Some tours are remembered for their landmarks. Others stay with you because of the conversations, unexpected meetings, shared meals, and small moments between the main attractions. David and Simone’s time in Istanbul became both.
They booked two private experiences through Gate to Türkiye: a Classical Old City Tour followed by an Armenian Heritage Tour. After those two days, we met once more for dinner. As their guide, I had the pleasure of seeing their Istanbul experience unfold through history, living communities, food, music, and everyday encounters.
Day One: Walking into the Old City
At 10:00 a.m., I met David and Simone at the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus. The morning began at an easy pace, which gave us the chance to start talking and settle into the day before reaching the main historical sites.
From the hotel, we walked toward Istanbul’s Historical Peninsula. I enjoy beginning a tour on foot whenever possible. It allows the city to appear gradually, rather than all at once, and gives guests a chance to experience the streets between the famous landmarks.
Before reaching any monument, we came across a few cats. We stopped to pet them, and this small encounter immediately made the morning feel more relaxed and local. In Istanbul, even an ordinary walk can turn into a memorable moment.
As we continued toward the Egyptian Bazaar, also known as the Spice Market, we saw Burak Plakay, one of our guides. We stopped to say hello, and after this brief meeting, we continued on toward the market.
Inside the Spice Market, we moved through one of the city’s historic centers of trade before making our way toward the tram. The market created a lively transition between our walk through the older neighborhoods and the monuments waiting for us in Sultanahmet.
At the Sirkeci Tram Station, we boarded the tram toward Sultanahmet. I always enjoy this part of the route because it gives visitors a glimpse of how Istanbul’s historic districts remain part of the city’s everyday life.
We got off in the Sultanahmet area and began at Sultanahmet Square, the site of the ancient Hippodrome. Standing in the middle of the square, we were surrounded by layers of Istanbul’s past, and it felt like the right place to begin our exploration of the Old City.
Our next stop was the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, better known as the Blue Mosque. The mosque brought a different atmosphere to the day, and I enjoyed watching David and Simone take in the space and its details at their own pace.
We then visited Nakkaş Rug. This was a chance to look at one of Anatolia’s living artistic traditions while remaining within the historic setting of Sultanahmet. I always appreciate moments like this, when history is not only something we talk about but something people continue to practice.
Beneath Nakkaş Rug, we saw the Nakilbent Cistern. Moving from the bright streets above into the quieter space below gave the day a completely different feeling. Istanbul often reveals its history in unexpected places, sometimes directly beneath an ordinary-looking building.
By then, we were beginning to feel hungry, so we went to Galeyan Restaurant. Sitting down for a meal gave us time to rest, continue our conversations, and enjoy the hospitality of the Historic Peninsula. It was a welcome pause before returning to the monuments.
After the meal, we continued to Hagia Sophia. Its presence brought together many of the themes we had been discussing throughout the day: empires, religions, architecture, and the many communities that have shaped Istanbul. It was one of the places where the scale of the city’s history felt especially powerful.
Our final major stop of the day was the Basilica Cistern. The cool, quiet atmosphere below the city provided a beautiful contrast to the movement and noise of the streets above. By the time we left, the first day had become a full introduction to Istanbul’s historic heart.
Day Two: Following Istanbul’s Armenian Heritage
The following day was dedicated to Istanbul’s Armenian heritage. Because the route connected several different neighborhoods, we set out with our driver. Having a vehicle made it possible to follow the story across the city without losing time between the sites.
Our first destination was Surp Kevork Armenian Church, also known as Sulu Manastır, in Samatya. The site is connected with the early patriarchal presence of Istanbul’s Armenian community, and it gave the day an important starting point. I felt that the tour had moved beyond simply visiting churches; we were beginning to trace the history of a living community.
We also visited the Sulu Manastır Ayazması. The ayazma added another dimension to the church complex and made the religious history of the place feel more tangible. These smaller spaces often create some of the most intimate moments on a heritage tour.
Outside the church, we met several local Armenians in the Samatya neighborhood. We had a short conversation with them, and they tried speaking with David in Armenian. The exchange worked well, and it was one of the most memorable moments of the day because the history we had been discussing suddenly became a real human interaction in the neighborhood.
We then continued to Surp Tateos–Surp Partoğomeos Armenian Church in Yenikapı. The church was another important part of the route, but the people we met there made the visit especially meaningful.
At Surp Tateos–Surp Partoğomeos, we met Süleyman and Hanuş, a local Armenian family who cares for the church. They welcomed us, showed us around, and shared the church with us. Meeting people who personally look after these places gave the visit a warmth that no written description could replace.
