Taste of Istanbul Food Tour: Street Food & Culture
Description
Welcome to Istanbul’s most local food & culture tour — Taste Istanbul and learn its story in two continents Hosted by professional locals, you’ll explore Istanbul’s both continents must-try foods and hidden flavors, while learning the story of Istanbul and Turkish culture in a short and engaging way — all in one unforgettable experience. Our promise is simple: no matter where you’re from, we’ll fill your tummy with endless local food, make you feel at home, and give you a heartfelt introduction to Turkish culture and Istanbul You’ll also receive our comprehensive Digital Istanbul Guidebook and learn all you need. This experience is vegetarian-friendly and perfect for all kinds of travelers. If your preferred dates or times are not available, please let us know.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We'll begin with a welcoming introduction to the tour at an authentic traditional café.
We'll guide you through 5+ tastings with a historical introduction to each item on the European side.
We'll take a ferry ride between the two continents and cross over to the Asian side for the main tastings, all while listening to the story of Istanbul.
We'll step into Kadıköy, Istanbul's liveliest and youngest neighborhood, for the main food tastings.
After introducing you to 10+ foods and drinks, we'll head to the secret local markets and finish the tasting with sweets.
We'll finish our tour near the ferry port in Kadıköy, where you can catch direct ferries to all central locations in Istanbul, take the subway, or simply grab an Uber.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(136)
Anil was an amazing guide. Really knowledgeable, friendly and fun. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a half day introduction to the food and culture of Istanbul
Murat was very knowledgeable about the best places to go. He accommodated different tastes and special diets too. I really enjoyed the slow pace and small group. He also made sure we knew jow to get where we needed to go too. Highly recommend!!
What a fantastic food tour! Our guide and his guide friend were brilliant- kind, friendly, funny and very knowledgeable. We had already been on a different food tour and our guides made sure we tried new food we had not already tried. The food was delicious and plentiful. I liked the fact we just paid for the food we wanted. Balat is a fantastic colourful area - I would highly recommend this food tour. Thanks again to the guides :)
We had a wonderful and enjoyable tour with Murat. His friendliness and enthusiasm to share his great city and its splendid tastes shone through. The meeting point was easy to find, the route was interesting and a lovely way to explore a small part of the Asian side of Istanbul. I would highly recommend this tour if you’re looking for something interesting, tasty and immersive. Thank you Murat, you were fantastic!
What a fantastic food tour! Our guide and his guide friend were brilliant- kind, friendly, funny and very knowledgeable. We had already been on a different food tour and our guides made sure we tried new food we had not already tried. The food was delicious and plentiful. I liked the fact we just paid for the food we wanted. Balat is a fantastic colourful area - I would highly recommend this food tour. Thanks again to the guides :)
A great little walk through Istanbul starting in new town then a quick ferry over to the Asian side. Ali was a great guide. I loved learning about diverse foods and some local history away from the more traditional old town tours.
We had such a wonderful experience on this food tour! It was the perfect way to explore a bit of the European side and the Asian side of Istanbul. We were able to explore neighborhoods while trying some truly delicious Turkish food along the way. From savory bites to sweet treats, every stop was a highlight. Our guide Ali was exceptional. His knowledge of Istanbul’s history and Turkish culture made the whole experience so much richer — he brought real depth and context to everything we tasted and everywhere we walked. He was warm, engaging, and clearly passionate about sharing his city with visitors. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Istanbul — it’s an absolute must!
Outstanding food tour. Every stop was delicious and it was clear lots of research had gone into finding the best places to experience Turkish food at its best. We’ve done a lot of food in our time and this definitely ranks as one of the best. We liked the way you could pay as you go for what you eat, choose options and order extra if you liked things. Stuffed mussels and the fish wrap were highlights, but every dish was excellent.Murat was knowledgeable and friendly and an excellent guide. We were a small group but he still gave it 100% and made us feel very at home.Thoroughly recommend.
Came to Istanbul years ago and stuck to the touristy stuff like everyone does on a first visit. Decided this time we wanted to see how locals actually live. Anıl walked us through Karaköy first, then ferry to Kadıköy, and the difference between the touristy areas and the actual lived in neighborhoods was night and day. The food markets in Kadıköy were the highlight, all locals doing their daily shopping, real food, real prices, real flavors. Best meal we've had in either of our visits to Istanbul.
This was an excellent tour. Every stop gave us unique experiences of Turkish food. The research that has gone into the choices is simply outstanding and every stop was delightful. We do a lot of food tours and this was standout. Fish wrap and stuffed mussels were our highlights but it was difficult to choose favourites!! Murat was a delightful guide and really knowledgable and helpful. If we could give it 10 stars we would!!
