Mahmut Sart

Professional guide.

I have been a professional guide in Turkey since 2006. I was born and raised in Turkey, but I am very interested in the connection of European and Russian culture with the East and Turkey. I studied in Moscow at RSUH, I have a master's degree. And here in Istanbul, I'm glad to have the opportunity to show you the city from the most unusual angles. We will follow the footsteps of great cultures.

In Turkey, very strict legislation and tours are only allowed by licensed guides. With me you will not only be interesting, but also calm. I have all the legal rights to tour.

Tourists often come for a short time of 1-3 days and in this case it is very important not to waste time organizing excursions, buying tickets. All of this I can easily solve.

Istanbul is a complex city with a multi-layered culture and at the same time a typical rhythm of life of a modern metropolis. Therefore, even for an experienced tourist, it is difficult to explore the city yourself and not miss its most interesting corners. With me, you can see all the most important things in a short time and not only. We will penetrate into the remote and non-tourist corners of the city with its distinctive culture and traditions.

I will introduce you to the soul of our city, and you will have unforgettable impressions of the trip.

I am guided by your wishes for the tour and together we can form an individual program.

I will answer all your questions that you can ask me at any time in WatsApp, Viber, by email.

I am always looking forward to seeing you in Istanbul and I look forward to seeing you!

Istanbul in 5 hours! Daily excursion

Walk to the heart of Istanbul. Istanbul stands at the crossroads of roads from Europe to Asia, and since ancient times the city has been a place of mixing historical events and influenced by opposite cultures. On our walking, one-day excursion you will see the most interesting monuments of the Eternal City. You can find traces of the ancient Greeks and Romans with their mysterious myths. You are waiting for the Christian flowering of Byzantium. We will talk about the secrets of the rule of the sultans, get acquainted with the relics of the Great Ottoman Empire. And you can remember the classic detective literature at the Orient Express station, which has retained its atmospheric appearance since the time of Agatha Christie. Our walk would be incomplete without tasting Turkish cuisine. We are waiting for lunch, consisting of local cuisine and, of course, sweets, as well as tasting Turkish coffee. The East is famous for its bazaars. We will visit the Grand Bazaar, whose radiant wealth makes us remember the treasures of Ali Baba. And pass through the ranks of the Egyptian bazaar, famous for its spices.

What awaits you?

• Hippodrome: We will start our walk in one of the oldest corners of Istanbul, Hippodrome Square. Here you will find unique artifacts from Asia and Europe with a thousand-year history. You will see three ancient obelisks and one monument of true European culture. We will walk to the 16th century palace, to the house of Ibrahim Pasha. You will explore the outer part of the palace and learn about its amazing history from ancient times to the present day. Leaving the Square, we can enjoy the exterior of the Blue Mosque. It is difficult to appreciate the architectural significance of this Islamic temple, built in the early 17th century. In the construction of the temple were used unique varieties of marble, and even precious stones.
• Blue Mosque (inside, Friday outside) We will admire the work of another architectural art - both outside and inside. On the example of a mosque you will consider the features of Byzantine and Ottoman styles. And you will learn about the richest decoration of the monument of the 17th century.
• St. Sophia (outside) We will explore the Hagia Sophia Cathedral from the outside without visiting the temple. Let us talk about the history of ancient Byzantium and its connection with Russian Orthodoxy.
• Basilica Cistern (inside) At the end of our tour we will descend into the amazing world of underground tanks. These buildings are perhaps the most mystical sight of the city. Half-darkness, illumination of carved columns, the head of a jellyfish - all this is amazing.

The history of buildings goes back centuries. And the decoration of underground tanks with their carved columns and elegant capitals, made in various styles, is a real work of art.

• Grand Bazaar: We will visit the whole city of rich Eastern trade - the Grand Bazaar. Kapala Charshi (covered bazaar) has about 60 streets with hotels, fountains and mosques. Merchants offer their best products here and are always ready to bargain and argue, and you will want to buy truly unusual things. Sometimes it seems that this is where you can find a real magic lamp with Gene.
• Süleymaniye Mosque and Shrine of Hürrem Sultan (inside):

This is the mosque in which the famous Sultan Suleiman and his wife of Slavic origin, Roksolana, are buried. The mosque itself is a masterpiece of 16th century architecture. And the romantic story of the Great Love of the Great Sultan makes her visit simply unforgettable.

Take a break for lunch in an atmospheric local restaurant, you can taste the famous dishes of local cuisine. After restoring our strength, we will explore the labyrinths of the ancient Egyptian bazaar.

• This market is located in the heart of Istanbul, and originally it was sold spices. Walking through the market, which has more than a hundred shops, we will breathe in the amazing aroma of oriental spices. Here you can not only walk, but also buy Turkish sweets, fragrant tea, coffee, various oriental spices.
• Orient Express Station: Here is the final stop of the luxury train, the Orient Express. This train was described by Agatha Christie in her novel The Orient Express. Visiting the station makes us forget what time we are. Perfectly complement the impression of a cup of fragrant oriental coffee in an authentic cafe of the station, photos that are hung inside, will help you plunge into the era of that time and feel the atmosphere of a luxury train.

This is where our tour ends before we meet again in Istanbul!!!

The tour takes place every day, from 9:00-14:00

Meeting place: Meet McDonalds Sultanahmet (100 meters from Sultanahmet blue Mosque tram station) 1001 Direk Mah, Divan Yolu Cd. No:15, 03400 Fatih/Istanbul

The cost of the excursion per person is 39 euros.

The cost of the tour includes only guide services and headphones

Type of excursion - walking

The duration of the tour is 5 hours.

Additional costs per person:

• Entrance ticket to the reservoir 800 lira
• Lunch, tea, coffee 300 lira (optional)
• The entrance to Suleiman's tomb is closed on Mondays.
• To enter the mosque, you must have a headscarf and closed hand clothes.
• Grand Bazaar closed on Sunday