(since 2011): the original “The Other Tour” is our flagship day in Istanbul, designed to explore lesser-visited neighborhoods and connect with local life.
“The Other Tour” is now also the name for the full operation behind theothertour.com—the overall identity for everything we do in Istanbul and across Türkiye.
The Other Tour is a team of professionals led by Fethi Karatas, who collaborates with travel agencies, tour guides, tourism companies, institutions, and NGOs to offer travelers unique experiences in Istanbul and across Türkiye.
Today, “The Other Tour” is also the name we use for theothertour.com and the full range of services we provide—private guiding, tailor-made itineraries, themed experiences, and collaborations beyond Istanbul. In other words, the brand has grown into an umbrella for everything we do.
Originally, however, The Other Tour was (and still is) the name of our centerpiece Istanbul itinerary, which has been running since 2011. This signature day is designed to explore Istanbul through its human side—going beyond the well-trodden historic core and into untraveled neighborhoods, where daily life is the main attraction.
Depending on the group and the day, this itinerary can include experiences such as:
Lunch at a local home, sharing a meal and conversation rather than just “trying Turkish food”
A school visit (when appropriate and feasible), offering a grounded look at local community life
Board games and time spent in neighborhood hangouts to slow down and connect
A traditional Turkish bath session for those who want a deeper cultural ritual, not a tourist shortcut
And, to close the day, dinner with fasıl at Galata Meyhanesi, bringing Istanbul’s meyhane culture to life with live music and shared tables
Over the years, that original Istanbul “Other Tour” became the philosophy behind everything else we offer: travel centered on people, stories, and everyday realities—curated with care, but never staged.
The Other Tour of Istanbul is a unique and alternative tour experience that takes visitors off the beaten path to explore the lesser-known, yet fantastic neighborhoods and hidden gems of Istanbul.
The Other Tour is led by knowledgeable and friendly guides who are passionate about showcasing the local culture, food, and history of Istanbul in a fun and engaging way.
The Other Tour offers a refreshing and authentic travel experience for those looking to discover the city beyond the usual tourist spots.
We love Istanbul and we think she’s way too important of a city to glance over – she deserves better than that.
The Other Tour is not a tour. It is a detour. A detour from mainstream tourism. It is a great detour from the touristic sights of the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace etc., allowing you to immerse yourself for a short while into the Turkish way of life.
We set out to experience a special day in life with a simple goal in mind: experiencing the real Istanbul.
Since early 2011, we have had thousands of participants from all across the planet who seek to catch a glimpse into the local culture and cuisine.
It is a unique tour like no other, offering a fresh look into Istanbul that prioritizes people and culture over historic monuments and museums.
The Other Tour offers an immersive, full-day adventure in Istanbul, featuring hidden gems and unique activities like Bosphorus cruising, authentic home-cooked lunches, interactive school visits and much more.
The Other Tour always starts at 9am from a pre-determined starting point, usually your hotel. We hit the road and drive up north by the Bosphorus.
Our first stop is usually Arnavutköy, one of the prettiest neighborhoods of Istanbul. We may stop for coffee or orange juice after a nice little walk through the historic area.
Embark on a private boat journey along the breathtaking Bosphorus, renowned as one of the world’s most picturesque waterways.
Following our enchanting cruise, we disembark at Kanlıca, celebrated for its traditional Turkish yogurt drizzled with honey.
Our exploration then takes us through the Asian side of the Bosphorus, culminating in a visit to Kuzguncuk, the historic Jewish quarter of Istanbul, rich in culture and heritage.
Welcome inside a local family home for a wonderful home-cooked meal by Ayşe Karataş, the mother of The Other Tour.
Experience the vibrant educational landscape of Istanbul with our unique school visits. We join classes and humble ourselves in the generosity of the local teachers and students.
We immerse ourselves in local schools, engaging with enthusiastic students and participating in their interactive lessons.
Our journey also includes visits to inspiring music schools operated by NGOs, where we are enveloped in the harmony of their exceptional musical sessions.
Istanbul’s street markets which the we call ‘pazar’ – a bustling open-air market where locals shop for a diverse range of goods, from fresh produce to clothing and household items.
They are set up in a different location every day of the week and they breathe life into different neighborhoods daily.
Witness the lively exchange at these local bazaars, where an array of fresh produce and traditional goods are brought directly to the community’s doorstep, showcasing Istanbul’s rich mosaic of agriculture and shopping traditions.
Experience the ancient tradition of a Turkish bath with a massage.
We will not only experience this ancient Roman tradition, but also feel fresh, look good, and get a massage.
We will dine with traditional Turkish music and maybe even some dancing at a traditional Turkish tavern.
This will be the perfect way to end our day-long journey along the Bosphorus.
You’re right: we are more expensive than many options. The simplest reason is that what we deliver day-to-day is a noticeably different level of service:
Most tours are basically: meet → sights → a few facts → goodbye.
We don’t work like that.
We’re hands-on, proactive, and detail-obsessed. That means we’re actively shaping the entire day so you can relax into Istanbul instead of managing it. We anticipate problems before they happen, adapt in real time, and handle the dozens of small decisions that usually drain people on trips.
So you’re not just “seeing places.” Your family is having a smooth, enjoyable day from start to finish — with someone fully responsible for the flow, the energy, and the details.
A lot of guiding culture is strictly business-hours. Ours isn’t.
