Ultimate Istanbul Football Adventure

5 (13 reviews)  •  Turkey, Istanbul

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Hosted by: Homefans

English 5 (199 reviews)

What's included

3 nights

Guided Tour

Local Guide

Match Tickets

Pre-match Experience

What we will do

Considered one of the world’s football capitals, Istanbul is home to three of Turkey’s football giants: Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, and Galatasaray. Here, football is more than just a sport—it’s a way of life. Every day, newspapers dedicate pages to football, and even in the off-season, the conversation never stops. It’s a passion that runs deep, touching every part of Turkish society.

The moment you arrive, you’ll feel it. In Istanbul, football takes precedence over nearly everything else. From the President to the taxi drivers, and from women to children, everyone has an opinion, and everyone proudly supports their team. Knowing which club someone supports is a major part of social life here. The intensity of matchdays is unmatched, as fans create an atmosphere unlike anything you’ve experienced in Europe—or even the world. The chants, the flags, the choreographed displays—it’s a spectacle that will leave you in awe.

To truly understand Turkish culture, you need to understand its deep-rooted love for football. Fans live and breathe the sport, discussing every detail, wearing their team’s colors, and analyzing every game as if they were the coach. In Istanbul, football fuels the city’s energy and unites its people, no matter where you are.

On this four-day football adventure, you’ll be immersed in this passion like never before. With our English-speaking local hosts by your side, you’ll experience at least two epic matchdays and explore Istanbul’s rich history. From visiting the iconic Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia to walking the historic streets of the Old Town, you’ll discover how football intertwines with the city’s culture. Your host will share fascinating stories that connect the beautiful game with these famous landmarks.

Are you ready for an unforgettable journey into the heart of Turkish football? This trip promises an adventure like no other, where the excitement of matchdays is paired with the rich culture of one of the world’s greatest cities.

Upcoming Editions:
Fixtures and dates TBC.

02/03/25
Beşiktaş v Kayserispor
Fenerbahce v Antalyaspor
Istanbul Basaksehir v Sivasspor
Kasimpasa v Galatasaray

16/03/25
Fenerbahce v Samsunspor
Galatasaray v Antalyaspor
Istanbul Basaksehir v Trabzonspor
Kasimpasa v Alanyaspor

20/04/25

Kasimpasa v Sivasspor
Istanbul Basaksehir v Gazisehir Gaziantep
Galatasaray v Bodrum FK
Fenerbahce v Kayserispor

What's the planning?

Day 1 - Welcome to Istanbul
Day 2: Matchday 1 – Discover Istanbul’s Football Passion
Day 3: Matchday 2 – Explore Istanbul’s Culture & Football
Day 4 - Time to say Goodbye

Meet your host

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Homefans

Host since 2020

  • 5 (199 reviews)
  • English
From £507 07 / person
Choose date

From £507 07 / person

5 (13 reviews)

Ryan

5.0  •  17/01/2023

What an amazing time we had in Istanbul, what a supe city! The hotel was situated close to the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque so easy for sightseeing in between the football. Ogulcar (OG) was the perfect host and along with the big one (Fenerbahce v Galatasaray) we watched two other matches with OG. We arrived near the stadium 7 hours before kick of and the party had started; the bars and restaurants were full, and the streets were full of flares and colours!! OG had booked us into a bar/restaurant near the sea and the atmosphere was superb. Shame about the result but the weekend was perfect. Cheers Home Fans and OG!!

Sean Cusack

5.0  •  17/01/2023

Brilliant football weekender in Istanbul for the three of us. My wife and I chose this trip to celebrate our 40th Wedding Anniversary and our eldest son came along too. Two hours standing on our seats at Fenerbahce - no problemo. OG was a magnificent host. Great sense of humour. He has great knowledge of football. He wore the disappointment of Fenerbahce losing three nil to their main rivals with great fortitude! Our hotel (Hotel Fer) was quality - and location was ideal for getting easily to the two games (at Besiktas and Fenerbahce), tram was three stops and a ten minute walk to Besiktas and to Fenerbahce it was a few minutes walk and three stops on the Marmaray Metro. The area near the hotel had many bars and restaurants, nice and convenient. We enjoyed pre-match entertainment before both games - and even got to shake hands with OG's Dad. I thoroughly recommend this trip to all football fans.

Chris

5.0  •  16/01/2023

What can I say about ogulcan and the Istanbul experience. It was nothing short of an absolute belter of a wkd. Went on my own but was like a trip we mates who all love the footy. Our host ogulcan was an absolute legend, took us to 3 games in the wkd which were all decent. Besiktas was a ripping first atmosphere and introduction to the passion of Turkish football. But the fehnerbahce vs galatasaray game was a mint experience. Started about 6hr before kick off and was a ripping day. But ogulcan was top throughout and not just with football but with local knowledge on museums and buses etc. For sure will come back to Istanbul again

Roberto Hagio

5.0  •  14/01/2023

As a solo traveler the best thing I can say about my first Homefans experience is that it ended up being like a trip away with mates, with us being looked after by another mate who lived in Istanbul (Ogulcan our local guide). Great hotel in a perfect location in the centre of the city. The option to add games (Besiktas and Başakşehir) was a real bonus. Loved the atmosphere in the bars and restaurants in Besiktas and before the derby. To top it all off Istanbul is special. Can't wait to go back.

