Dolmabahce Palace: Tours & Tickets

This guided walk was the highlight of my visit to Istanbul. The enthusiasm and flexibility of the guide were genuinely commendable. I could not have asked for a more committed guide, we set off at 0900 and finished at about 1800. We walked, rode in trams, the funicular (cable) cars, sat and drank tea among the old Turkish men, visited the Hagia Sophia Mosque, drank coffee at the Federal Galata coffee shop and walked through large bazaars and markets. Interestingly, one of the more memorable things we did was to explore several Han. These are two or three storey buildings, which house small workshops for artisans. If you are thinking about a visit to Istanbul, then I wholeheartedly recommend using this organisation. Also, despite the world political situation, I found Istanbul to be a safe city, where no more than the usual security issues of travelling seemed to exist.

This was my first time in Istanbul, so having two days with a guide was essential for understanding this amazing city and its history. On my own I could not have found my way to so many places, or learned so much. Saban Sezer was an excellent guide; I always have questions to ask that many visitors would not, as I am interested in Islamic architecture and as I live in Egypt and am interested in how in the past Turkish traditions have transferred to Egypt, Saban was patient with my questions and with me wanting to spend longer in some places that interested me. He gave information even about places you don't have time to visit in your first two days, places we just passed on the cruise, and that makes me want to return for more exploring of Istanbul.

The ticket purchase and subsequent tour was great value for money. The guide was on time and spoke excellent English. The price we paid was significantly less than similar tour providers. The guests however, must arrive at the gate of the palace on time using their own means of transport (a plus for me). Few downsides worth mentioning, the maintenance work at the palace reduced the overall time spent inside it, since many rooms were closed. My ticket did not provide access to the Harem and the painting museum.

Kadir Kucekeren was absolutely fantastic. He is very knowledgeable and we saved lots of time enjoying Istanbul with him. He knows all the secrets to truly enjoy the city in a safe and efficient manner. He personalized our trip to fit our cultural interests - like Süleymaniye Mosque. He is very caring of his guests; he helped my mother up and down the old city steps. He is a true gentleman and I will always be grateful to him for his patience and understanding.

I want to thank him from the bottom of my heart. We learned so much. He really listened to our interests. He took us to local reputable locations that we could trust. I'm a photographer so he gave us great locations for my photos. Two days of of total safe fun. He was kind and considerate of our needs. We not only learned about Istanbul, we have a new friend. Thank you so much for making our trip so memorable. We recommend this tour to everyone.