Istanbul Tour Studio
Private Experiences, Tours, Events and beyond
As Turkey's leading boutique travel agency with more than a decade of expertise and features in The New York Times, Financial Times, and Condé Nast Traveler, we are known for excellence, creativity, and insider insight.
Istanbul Tour Studio designs exceptional journeys across Turkey. We create fully customized, turnkey experiences that allow you to discover the country in a deeply personal and thoughtfully curated way.
We work with leisure and corporate travelers, as well as discerning bon vivants and curious explorers seeking more than a conventional trip. Our services range from private day tours to multi-day tailor-made itineraries, luxury transportation, airport meet-and-greet assistance, exclusive access experiences, and VIP hosting.
Our Philosophy
At Istanbul Tour Studio, we believe that true luxury lies in knowledge: knowing where to go, what to do, and who to meet. Access, context, and meaningful connections define the journeys we design. We explore the cultural depth of Turkey while staying attuned to what is current and compelling. This perspective allows us to offer the best of two worlds: the authentic and the contemporary.
Curiosity guides everything we do. We continuously refine our perspective and renew our itineraries. Most of all, we take pride in sharing the places, people, and stories that make this country extraordinary. Our experiences are crafted to be inspiring, engaging, and memorable.
Meet Istanbul Tour Studio
Sinan Sökmen
Founder and CEO
Sinan, the founder of ITS, was born into a family dedicated to hospitality and it is no surprise that he became a travel consultant. In time, travel has become not only a vocation but an endless passion. All his studies and journeys made him a true global citizen, appreciating differences in cultures. He has extensive experience with VIP guests from all over the globe. Sinan is a real foodie and an adventurist; there is nothing he would shy away from trying. He loves photography and shooting videos. He has since embraced the fresh perspective that travel publishing has brought to his business. Sinan speaks English and Spanish.
Seda Domaniç
Partner and Chief Experience Officer
Seda leads the creation of bespoke travel experiences throughout Turkey. She graduated from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, earned her M.A. from Johns Hopkins University SAIS and completed a Ph.D. in political science at Sabancı University. Her career in journalism began at CNN in Washington DC. After working for international organizations and companies, Seda took on the role of founding editor at Vogue Turkey, where she ran the magazine for a decade. She writes for travel publications and she is the editor-in-chief of the Monday To Sunday travel book series. Her diverse experience brings a unique perspective to travel.
Yasemin Hanedar
Professional Tour Guide
Yasemin was born in Germany to a family of Turkish origin. She studied interior design in Italy. She loves everything Mediterranean, foremost the dolce vita! Like all of us, she fell in love with travelling and became a professional guide. She travelled to more than 40 countries and worked in international cruise ships for longer than she wants to remember:) She now enjoys the company of her large family in their shared family apartment in Istanbul. Yasemin loves movies and music and has an adopted stray cat. She speaks English and Italian.
Özge Dural
Travel Designer
Özge was born in an ancient Greek town by the Aegean Sea, hence her interest in archeology started at an early age. While she loves travelling and summers, she tries to avoid tourist hot-spots and enjoys exploring off the beaten paths. She researches different aspects of destinations, tries to uncover their inner souls and loves sharing her findings with fellow travelers. She always knows where all the good wineries are! Her passion lies with fantastic and sci-fi literature, movies and games. Other than local roman clarinet tunes, she loves to listen to flamenco guitar, classical music and Turkish pop-star Tarkan.
Emre Poyraz
Professional Tour Guide
Emre graduated from Istanbul University with a degree in Ancient Greek Language and Literature. He completed his master's in Ancient History. Currently, he is working on his PhD thesis in the field of Ancient History (this part will not be updated for several years!). He translates books from Ancient Greek and also works as an editor. Besides classical studies, he loves watching and talking about football; he is a Beşiktaş fan and has been a season ticket holder for 9 years. He is passionate about both the history of Istanbul and the civilizations of Anatolia.
Gamze Gürgenç
Event Coordinator and Travel Designer
Gamze is an art and architectural historian with the passion of traveling. She loves discovering new cultures through her trips and travelling makes her stay in the moment - a type of meditation. She was born and raised in Istanbul so the city became the witness to her life and her playground while she was growing up. She loves to share her experiences and give local tips and advice to everyone, even to other local friends! As a dedicated dog mom, she extends her love to all of Istanbul's furry inhabitants. She's into music and it's the first thing in the morning to tune with her current favourite jam. She is a fan of both coffee and tea - cannot pick one.
Duygu Doğuç
Professional Tour Guide
Duygu was 22 years old when she started touring Anatolia as a guide and since that day never stopped loving her profession. She walks 10km almost everyday and loves taking breaks at local coffee shops, listening to the stories of old frequenters. She is into all kinds of performance arts and plans her travels according to events and festivals. She can start a day listening to Maria Callas and end it with Hey You from Pink Floyd. Contemporary art is her newly found passion and she is currently doing a masters degree in art history. She speaks English, is learning Greek and is a proud mom of 12 years old son.
