The Storyteller behind Istanbul Travel Blog

A little over halfway through my 20-year journey as a licensed tour guide in Istanbul, I began to feel a quiet urge… a desire to write things down.

Back then, blogging was all the rage. Like many others, I searched for a domain to start my travel journal. Unfortunately, IstanbulTravelBlog.com wasn’t available. So, I launched a different project — IstanbulClues.com.

On Istanbul Clues, I wrote dozens of informative articles. It quickly gained traction, attracting readers from all over the world. My mission was clear: share what I had learned and loved about my city. And I was doing just that.

Then one day, on a whim, I checked the IstanbulTravelBlog.com domain again.

This time… it was available.

I grabbed it immediately. The name had always resonated with me — simple, clear, and full of promise. But what would I do with it?

At the time, I had a collection of rough drafts — early versions of articles that would later appear polished on Istanbul Clues. These were travel notes scribbled for myself, almost like whispering stories to a friend.

Unlike the encyclopedic tone of Istanbul Clues, these notes were relaxed, colorful, and deeply personal.

And that’s when I realized something: those unfiltered notes were the beating heart of what could become a second home for my writing. A place where I could speak not just as a guide, but as a local friend — a fellow traveler who lives here.

If Istanbul Clues is a well-edited travel book, Istanbul Travel Blog is its illustrated companion. One is formal and precise, the other playful and poetic.

So here we are.

About Istanbul Travel Blog

At Istanbul Travel Blog, I share museum guides not as a historian — but as someone who walks into a place, looks up at the ceiling, feels a certain emotion, and wants to tell you about it. It’s not just about what’s inside a building… but what it feels like to be there.

The illustration above shows me on the rooftop of the Palace of the Porphyrogenitus, the only surviving imperial residence from the Byzantine era in Istanbul. I was there with my guests, sharing stories of emperors and forgotten dynasties. Guiding travelers through the layers of this city’s past has been a passion since my early years — and few things feel more rewarding than seeing ancient history come to life through the eyes of curious visitors.

I was born and raised in Istanbul, and for two decades now I’ve been guiding travelers through its wonders. But this city — with all its layers of poetry, memory, and beauty — keeps surprising me. That’s why I keep writing.

Today, Istanbul Clues remains my space for in-depth information — detailed timelines, cultural insights, and architectural history. But Istanbul Travel Blog is more of a travel diary, full of heartfelt impressions, emojis, boxed notes, and colorful reflections.

Eventually, I realized even these two blogs weren’t enough.

This city, with its legends and ghosts, deserved a third voice — something more whimsical and timeless. That’s why I created IstanbulStories.com, where a seagull, a cat, and a mouse (yes, really!) tell magical tales about Istanbul’s long, winding history.

Three different blogs, three different tones — and yet, all share the same heart.

About Serhat Engul

Istanbul Travel Blog is where I write as your friend in Istanbul. I want you to feel like you’re getting travel tips from someone who lives just around the corner — someone who cares about your experience and wants you to love this city as much as I do.

The illustration above captures a joyful moment in the colorful streets of Fener and Balat, where I guided a lovely couple from the UK, Robbie & Steph. As a guide who has walked these streets with thousands of guests, it’s impossible to remember every face — yet some people leave a lasting imprint on your heart. This image is a tribute to one of those rare, unforgettable encounters where the connection went beyond sightseeing and turned into something truly memorable.

Over the years, thousands of readers have found these blogs. I’ve been fortunate to be recommended on TripAdvisor and the Rick Steves Istanbul forum, where many kind travelers have shared their experience of touring with me.

Their feedback has encouraged me to keep writing — not just as a tour guide, but as a storyteller.

Thanks for reading. I hope this blog brings a little more color, warmth, and curiosity to your journey through Istanbul.

Welcome to my city — and to my stories.

— Serhat Engul

Powered by Reborn Travel