After saying goodbye to Süleyman and Hanuş, we continued toward the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople in Kumkapı. Arriving there helped us connect the earlier history of the Armenian community with its continuing institutional presence in Istanbul today.
At the patriarchate, we visited the Surp Asdvadzadzin Patriarchal Church. The church gave us time to reflect on the continuity of Armenian religious life in the city, and I was pleased that David and Simone were able to experience this part of Istanbul in such a direct way.
From Kumkapı, we headed toward Hocapaşa Sokak, a lively restaurant street near Sirkeci. After a morning focused on churches and community history, moving toward food felt natural. Cuisine was also part of the cultural story we were following.
We stopped at Şehzade Erzurum Cağ Kebapçısı to try Erzurum cağ kebab. For me, the dish reflects the shared culinary traditions of Armenians and Turks in Anatolia. It was a simple but meaningful way to continue the conversations we had been having about cultural connections and everyday life.
Our next destination was the Grand Bazaar. We came there to see Armenian-owned businesses and the continuing presence of Armenian merchants in one of Istanbul’s most famous commercial spaces. I enjoyed showing David and Simone this less formal side of heritage—the places where history continues through work, trade, and family businesses.
After the Grand Bazaar, we returned to the Spice Market. David and Simone did some shopping at an Armenian-owned shop, adding another personal encounter to a day that had already connected churches, neighborhoods, commerce, and food.
Our driver then picked us up and took us to Fener. The change of neighborhood also changed the historical focus of the afternoon, bringing us into one of Istanbul’s most important Greek Orthodox areas.
In Fener, we visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, which includes the Patriarchal Church of St. George, known locally as Aya Yorgi. The site remains one of the most significant religious landmarks in Istanbul, and visiting it offered a wider view of the city’s Christian heritage and the continuing presence of the Greek Orthodox community.
From Fener, we continued to Balat. I always enjoy the movement between Fener and Balat because the neighborhoods carry so many different memories of Istanbul’s communities within a relatively small area.
In Balat, we visited Surp Hreşdagabed Armenian Church. The church brought us back to the Armenian story after our visit to the Greek Patriarchate, and it felt like a fitting continuation of the route through the Golden Horn neighborhoods.
By the end of the day, we had made our way back to Karaköy. We saw the Armenian church there from the outside and stopped to take some photographs. Even without entering, the exterior gave us one final visual reminder of the Armenian presence in the historic Galata area.
The church was Surp Krikor Lusavoriç Armenian Church. Seeing it at the end of such a wide-ranging day felt appropriate: we had started in Samatya, crossed through Yenikapı and Kumkapı, visited the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market, continued to Fener and Balat, and finally reached Karaköy.
Afterwards, we returned to the hotel. It had been a long day, but it was also one of the most rewarding Armenian heritage routes I have guided in Istanbul because of the people we met along the way.
Day Three: An Evening in Beyoğlu
The following evening, we met again at 6:30 p.m. This time, there was no formal sightseeing plan. We simply wanted to spend another evening together and share a meal.
We walked toward Tünel, at the beginning of İstiklal Street. The walk gave us another opportunity to continue the conversations from the Armenian Heritage Tour, this time in a more relaxed evening atmosphere.
From Tünel, we continued along İstiklal Street. As we walked, we talked more about the similarities between Turkish and Armenian cuisine and the Armenian community in nineteenth-century Istanbul. These conversations were one of the most enjoyable parts of our time together because they connected the places we had visited with broader questions of culture, memory, and everyday life.
We eventually arrived at Çiçek Pasajı. We sat down for seafood and enjoyed an evening surrounded by the atmosphere of Istanbul’s meyhane culture. After two full days of touring, it felt good to slow down and simply enjoy the city together.
At one point, a musician came to our table and began playing Barış Manço songs. Barış Manço was one of David’s favorites, and he already knew “Domates, Biber, Patlıcan.” That moment brought the whole evening to life. We laughed, listened to the music, and had a great deal of fun together.
After dinner, we walked toward Taksim Square. The evening was coming to an end, but the walk gave us a little more time to talk before saying goodbye.
From Taksim Square, we took a taxi back to the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus. That was the end of our time together in Istanbul, although by then the experience felt like more than a completed itinerary.
Guiding David and Simone through Gate to Türkiye was a pleasure. Their visit reminded me that a private tour is not only about the destinations themselves. It is also about conversations, shared meals, unexpected meetings, music, and the connections that continue after the sightseeing is over.
I hope we will see David and Simone again somewhere in Türkiye—or perhaps in another part of the world.
If you would like to experience Istanbul through its history, communities, food, and living traditions, Get in touch with us at Gate to Türkiye.
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