Esin Kara
Professional Tour Guide
Esin has more than 20 years of experience in hospitality. On top of her university degree in Tour Guiding, she attended numerous educational programs around the globe, one even in Havana, Cuba. She loves cooking and all things related to food. Dance is her way of savouring life. Cuban Salsa, Flamenco, Bollywood and Zeybek are among her favorites. She has a deep interest in symbolisms of Eastern cultures and religions, along with a passion for vintage items. She loves details and diving deep beneath the surfaces; believes this is the only way we can leave behind our misconceptions and have genuine experiences.
Betül Başak
Professional Tour Guide
An art historian and archaeologist by education, Betül is a world traveler. Her heart is where the sun is, so her travels took her to numerous countries where there is plenty of sunshine. She also spent a year travelling in the US, a period that she describes as a turning point in her life. She enjoys long walks in nature, exploring historical sites, cycling and practicing yoga. Betul is also a singer and has just published an album named ‘Encounters.’ A stroll along the Bosphorus, a ferry ride to the Asian side and a delicious Turkish breakfast is her favourite morning in Istanbul.
Esin Çalık Yılmaz
Professional Tour Guide
Guiding since 2006, Esin loves sharing her knowledge, whether at ancient sites in the Aegean region or in tiny villages nestled in the Black Sea mountains. After having her son, she is now mostly based in Cappadocia, where she enjoys leading culinary and cultural tours. An early bird and highly organized, Esin is always prepared to make the most of every adventure, even on vacation. Her curiosity and determination often lead her on fascinating journeys, uncovering unique stories and experiences to share with her guests.
Işıl Sağlam
Professional Tour Guide
Işıl was born by the Aegean Sea and has called Istanbul home since 2005. She holds degrees in Translation, Marketing Communications, and Tourist Guidance. Her passion for sharing Turkey's rich cultural heritage and natural beauty has taken her to different corners of the country. In her free time, Işıl enjoys meeting up with her group of international friends in Istanbul, playing tennis and meeting new people while exploring the world. Işıl has a deep appreciation for diverse cuisines and dines at some of the city's coolest restaurants. Music plays a significant role in her life and she loves listening to a wide range of genres.
Nihat Yılmaz
Professional Tour Guide
Nihat discovered his passion for tourism early, gaining valuable experience before earning his degree in Tour Guiding after four years in Cappadocia. His first major tour was a challenging three-week journey across Turkey, which shaped his confidence and creativity as a guide. Specializing in food and photography tours, Nihat enjoys capturing rare moments while exploring Turkey’s rich cultural and natural landscapes. He has a particular love for the lesser-known corners of Cappadocia, from hidden valleys to charming villages, sharing their unique stories with his guests.
Seçkin Demirok
Professional Tour Guide
With a grandfather who worked at the Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus, the first 5-star hotel in Turkey, Seçkin was inspired to follow in his footsteps and pursue a career in tourism. He began guiding people around Istanbul in his grandfather’s ’67 Impala, a passion that has since become deeply ingrained in his life. Seçkin enjoys traveling, cycling by the sea, and spending time in Istanbul’s seaside parks. He loves summer cocktails, groovy rhythms, dark humor, and Guy Ritchie movies. A lifelong dreamer of drumming, he now records his rhythms and volunteers for a music community. He’s also pursuing an academic career in modern Turkish history.
PRESS REFERENCES
Award-Winning Travel Company. Rated Excellent on TripAdvisor
Istanbul Tour Studio is consistently rated "Excellent" by former guests on TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel platform. We are proud of this recognition, as it reflects the trust and satisfaction of the travelers we host. We have also been awarded two consecutive years by YPO Istanbul Chapter for designing and organizing the best family offsite experience, a distinction that highlights our creativity and operational excellence.
A Wide Range of Interests
We curate experiences across a broad spectrum of interests including photography, gastronomy, art, shopping, history, sailing, and outdoor pursuits, alongside the essential must-sees. Each itinerary is thoughtfully designed around what genuinely excites and inspires you.
Meaningful Encounters
We believe access makes all the difference. Through our trusted network, we open doors to remarkable individuals, from leading chefs and fashion designers to winemakers, artists, historians, and prominent journalists. These encounters offer insight into the spirit of the places you visit and create moments that go far beyond sightseeing.
Free Independent Travelers Prefer Us
We are proudly FIT-friendly. We specialize in serving independent travelers who prefer not to join traditional group tours and instead seek personalized, locally grounded experiences designed around their own pace and passions.
Nothing Left to Chance
Precision and foresight define our approach. We ensure you are in the right place at the right time, with every detail carefully arranged in advance. When you travel with us, your experience unfolds exactly as it should.
Guided Tours in Multiple Languages
We offer private guided tours in English, Spanish, Italian, French, German, Portuguese, Arabic, Russian, Japanese, Korean and Chinese, ensuring clear communication and cultural nuance throughout your journey.
Dedicated Customer Service
Our team is always within reach. You may contact us by phone, email, Google Meet or Zoom, and we provide an emergency number for after-hours inquiries. We respond to all requests within 48 hours. Our streamlined online booking system allows you to reserve your experience in minutes and complete payment securely by credit card.