Top Istanbul Culinary Tours

Get a taste of Turkey's varied cuisine during this half-day food tour through the Beyoglu (Pera) neighborhood. With a small group limited to eight, enjoy samplings of everything from mezes to baklava to kebabs. Stop at bustling markets, street food stalls, restaurants, and backstreets for a closer look at Turkish culture and history.

Get an authentic taste of Istanbul on this food tour, featuring delicious Turkish street eats, a rooftop dinner at a 140-year-old family restaurant, and spectacular city views. Feast on food it’s easy to overlook if exploring alone, and make new friends on this small-group tour, which includes drop-off at Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Eminönü, Galata, Taksim, and cruise ports. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options are available.

Get to know the complex food culture of Istanbul on this guided street food walking tour. Explore the Pera neighborhood and visit some of the hidden passages and streets including the Flower Passage, Hazzopulo, and Asmali Mescit. Stop at traditional meyhanes and food markets and sample a wide range of cuisine, including snacks, desserts, and drinks.

Istanbul is a big city, so it can be hard to meet locals who aren’t in the tourist trade. Enjoy an authentic encounter with Istanbul’s culture, cuisine, and hospitality on this intimate walking tour through the Balat neighborhood. Soak up the atmosphere as you walk around and receive a guidebook with other tips and recommendations about Istanbul. The tour starts with a snack tasting; after that, pay as you go for what you choose to eat.

Discover the culinary delights of Istanbul on a small-group evening walking and food tour that explores the European and Asian sides of the city. Catch the ferry across the Bosphorus strait from Karakoy to visit Kadikoy Carsisi market for tastings of typical bites. Sail back to the European side for a hearty meal of kebabs and meze, then continue to other fantastic eateries for dessert and Turkish ice cream.

This intimate and in-depth Istanbul food tour focuses on lesser-known culinary hotspots and locally renowned backstreet locations. Eat your way around both European and Asian sides of the city, with stops in Karakoy, Kadikoy, and the up-and-coming Moda neighborhood. The full-day experience includes breakfast, lunch, snacks, tea and coffee, and bottled water.

Begin your journey at the famous Egyptian Spice Bazaar, where you will meet your guide and sample traditional Turkish delights, nuts, and herbal teas. Immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere of one of Istanbul’s most iconic markets. From there, walk across the historic Galata Bridge, enjoying views of the Golden Horn as you head toward the trendy Karaköy district. Explore colorful streets, including the famous Umbrella Street, and discover hidden corners full of local life. Along the way, enjoy authentic tastings such as Turkish tea, freshly made gözleme (stuffed flatbread), and the famous fish wrap by the waterfront. Continue your journey with a ride on the historic Tünel Funicular, one of the oldest underground railways in the world, arriving at lively Istiklal Street. Indulge in a traditional Turkish dessert, such as quince or pumpkin, before finishing your experience with a rich and aromatic Turkish coffee in a local café.

Prepare to be awed by Istanbul’s magnificent architecture, rich history, and eclectic bazaars as you discover the unmissable highlights of the Old City on this 1-, 2-, or 3-day private tour. Marvel over the glorious Hagia Sophia, learn how the Blue Mosque earned its famous nickname. Tour Topkapi Palace to gain an insight into the lavish lifestyles of the Ottoman sultans and their harem, and browse the legendary Grand Bazaar, where you find everything from carpets to Turkish delight. Flexible daily itineraries: Day 1 - Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome Square, German Fountain, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar. Day 2 - Bosphorus Cruise by Public Ferry, Dolmabahce Palace, Taksim Square, Istiklal Street, Cicek Passage, Galata Tower (from outside), Spice Market. Day 3 - Suleymaniye Mosque, Fener and Balat Districts, St. Stephen Church (Iron Church), Pierre Lotti Panoramic Hill by Cable Car, Kadıkoy Market (or alternative sites).

Taste your way around both European and Asian sides of the Turkish capital during this half-day, small-group food tour of Istanbul. Lunch, breakfast, and snacks are included. Get help deciphering local menus as you traverse bustling food markets and family-run shops and eateries in Kadikoy and Karakoy.

Taste your way around two continents during this small-group, half-day food and drink tour in Istanbul. Enjoy a mix of classic recipes, including doner kebab, meatballs, pide flatbreads, and the iconic baklava desert, passing by city landmarks along the way. Tours include all snacks and refreshments, plus ferry tickets to Kadıköy and back.

Istanbul has a thriving food scene, but it can be hard to know where to find an authentic Turkish experience. Enjoy an evening immersed in Istanbul's traditional culture with dinner at a historical family restaurant loved by locals, complete with a dervish performance—an 800-year-old tradition that's Unesco Heritage listed. Plus, transportation back to your hotel is included at the end so there's no hassle of flagging a taxi.