Many of our days naturally go into the evening — and sometimes into the night — because that’s when Istanbul opens up in a different way: neighborhoods, dinner moments, street life, late conversations, the city when it stops performing and starts living.
We don’t watch the clock. We watch you: your energy, your curiosity, your comfort, and what kind of day you’re actually having.
We’re not a “one-day transaction” company.
When guests are in town, we stay in touch for days — helping with small decisions, quick recommendations, honest warnings, last-minute pivots, and the stuff you’d normally struggle through alone (or waste time figuring out).
And here’s the part most people don’t expect: it often continues after Istanbul.
We keep in touch for years. People come back. We meet again in other cities. Sometimes we even visit guests in their hometowns. That’s not marketing — that’s what happens when the experience is genuinely personal.
You’re paying for an unusually high level of involvement:
A guide who’s fully present, not “running a script”
A day designed around real people (especially families), not an itinerary
Flexibility, judgment, and problem-solving in real time
A relationship that doesn’t disappear after the last photo
If you want the cheapest way to “do Istanbul,” we’re not the right fit.
If you want to feel taken care of — and walk away feeling like you actually met the city — that’s what we do.
Many cheaper tours are not actually cheaper — they’re subsidized by commissions from specific shops. That system shifts the tour’s real priority away from you and toward sales.
We refuse that model completely.
That means:
No forced “quick stops” that somehow take 45 minutes.
No “my friend has a carpet/leather/jewelry place” moments.
No polite hostage situation where you feel pressured to buy something to be nice.
No time stolen from the city to fund the guide’s day.
Just the tour you came for.
Commission-based tours don’t just cost money — they cost energy. They interrupt the flow, create awkward social pressure, and turn what should be an enjoyable day into something transactional.
We think your time in Istanbul is too valuable for that.
Because we don’t take kickbacks, we can be honest and focused:
We choose what’s best for your interests, not what pays us.
We can adjust the day freely without “owed stops.”
We spend time where it actually counts: neighborhoods, stories, food, culture, people.
And if you do want to shop?
We can absolutely help — the difference is it’s on your terms. We’ll point you toward places that make sense for your taste and budget, and we’ll tell you plainly what’s worth it and what isn’t.
So: no commissions, no pressure, no detours.
Just a high-integrity day built around your trip — not someone else’s sales pipeline.
Communication is one of those things that sounds basic… until you’ve experienced the opposite.
Our English is genuinely strong, clear, and natural — not “memorized tour English.” That matters because it lets the day stay fluid: questions, side conversations, humor, nuance, sensitive topics, and the kind of real back-and-forth that makes a place feel alive.
But it’s not only language. It’s timing and tone.
We’re good at reading the room:
when people want stories vs. when they want silence and space
when a group wants depth vs. when they’re overloaded
when to keep it light and fun vs. when to go serious
when to move faster, slow down, stop for food, or change the plan completely
Families and mixed groups are the hardest to guide well—because everyone has different energy, attention span, and interests.
We take pride in keeping the experience lively and inclusive without forcing it. Teenagers don’t want a lecture; adults don’t want fluff; kids need rhythm; grandparents need comfort. We’re good at balancing all of that so nobody feels dragged along.
So instead of a guide “talking at you,” you get an experience that feels like being with a smart, socially aware friend who knows the city deeply—and knows how to translate it for your group.
We take the history seriously — but we don’t take ourselves too seriously — we’re engaging, we’re funny, and we keep things human and memorable.
Turkey’s story is enormous, and most tours flatten it into a lecture: dates, names, and a lot of information you forget by dinner. We do the opposite. We turn history into something you can actually feel—real people, real motives, daily life, weird details, contradictions, and the “wait… that’s incredible” moments that make the past stick. You’ll get clear context without being overloaded, and stories you’ll still be talking about days later.
We now guide across Turkey, bringing that same storytelling style to different regions and routes. But here’s the key point:
Istanbul is our true forte. It’s our home base—and it’s where we can deliver the most seamless, high-touch experience because our founder, Fethi Karatas, can organize and manage every aspect of your time with maximum efficiency. In his base town, he knows how the city actually works: timing, crowds, transit realities, shortcuts, backups, the right pacing, the right moments, and the right places—especially the ones you’d never find alone.
So yes: we do tours across Turkey.
But in Istanbul, we operate at a different level—because it’s not just a destination to us. It’s home, and we can run your experience there with unmatched precision and ease.
Most tours end the moment the walking ends. We don’t work like that.
If you need support into the evening, we’re still there — because real travel doesn’t stop when the itinerary stops. Plans shift, energy changes, people get hungry, reservations fall through, someone gets tired, a taxi app acts up, weather turns… and those little moments can quietly make or break a trip.
So we keep supporting you when it matters:
And this isn’t about one person — it’s how we work as a team. Our guides are genuinely generous with their time and attention. Ömer Çelik, Burak Plakay, and Duygu Sınırtaş are the kind of people who don’t treat you like a time slot. They stick with you, check in, and make sure you feel looked after — not only during the tour, but throughout the day when needed.
In short: you’re not just buying a guided walk. You’re getting steady, human support that keeps your trip running smoothly — even after most guides clock out.
The Other Tour can be booked any day of the year. It costs 350 Euros per person. That includes private transportation, private boat cruise, lunch, dinner and a Turkish bath experience.