Anthony Law

5.0  •  11/01/2023

The city was amazing, hotel was in a great location and our host OG was superb. Needless to say the Derby was an unbelievable experience. Would highly recommend.

Jonathan Hodges

5.0  •  11/01/2023

Superb trip well organised leaving us all to enjoy the football and the city. Our host Ogulcan took care of everything. Highly recommended.

Hamza Lebelle

5.0  •  18/04/2022

Where do I start guys ?! From the starting line to the end this weekend was one of the craziest I had to live ! And thanks to our host Ogulcan and Yagiz to make it even better ! Ogulcan reserved us a really place to eat and drink and enjoy our day (6h/7h before the kick off) and the place was already full of fener fan. Took us for a little tour in park next to the stadium where ppl where just chilling singing all day long we weren't even in the stadium you feel you already into it Turkish people were really nice you can't éven stop smiling yourself seeing all those happy face enjoying their day and praising football ! Once you enter the stadium it was like literally another world guys so many people here singing shouting ! I was talking with one member of the group and he tell me something that is stuck in my mind now to describe the experience in the stadium. There's a saying that's goes " You can't even hear your mind" And oooh boy does the fan stick up to it ! Can only recommend this trip as a football fan you have to live it once!

Luke Cottrell

5.0  •  15/04/2022

Great weekend from start to finish and a lovely city. As far as game day goes it was a blast from start to finish. Fenerbache fans packed out the city from the morning through till after kick off, best atmosphere at a game I’ve been too, stadium was already 90% full 2 hours from kick off and the fans didn’t stop singing. My hosts yagiz and ogulcan were extremely helpful throughout and provided great advice on everything as well as adding to the occasion on match day. Hotel was in a great location in too, I went alone and everyone was very welcoming. would recommend this trip anyone 👍👍

Paul Jeffery

5.0  •  15/04/2022

The atmosphere in this match is unlike anything you will have experienced before. The pure passion of Turkish football is on display for every minute of the match (and several hours before as well!) Thank you to Ogulcan & Yagiz for an incredible few days that I will remember forever.

Ivan Stajin

5.0  •  14/04/2022

This has to be the maddest, loudest and crazies atmosphere in a football match I watched! It started in a local restaurant, warming up with delicious Turkish food and raki (lots of it, since we met 7.5 hours before the kick-off) and enjoying the atmosphere as the place was full of Fenerbahce fans. As I told guys from the group - I don't know how am I going to go to other games after this :) Football and fans are now something completely different for me :) Thanks guys for everything! Highly recommended!

Kevin_G

5.0  •  14/04/2022

What a trip it was for us in Istanbul. It has been on my list for a while and I was even more amazed than what I was expecting. Ogulçan and Yagiz have made it so we would enjoy every minute of it. From a nice cruise over the Bosphorus to murals hunting in Besiktas and Fenerbahçe. We even took the luxurious opportunity to attend a second game in the weekend, as Besiktas were playing home too. What I thought would be a warm up to the derby in Besiktas turned into a madness show as well! Derby day was so intense as well. We were immersed in what Turkish football does best in the short side section of Fener's stadium where the hosts secured our tickets. Always felt safe with the company of our superb hosts. Turkish stadiums and atmosphere are pretty under rated by a lot of ppl. It definitely belongs in the top 3 best stadium atmospheres in the world. And football on the pitch is quite good too.

Bradley Bayliss

5.0  •  13/04/2022

The trip led by Yagiz & Ogulçan was absolutely superb. We went for drinks on the Friday night and then on top of the amazing matchday experience getting us booked into a highly sought after Fenerbahce bar/restaurant they got us to the game safely and in plenty of time but close up to the action, we lit flares and were behind the goal where the traditional atmosphere was although the whole stadium was bouncing. What an experience! We also went down the bosphorus River between Europe and Asia on the Saturday which was an unexpected but very appreciated addition to the trip, thanks guys again!

Thomas

5.0  •  31/07/2020

Excellent planning, excellent service and excellent tourguiding (thanks a lot Sinan👌). Combined with amazing city of Istanbul and great foodball. Biggest recommendation and for sure not the last time I have travelled with Homefans.

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What's included in your experience

  • 3 nights

    Handpicked 3* accommodation

  • Guided Tour


  • Local Guide

    Bilingual local fan of the club

  • Match Tickets

    Multiple Match Tickets included

  • Pre-match Experience


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