A private day through Dolmabahce Palace, the old neighbourhoods of Fener, Balat, and the Byzantine mosaics of Kariye Mosque (Chora Church). Two empires, one city.
Your guide and private driver meet you at your hotel. Today crosses two empires: the last palace of the Ottomans and the Byzantine treasures of the old city walls.
Walk through the grand gates of the last Ottoman palace. Crystal chandeliers, gilded ceilings and the sweeping Bosphorus views that the sultans chose as their modern seat of power.
Stroll the pastel streets of Istanbul's old Greek, Armenian and Jewish neighbourhoods. Balat and Fener are quiet, residential, and full of the city's layered history, stone churches, wooden houses and corner bakeries.
Step inside one of the finest Byzantine monuments in the city. The mosaics and frescoes of the Chora tell the story of Christ and the Virgin in gold, blue and deep red, hidden inside a centuries-old mosque.
Your driver returns you to your hotel, or you can stay in the area for an early dinner with a list of our favourite local spots.
A full day tracing the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn and the old city walls, with private transfers between every stop.
This tour is for travelers who want more than the obvious highlights. You move slowly from the grandeur of the Ottoman court to the intimate streets of old Istanbul and the quiet masterpieces of the Byzantine era.
Hotel pickup and drop-off included. A private day crossing two empires with your own licensed guide.
Book this experience
Pick your date, guests and any add ons in the booking panel, then check out when you're ready.
Risk-free booking. Full refund within 48 hours of your experience, minus card processing fees.
"Koray is a master of history! Every date! Every Sultan! His wealth of knowledge is impressive but equally inspiring is his love for this city. He represents this bustling beautiful city with passion and kindness. He was generous with his time. A genuinely nice guy!"
"Came across Brit and Berat while doing research on Istanbul. Lots of informative posts on Facebook and YouTube. Decided to use their airport transfer services. Their representative was waiting as promised, gave me useful tips, and took me to a nicely customized Mercedes van. Flawless service. No complaints at all. Recommend them highly."
"Our tour was great! Well informed and super safe. The group was thoroughly brought through all of the hot spots in Istanbul with information at every stop. Lots of fun! It lasted roughly four hours. We didn't need the van for our group so the company gave us a free shuttle to the airport, which was super considerate and generous!"
"Booking with Brit and Berat was the best decision we made in planning our trip to Istanbul. They made it so easy. They planned out 4 full days of activities, including transportation. They are always just a text away. I had such a positive experience that I'm going to be returning to Turkey and booking new adventures through Brit And Berat. World class operators in a world class city."
"My family and I had an excellent experience with Brit and Berat and would highly recommend them. Communication was easy, professional, and incredibly accommodating. One of the highlights was our guide, Yakup. He was exceptionally knowledgeable and never rushed us. It felt less like a scripted tour and more like exploring Istanbul with a knowledgeable friend."
"We recently spent three nights in Istanbul and put ourselves almost completely in Brit & Berat's hands. From airport transfers to guided tours, they helped make our experience easy and memorable. Their drivers were friendly and efficient, with clean, comfortable vehicles always stocked with cold water. We highly recommend letting Brit & Berat help make your trip to Istanbul unforgettable."
"Brit and Berat tours are PERFECT! As a first time to Turkey visitor, I needed someone else to be the expert. Koray was our guide and the shuttle pick up was seamless. He taught us so much about Old Town and Turkey, but moreover he was chill and someone I would like to be friends with. These guys are a class act - it will be the best part of Istanbul for you!"
"If you are visiting Istanbul, you must reach out to Brit and Berat. It was an amazing experience working with them. Our tour guide Koray is a great asset to their team. This visit was educational, relaxing, and memorable. We are so thankful we found Brit and Berat. They are truly experts and I highly recommend."
"We booked a private customized tour with a guide and had a marvelous day with Brit & Berat tours. From the pick up to the drop off everything is handled with care with total focus to the clients' requests. First class from beginning to end. Our guide Mr. Koray was the best, very knowledgeable and easy going with a lovely sense of humor."
"Our day with Jacob could not have gone better. We explored the Hagia Sophia, the Roman Cistern, the Blue Mosque and did a little shopping. Jacob was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable and answered all our questions. He went out of his way to point out things we might have missed. You cannot go wrong booking with Brit and Berat."
"We were introduced to Brit And Berat's service through an Instagram post. They were accommodating and sent a wonderful tour guide, Koray, and a great driver. Our experience was above and beyond. The bonus was an end-of-day visit with Berat, who made sure everything we wanted to do had been accomplished and then shared his favorite rooftop view of Istanbul."
"Excellent communications from start to finish. Immaculately clean vehicles and responsible drivers made our journey pleasant. I highly recommend Brit and Berat for your transportation needs. While we were unable to reserve any tours because of our previously planned itinerary, I would not hesitate to use them if I ever get back to Istanbul!"
