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 tour was very well conducted by Hilal. She proved to be a very experienced guide who could help the group navigate the crowds of tourists at the various sites. She knew when to give members some time to wander around to admire the places and when to gather everyone to elaborate more on the historical backgrounds. I could sense that everyone felt relaxed and comfortable with Hilal and that in turn contributed to a wonderful sense of camaraderie within the group. I would certainly go through this tour again when I revisit Istanbul provided it is conducted by Hilal. Thank you and hope to see you again, Hilal! The "skip-the-queue" arrangement that is provided with this tour is an absolute God-send in terms of avoiding the snaking long queues!

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.

Our tour was very efficient and flexible. We had only one day in Istanbul and we saw the major sites of interest with excellent information. Our guide, Saban Sezer had great knowledge of the city and and very fine sense of humor. That made for a very informative, interesting and totally enjoyable day. He even arranged for our transportation around the city and for our return to the airport at the end of the day. In short a the experience was everything that one could wish for. Thank you Saban!