Istanbul tours

SRM Travel has guides that also work with Rick Steve’s: http://www.srmtravel.com/. They offer many options from 1/2 day walking tours to several days of touring.

Or you might want to consider the 7-day RS Best of Istanbul tour. I took this tour several years ago and it was terrific - wonderful and enthusiastic guide, nice group, good food and hotel. It had a good balance of group activities and free time. The guide gave us an excellent orientation so that we were comfortable striking out on our own. He also helped organize some free time activities.

I spent 5 days there with a friend and we only used the RS guide, had a great time. I spent another couple days on my own and a return visit of 4 days. It's as easy as a European city to do independently and at sights there were audio guides and/or written info in English that was sufficient. Just beware of taxi drivers, they are expert at cheating tourists with a variety of scams. Many are honest, but there are a good number that aren't.

I highly recommend the guide I hired a few times on different visits to Istanbul. His English is excellent, he is extremely knowledgeable, he is very honest, and he is funny! His info:
Name: Metin Koca
Email: [email protected]
Cell phone: +90 (533) 322 00 85
If you download the app WhatsApp, you can message him free of charge.
You will be very happy you hired him!

Thank you all for the information. This is a useful site for sure.