Fernwayer’s Istanbul Tours

A city as ancient as time and as modern as now, Istanbul was first settled 9,000 years ago. Once Byzantium. Then Constantinople. Then the heart of the Ottoman Empire. For centuries, it stood at the crossroads of East and West — where emperors ruled, traders bartered, and entire civilizations left their mark. What a staggeringly layered place to be.

Travelers arrive here eager to check off landmarks and capture the most Instagram-worthy views. In Istanbul, you can’t draw people away from the monuments because they’re larger-than-life stories carved in stone. The Blue Mosque. Hagia Sophia. Topkapı Palace. The Basilica Cisterns. So we looked for experience makers who are storytellers: not the kind who recite from a script, but those who help you imagine the rise and fall of empires. Those who help visualize the many lives these spectacular places have lived. And as always, we also found less-frequented but truly extraordinary places and stories that deserve to be seen and shared.

One morning, you might accompany a master photographer to capture fishermen casting lines from the Galata Bridge at sunrise. Later, you’re in the Grand Bazaar, sipping tea with a textile expert who reads centuries in weaves and motifs, and tells you about the traders and their caravanserais. You cross from Europe to Asia — travel on foot, by ferry, by minibus — and taste migration in the dishes of Kadıköy. And you sit at a Meyhane table layered with mezze, surrounded by friends, strangers, families — and soak in the stories and joyfulness passed around with each sip of rakı.

The Human Edit

Need help planning your trip? A Fernwayer curator takes your preferences and designs a custom travel itinerary that works. This is human-led travel planning — by someone who understands the art of travel itinerary design — built around your dates and preferences. Each personalized itinerary uses Fernwayer experiences as anchors and complements them with recommendations for flights, hotels, restaurants, and self-explore ideas.

Book a Human Edit

City Tours

Uncover the layers of history with our private walking tours in Istanbul, Turkey. You’ll wander through the historic Sultanahmet district and capture Byzantine sites like the Hagia Sophia Museum Istanbul and the Basilica Cistern Istanbul that thrived when the city was known as Constantinople. Hear the stories of the Ottoman sultans who once roamed the Topkapi Palace and take in the 20,000 blue tiles that have helped nickname the Blue Mosque. History tours aside, you’ll get to follow in the footsteps of a photographer, watching dawn break over the Galata Bridge or capturing the hidden courtyards of Eminönü. These tours are an invitation to witness how this cosmopolitan city has been shaped over time, offering a profound understanding of its past and present. Discover unique places to see in Istanbul with us.

Ebru Marbling, Tezhip & Textile Dyeing

Step into the world of traditional Turkish crafts with our Istanbul art tours led by local experts. You’ll meet a master artisan skilled in Ebru to learn about the art of Turkish paper marbling, watching as the drops of color turn into a vibrant marble painting. Witness the magic of Ebru marbling, also known as Ebru paper marbling, a traditional Turkey painting technique. Learn about Tezhip, a Turkish Islamic art that was prominent during the Ottoman empire, using gold powder to create motifs similar to the ones that once embellished old manuscripts, design a shadow puppet with a master puppeteer, or try your hand at dying your own fabric using natural dyes. Explore the beauty of Ebru art and Ebru painting. At the Grand Bazaar, a textile expert will guide you through a series of family-run shops and explain the rich symbolisms woven into Turkish fabrics, or you can trace the historic Silk Route to Bursa, where the ancient art of silk production is still alive.

Wine Tasting and Food Tours

Savor traditional Turkish delicacies and learn how different cultures have influenced the local cuisine in our Istanbul food tours. Start the day with breakfast in the Grand Bazaar, adopting the morning routine of local merchants, or enjoy an evening in a Meyhane, sampling a variety of mezzes while you master the art of drinking raki. Each experience is designed to deepen your appreciation for Istanbul’s gastronomic heritage. Alternatively, you can dive into the world of Turkish wines with a wine expert who will introduce you to the country’s unique terroirs and the distinct profiles of indigenous grapes like Narince and Öküzgözü in a private wine tasting. Our tour guides in Istanbul, Turkey, will introduce you to the city like no one else can.

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Crafts Workshops in Istanbul | Food Tours in Istanbul | Photography Tours in Istanbul | History Tours in Istanbul | Wine Tasting Tours in Istanbul | Walking Tours in Istanbul