"I can not express enough how highly I recommend the services offered by Brit & Berat. Especially for those 1st & 2nd time visitors to Turkey. If you've ever questioned whether or not you should visit Turkey for unfamiliarity reasons, put all that to rest and just contact Brit & Berat."
"Koray is a master of history! Every date! Every Sultan! His wealth of knowledge is impressive but equally inspiring is his love for this city. He represents this bustling beautiful city with passion and kindness. He was generous with his time. A genuinely nice guy!"
"Came across Brit and Berat while doing research on Istanbul. Lots of informative posts on Facebook and YouTube. Decided to use their airport transfer services. Their representative was waiting as promised, gave me useful tips, and took me to a nicely customized Mercedes van. Flawless service. No complaints at all. Recommend them highly."
"Our tour was great! Well informed and super safe. The group was thoroughly brought through all of the hot spots in Istanbul with information at every stop. Lots of fun! It lasted roughly four hours. We didn't need the van for our group so the company gave us a free shuttle to the airport, which was super considerate and generous!"
"Booking with Brit and Berat was the best decision we made in planning our trip to Istanbul. They made it so easy. They planned out 4 full days of activities, including transportation. They are always just a text away. I had such a positive experience that I'm going to be returning to Turkey and booking new adventures through Brit And Berat. World class operators in a world class city."
"My family and I had an excellent experience with Brit and Berat and would highly recommend them. Communication was easy, professional, and incredibly accommodating. One of the highlights was our guide, Yakup. He was exceptionally knowledgeable and never rushed us. It felt less like a scripted tour and more like exploring Istanbul with a knowledgeable friend."
"We recently spent three nights in Istanbul and put ourselves almost completely in Brit & Berat's hands. From airport transfers to guided tours, they helped make our experience easy and memorable. Their drivers were friendly and efficient, with clean, comfortable vehicles always stocked with cold water. We highly recommend letting Brit & Berat help make your trip to Istanbul unforgettable."
"Brit and Berat tours are PERFECT! As a first time to Turkey visitor, I needed someone else to be the expert. Koray was our guide and the shuttle pick up was seamless. He taught us so much about Old Town and Turkey, but moreover he was chill and someone I would like to be friends with. These guys are a class act - it will be the best part of Istanbul for you!"
"If you are visiting Istanbul, you must reach out to Brit and Berat. It was an amazing experience working with them. Our tour guide Koray is a great asset to their team. This visit was educational, relaxing, and memorable. We are so thankful we found Brit and Berat. They are truly experts and I highly recommend."
"We booked a private customized tour with a guide and had a marvelous day with Brit & Berat tours. From the pick up to the drop off everything is handled with care with total focus to the clients' requests. First class from beginning to end. Our guide Mr. Koray was the best, very knowledgeable and easy going with a lovely sense of humor."
"Our day with Jacob could not have gone better. We explored the Hagia Sophia, the Roman Cistern, the Blue Mosque and did a little shopping. Jacob was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable and answered all our questions. He went out of his way to point out things we might have missed. You cannot go wrong booking with Brit and Berat."
"We were introduced to Brit And Berat's service through an Instagram post. They were accommodating and sent a wonderful tour guide, Koray, and a great driver. Our experience was above and beyond. The bonus was an end-of-day visit with Berat, who made sure everything we wanted to do had been accomplished and then shared his favorite rooftop view of Istanbul."
"Excellent communications from start to finish. Immaculately clean vehicles and responsible drivers made our journey pleasant. I highly recommend Brit and Berat for your transportation needs. While we were unable to reserve any tours because of our previously planned itinerary, I would not hesitate to use them if I ever get back to Istanbul!"
"I can not express enough how highly I recommend the services offered by Brit & Berat. Especially for those 1st & 2nd time visitors to Turkey. If you've ever questioned whether or not you should visit Turkey for unfamiliarity reasons, put all that to rest and just contact Brit & Berat."
This tour typically runs 4 to 7 hours. We keep it flexible: some guests want a full day, others prefer a shorter pace with a long lunch break.
There is moderate walking at Dolmabahce Palace and through the Balat and Fener streets. We keep a relaxed pace, but comfortable shoes are essential.
Skip-the-line tickets are secured in advance, but the actual entrance fees are not included and must be paid on the day. Your guide handles the logistics so you can focus on the visit.
Yes. The tour is private and the pacing is tailored to your group. We can add more stops, shorten the day, or pause whenever you need.
Comfortable walking shoes and modest clothing. Kariye Mosque is an active place of worship, so shoulders and knees should be covered. Women may need a headscarf.
Yes. We can arrange pickup from anywhere in central Istanbul, including Kadıköy, Beşiktaş, Karaköy or the Galataport cruise terminal, for an adjusted transfer fee.
Brit is American and remembers exactly what it feels like to plan a first trip to Istanbul. Berat was born and raised here and knows the city inside and out. Together, we help travelers explore Istanbul safely, comfortably, and with a local they can trust.
From our guests
