Two Markets, Two Continents with Culinary Backstreets
Description
This award winning food tour is our most popular tour in Istanbul and is a full day of eating, drinking and walking across two markets two continents, visiting a dozen or more small eateries and meeting many of the faces in the kitchens.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The route for this Istanbul market tour draws from the Culinary Backstreets best-of lists in the European side’s Karaköy neighborhood and the Asian side’s Kadıköy, tied together by a Bosphorus crossing.
We’ll hop the boat to Kadıköy on the Asian side and eat our way through that neighborhood’s market, which holds the highest concentration of traditional food shops and eateries in the city.
Full market tour with lots of eating and drinking along the way.
Here we will visit some hidden stops and have some awesome bites
We’ll continue on toward the lesser-explored culinary hotspots around the Moda area at the market’s edge, where an infectious neighborhood vibe and a sweet finish await us to conclude our Istanbul market tour.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum of 18 years old for Alcoholic Beverages
Reviews(590)
Ibrahim was my tour guide with culinary backtours. I just did the two markets, two continents tour and he was so informative about history, architecture, food and culture. He was so personal and had us laughing the entire time while learning. Definition of hospitable and had a lot of insight about connecting with the locals and tips to having a fabulous trip. He genuinely made our experience so much more the better - he was my favorite part. I will definitely be sharing my experience with my friends for their future trip.
Thank you for the review and for sharing your wonderful experience exploring Istanbul with us. We are so glad that your guide could help you connect with the daily life of the city and its culinary traditions. Thank you for supporting honest tourism and the unsung heroes of the kitchen who work so hard to preserve their craft.
+2 extra stars! This tour is wonderful! Our guide, Ibrahim was so informative and warm. He really made us feel part of the culture and explained the history and process of each food we were eating. We had just enough food to feel full (and not have to eat again) but not bursting like some food tours. Overall, I will absolutely recommend this tour and Ibrahim to everybody.
Thank you for this wonderful review! We are so glad to hear your guide helped you connect with the daily life and culture of the city. Thank you for supporting our local culinary heroes and helping us preserve these invaluable traditions.
Huge fun, loads of food and interesting stops in different areas of the city. Great guide!
Thank you for the review. We are so glad you had a wonderful time exploring the different neighborhoods and experiencing the daily life of the city. Your visit goes a long way in supporting our unsung culinary heroes and helping them preserve these beautiful family traditions.
We had a wonderful experience on the Two Markets Two Continents tour in Istanbul. Ibrahim our guide was fantastic, full of knowledge, friendly, and passionate about food and the city. He was generous with his time and effort and ensured our group had a feel for the food in Istanbul, while also sharing local history, the different districts and how food has evolved. I would recommend the tour to anyone who loves learning about food off the beaten track.
Thank you for taking the time to share this wonderful review. We are so glad you enjoyed exploring the complex daily life and rich culinary history of Istanbul. Your choice to walk with us helps support the traditional family-run spots and unsung heroes of the kitchen who keep these beautiful traditions alive.
We loved every minute of Defne's delicious food tour of both continents that comprise Istanbul. From the industrial markets to the gentrified port the European side was a feast for the eyes and stomach (can you say cave cheese?). The Asian side was a hilly shoppers paradise and we feasted our way through it. Defne had so many quaint stories coupled with a wealth of knowledge. It was like your cool bestie was showing you around her favorite city. I can't recommend enough!
Thank you for taking the time to share your wonderful experience exploring the vibrant neighborhoods of Istanbul. We are thrilled that you enjoyed the journey across both continents and connected with the rich stories of the area. Your participation helps us support the local artisans and unsung kitchen heroes who work so hard to keep these beautiful culinary traditions alive. We hope to wander the backstreets with you again soon!
A sensational experience. We learnt more about Istanbul’s history , we walked in some historic and some fashionable streets, and we ate some amazing foods . Our tour guide , Ibrahim, was knowledgeable, personable and very accommodating. I would recommend this tour to anyone visiting the beautiful city of Istanbul.
Thank you for the wonderful review of your experience in Istanbul. We are thrilled that you enjoyed exploring the city's complex daily life and savoring the fantastic foods along the way. Your participation truly helps us support the unsung heroes of the kitchen and preserve these vital culinary traditions.
We had an amazing experience on the Culinary Backstreets Istanbul tour with Gonca. She introduced us to so many delicious dishes and made sure we were very well fed throughout the day. Every stop felt thoughtfully chosen, and we especially loved hearing the stories behind the food, the local traditions, and the people who prepare it. Gonca was warm, knowledgeable, and engaging, and her passion for Istanbul’s food culture made the tour truly memorable. We left with full stomachs, a much deeper appreciation for Turkish cuisine, and a better understanding of the city. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to experience Istanbul through its food!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience with us. We are thrilled that Gonca could help you connect with Istanbul's daily life and the unsung heroes who preserve these culinary traditions. Your support means the world to us and allows us to continue championing honest tourism while celebrating the masters who tirelessly pass on their craft.
Gonca was our guide and with her we had a wonderful experience. Smiling, spontaneous, engaging, and professional, she made our walk through the streets of Istanbul authentic and surprising! We learned many things and tasted delicious food! It was fantastic to let ourselves be guided by Gonca into the true spirit of this city, so complex and fascinating! Thank you, dear Gonca! Daniela and Davide
Thank you for your wonderful review and for exploring the fascinating daily life of Istanbul with us. We are so glad our guide could share the true spirit and complexity of the city with you. Your visit helps us continue supporting the unsung culinary heroes and family-run spots that keep these beautiful traditions alive.
Our tour guide Remziye was amazing, she was so knowledgeable about not only the food of Istanbul but also the history of the city and the country. We ate all sorts of amazing food and learnt so much about the history of Turkey.
Thank you for the wonderful review and for taking the time to explore the complex history of Istanbul with us. By joining our walks, you are supporting the unsung heroes of the kitchen and helping to preserve traditional culinary crafts. We deeply appreciate your commitment to honest tourism and hope to share more neighborhood stories with you soon.
Awesome tour. Highly recommend for your first day in Istanbul to understand the country and its people.
Thank you for the review! We are so glad this walk helped you experience the daily life and complexity of Istanbul right at the start of your trip. By joining us, you are directly supporting the unsung heroes of the kitchen and helping to preserve these vital culinary traditions.
