Istanbul-born, Paris-minded and five generations deep in the city’s memory, meet Enis Aköz, an elite Francophone private guide who doesn’t just show you monuments—he decodes Istanbul’s soul, one hidden courtyard, Bosphorus breeze and dinner table at a time.
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Introduction to Enis Aköz
Born in Istanbul in 1958 and descended from a family that has lived in the city for five generations, Enis Aköz embodies a distinctly local form of cultural expertise.
His work as a professional guide is rooted not only in formal historical knowledge, but also in a lived, intergenerational familiarity with the city’s social fabric. In this sense, he does not simply accompany visitors through monuments and streets; he mediates between Istanbul’s past and present, and between Turkish urban life and an international, largely Francophone audience.
Education and Intellectual Background
Aköz is a graduate of Galatasaray High School, one of Türkiye’s most prestigious educational institutions, long associated with a strong humanistic curriculum and a Francophone intellectual tradition.
This background is visible in his guiding style: he is precise with dates and facts, attentive to language, and able to contextualize individual sites within broader historical, political and cultural narratives.
For many guests, this combination of rigorous schooling and deep local roots produces a rare form of guidance in which scholarly clarity coexists with personal anecdote.
Two Decades of Tailored Private Tours
For over twenty years, Aköz has designed and led tours in both Istanbul and Anatolia, working primarily with small, private groups. This scale allows him to adapt each visit to the interests, pace and prior knowledge of the participants.
Rather than following an inflexible script, he responds to questions in real time, often extending itineraries beyond the standard tourist routes.
Beyond Standard Tourist Routes
Mr. Aköz also ventures out from the touristic center and helps you explore the other parts of the city where you enjoy some of the local life as well as a plethora of attractions like the Jewish quarter of the Asian Side, Kuzguncuk in Üsküdar or the back alleys of Beyoğlu.
One French-speaking visitor, for example, notes that he “not only answered all my questions, but also introduced me to places outside the tourist sector in addition to the scheduled sites,” and concludes simply: “Je le recommande fortement.”
Another review describes how, in a single day, he enabled the group to “visit the essentials of Istanbul” while learning extensively about “the origins of its monuments and its history.”
Personal Interests that Enrich the Experience
What further distinguishes Aköz’s practice is the way his personal interests enrich the experience of the city. His attachment to the sea and fishing resonates particularly in Istanbul, a metropolis defined by the Bosphorus and its maritime culture.
Conversations about daily life along the water, the seasonal rhythms of local fish, and traditional fishing practices offer visitors a nuanced sense of how geography shapes urban identity.
His passion for photography manifests in the way he draws attention to details—textures, viewpoints, lines of sight—that many visitors might otherwise overlook, encouraging a more observant and reflective engagement with the urban landscape.
His knowledge of Turkish cuisine similarly extends tours beyond the visual, leading guests to local eateries and “repères locaux,” as one reviewer phrases it, including what another calls an “authentic dinner” in his native city.
Guide, Translator and Cultural Bridge
In addition to guiding, Enis Aköz also works as a translator of books, an activity that requires a high level of linguistic sensitivity and cultural literacy. This practice of translation is closely aligned with what he does on his tours: he translates not only words, but contexts, practices and worldviews.
For visitors unfamiliar with Turkey, concepts such as secularism, Ottoman heritage, or contemporary social dynamics can be difficult to grasp. Aköz’s double role as guide and translator enables him to bridge these gaps with precision, avoiding both simplification and jargon.
Get in Touch to Book Enis Aköz
We can check and see if Enis is available on the day you request. Enis can be booked quite a while in advance so it’s advised to try to reserve your spot with him as early as possible.
