2023-11-03 20:41:39