Discover Istanbul with our ready to go tours.

Istanbul has a lot to offer that we can transmit in English, German and on request in other languages.

We cooperate with TÜRSAB member (711) Baltac Tours.

Zeynep Kuban

Zeynep Kuban

Architectural Historian

Zeynep Kuban (1964) trained as an Archaeologist and Art Historian and obtained her MA and PhD at ITU Istanbul in History of Architecture, where she is a professor in the same department. She has been guiding in Turkey and especially Istanbul since 1989 (licence from the ministry of Tourism and Culture). Her courses and interests are in the historical development, continuities and disruptions, of Istanbul as well as the notion of History (the presence and absence of it) in contemporary building activities.

Bilge Ar

Bilge Ar

Architectural Historian

Bilge Ar (1981) studied Architecture at ITU Istanbul where she also obtained her M.A. and PhD in History of Architecture. She is an assistant professor at ITU in the department of History of Architecture. Since her student times she has been active for EASA and ever since guiding architectural schools and architects.

Alper Kurbak

Alper Kurbak

Architect

Alper Kurbak (1984) has taken his degree as bachelor of architecture in Istanbul Technical University (ITU). He has been to Karlsruhe Institute of Technology as visiting scholar for a year and received his MSc degree in architectural design at ITU by his thesis ‘Airport Related Urbanizations’. Alper has been very active in EASA during his studies. He worked as academician for four years at Istanbul Maltepe University. He is a practicing architecture.

Cem Erözü

Cem Erözü

Architect (M.Arch)

Cem Erözü (1963) studied Architecture at ITU and spent many years in Vienna working and studying, he worked as a teaching assistant at ITU Design department between 1993 and 2006. Cem is the senior partner in Erözü Mimarlık Office. He has guiding experience since 1989 (Professional Licence from the Ministry of Tourism and Culture) and is a musician as well.

In Pursuit of Modernity

In Pursuit of Modernity

HALF DAY TOUR (Duration 4 hours)

In Pursuit of Modernity and Beyond: Levent Walking tour
A half day walking tour in Levent district, where an architectural story is starting in the 1950s as an ‘American Dream’ and transforming in the 70s into an industrial cluster with factories and gecekondu’s, to become a high rise commercial and business center in 90s. Today this district consists of these layers through which one can experience the history of modern Turkey by walking.

Tour Stops:

-Levent District: Designed by Prof. Kemal Ahmet Aru and Prof. Rebii Gorbon in 1947 and known as one of the most important urban mass housing settlements.
-Kanyon Shopping Mall designed by Tabanlıoğlu Architects
-Levent Ofis designed by Molestina Architects – Swanke Hayden Connell as the first LEED Certificated Building in Turkey
-Levent Loft designed by Tabanlıoğlu Architects in 2007.
-Loft Bahçe designed by Tabanlıoğlu Architects in 2010.
-Kristal Tower-QNB Finansbank designed by Pei Cobb Creed Partners – Has Mimarlık, completed in 2014
-Sapphire Istanbul designed by Tabanlıoğlu Architects in 2011, is the highest building in Turkey where its top terrace offers the 360° panorama of Istanbul.
-Ticaret Odası İlkokulu, designed by Uygur Architects in 2010, is a public school project as a part of earthquake prevention plan of 40 schools in Istanbul

Tour ends at M1 4.Levent Metro Station Entrance, centrally located to all means of public transportation. No interior visits except Kanyon and Sapphire Istanbul

Old Town New Gazes

Old Town New Gazes

HALF DAY TOUR  (Duration: 4-5 hours)

Old Town New Gazes Walking tour
An architectural walk through the modern history of old Istanbul. Urban and architectural developments from the 19th, 20th and 21st century.

Tour Stops:

-The Municipality Building in Saraçhane (by Nevzat Erol 1956) (outside) and the urban changes around it.
-İMÇ (Istanbul Manifaturacılar Çarşısı) Textile Wholesale Area by Tekeli-Sisa-Hepgüler 1960’s.
-SSK Building by Sedad Hakkı Eldem (1960s) (outside)
-Walk over the Golden Horn passing the new Metro Bridge to the Middle Age Genoese Quarter Galata. A glance at the Arap Camii, the former church of S.Domenico from the Middle Ages. Walk through the hardware district.
-Karaköy Square the entrance to the old banking district of 19th century, changed in the 20th century.
-SALT Galata,* the former Ottoman Bank from the end of the 19th century, restored in 2011 and reorganized into a New Art And Architecture Forum. *Some parts of SALT Galata are not accessible on Mondays.
-Ipera 25 Project-by Ahmet Alataş (2011) an example for the new infill in the historical context of the Genoese quarter. (outside)

End of the tour at Galata Tower or Tünel Square.