Two Markets, Two Continents with Culinary Backstreets

Wow. My stomach is still straining, partly from too much food, partly from disbelief that I tried everything- and there were some very interesting choices I’m not going to detail for fear of ruining someone else’s fun Suffice it to say, we started at 9:30 and finished about 5 back at the ferry terminal for the return trip. We had breakfast foods, sweets, wraps, meze appetizers, main courses, and soooo many surprise foods. I will admit, I forced my Western, suburban self to choke down a few, only to discover they were darned good (great, even!) after all. Eye opening. I’ve learned so much today about Turkey, brief tales of how internal trade - and turmoil- has affected food over the centuries (or just in the past few decades). Our enthusiastic guide, Remziye, was lovely. Very knowledgeable, and put up with my frequent interruption. Sorry, ma’am, I have few social skills to go along with my rabid curiosity. She has a real gift for wanting to share what she knows, and explaining it well. By the same token, there was no pressure to try everything. We did have a few guests who opted not to eat everything presented. Will be looking for other CB tours to join on future travels! I was shocked at the price at first, but considering we dropped over $50 here our first day, out by ourselves, simpling sharing a meze platter and splitting a single chicken doner, I actually ended up worried that Remziye was going to break even after 8 or ten stops. BTW, I had been extremely stressed about taking the ferry back (Remziye covered our “to” ticket as part of the tour), having read all the horror stories about confusion buying cards from machines, and scammers bullying their way into “helping”. Nowhere did I read that you can simply tap a credit card at the gate, same as in the London Tube. Ahhhhhh, sweet relief. Thanks, Remziye. I felt so much better after that!

FANATIC !!! Tour was amazing. Perfect small group size was perfect for a solo traveler and our guide. I just cannot say amazing things about....Gonca K!!! Omg huge kudos to her. The knowledge! The history and food culture! Her spirit and personality. 10++++

Ibrahim Karlidag was awesome. He gave us such detailed history, brought maps for his explanations, and the food was phenomenal. Highly, highly recommend.

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.

+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.

Huge fun, loads of food and interesting stops in different areas of the city. Great guide!

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.

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!

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.

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!