Hello, my name is Serhat Engul, and I organize private tours in Istanbul with a strong focus on the city’s layered history and everyday life.I have been part of Istanbul’s tourism world since the early 2000s. After working for many years in some of the city’s long-established hotels, I started working as a full-time licensed tour guide in 2013. My guiding license, however, goes … [Read more...] about Private Tours in Istanbul by Serhat Engul (Istanbul Clues)
Istanbul City Tours
Beyoğlu Walking Tour (Karaköy, Galata, Taksim) 2026
The Beyoğlu Walking Tour is where Istanbul’s story visibly shifts from an imperial Ottoman capital to a modern, outward-looking city. This private walking tour explores that transformation through architecture, streets, and everyday life — not as a checklist, but as a clear historical narrative. My name is Serhat Engül, a licensed professional tour guide in Istanbul for … [Read more...] about Beyoğlu Walking Tour (Karaköy, Galata, Taksim) 2026
Byzantine Istanbul Tour (with Private Guide) | 2026 Update
The Byzantine Istanbul Tour offers a layered, time-travelling experience through the thousand-year story of Constantinople—capital of the Eastern Roman Empire and one of the most influential cities in world history. From the age of Constantine to the reign of Justinian, the city witnessed monumental construction, theological debates, imperial intrigues, devastating riots, and … [Read more...] about Byzantine Istanbul Tour (with Private Guide) | 2026 Update
Fener & Balat Private Tour (with Licensed Guide) 2026
The Fener Balat Walking Tour takes you through two of the most characterful neighborhoods on the Golden Horn—full of centuries-old churches, mosques, synagogues, and pastel-colored houses that have recently become Instagram icons. These districts once hosted Istanbul’s Greek Orthodox and Jewish communities, and today they still reflect the multicultural life of the city from … [Read more...] about Fener & Balat Private Tour (with Licensed Guide) 2026
10 Best Half-Day Tour Options in Istanbul (2026 Update)
Hello, I’m Serhat Engul — a licensed local tour guide who has been actively working in Istanbul’s tourism sector for more than two decades. I started my career in the early 2000s, first in hotels and later as a full-time guide. Like many guides of my generation, I initially followed the industry norm of full-day sightseeing tours. Over the years, however, both Istanbul and … [Read more...] about 10 Best Half-Day Tour Options in Istanbul (2026 Update)