Istanbul straddles the Bosphorus. Discover the different styles of its European and Asian sides on this small-group food tour where, unlike on most food adventures, you choose what to eat and where and pay as you go. Start in Karaköy, on the European side, discovering bakeries, cafés, and more; catch the ferry to Kadıköy on the Asian side and uncover markets, street food stalls, and Turkish snacks.

Eat and drink your way around Istanbul’s historic district of Kadikoy during this half-day, small-group tasting tour. Listen to entertaining legends and stories from around the colorful neighborhood as you taste local delicacies like Lahmacun (minced meat-covered flatbread) and Menemen (eggs with peppers). Wine, coffee or tea, and bottled water are included.

Get out of your kebab rut on this private walking food tour of Karakoy and Kadikoy, exploring both European and Asian sides of the city. Roam through markets that most travelers miss, with all tastings included for a seamless experience. Dig into a Turkish breakfast spread, experience the city’s coffee culture, and indulge in sweet treats like baclava— with a guide on hand to steer you toward the best spots.

Discover Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, a vibrant hub of commerce that blends East and West. This guided tour takes you through a maze of shops and artisan workshops, where you’ll delve into the Bazaar's 600-year history. Engage with local merchants, from spice sellers to silk traders, and immerse yourself in the rich cultural exchanges that have shaped this iconic marketplace. Your expert guide will share captivating stories and insights, ensuring you avoid the common tourist traps for an authentic experience. - Please note that not all options include entry to the rooftop of Grand Bazaar, though a number of other exclusive rooftops are visited. - Explore the historic Grand Bazaar with a knowledgeable guide - Visit various shops and artisan workshops for a local perspective - Learn about the Bazaar's 600-year legacy and cultural significance - Experience authentic interactions with local merchants and artisans - Visit a number of exclusive rooftops that are normally not accessible

Taste your way through the lively Karakoy district on a 3-hour walking food tour. The small-group culinary adventure is special in that it takes you to some of the neighborhood’s most beloved eateries that you won’t find in any guidebook. Sample traditional mezze (side dishes), chicken shish kebab, pide (flat bread), and more. Those with a sweet tooth will be pleased with freshly prepared Turkish Delight and baklava.

Go off Istanbul’s beaten track on this small-group food tour around three of the city’s local neighborhoods. Visit an Ottoman-style bakery in Beşiktaş, browse the market in Üsküdar, then get a different perspective in scenic Kuzguncuk. Benefit from the local knowledge of your guide and enjoy a full day’s dining, with breakfast, lunch, snacks, and drinks all covered.

Taste your way around the Asian side of Istanbul on this private, half-day food tour through Kadikoy. Enjoy 10 food and drink tastings, with alternatives available for any dietary requirements. Discover neighborhood landmarks and get an off-the-beaten-track perspective on the dynamic Turkish capital from a local host, who can also give you tailored recommendations for the rest of your vacation.

Discover Istanbul’s delectable bites and illuminated sights by night on this food tour. Alongside a knowledgeable guide, head to the bustling Taksim Square, home to the mighty Monument to the Republic, in order to sample Turkish specialties from multiple eateries. Feast on Turkish dishes like icli kofte (spiced meat and nuts), sample an authentic Turkish kebab, and satisfy your sweet tooth with baklava, a traditional Turkish dessert. Round-trip hotel transport is included on this small-group tour, limited to 14 food lovers.

Beginning with a selection of specialties in a timeless neighborhood Lokanta, we’ll visit a pickle-maker and other artisans. Winding our way through the district’s atmospheric side streets, there will be specialties from across the country, ranging from the far Northeast to the Black Sea to the distinct cuisine of Hatay in the Southeast. We’ll visit a hidden Armenian church inside a bustling fish market between samplings at street vendors fishmongers and grill joints and, finally, we’ll treat ourselves to the best Turkish coffee in the city. Depending on the day and what the walk comes across, there will be several other culinary surprises along the way of this food tour in Istanbul, all of them telling the fascinating tale of what is perhaps the city’s most iconic neighborhood.

Our Kurtulus tour starts with an exclusive visit to a sports club belonging to that historic community, where we’ll have our first breakfast, followed by a stop for the heavenly dairy delights of Erzincan. We’ll walk off breakfast with visits to local artisans – artichoke peelers, cuckoo clock repairmen, Armenian book venders – as then begin grazing on our way to lunch. There will be stunning meze samples, including top-grade stuffed vine leaves and topik, a classic Armenian speciality. Down the street, kebabs at a real-deal grill house will arrive sizzling, fresh from the fire. Along the way, we’ll sample street food from the Mediterranean port city of Mersin and share a couple plates of the daily special in a cozy family-run lokanta. Depending on the season, there may be boza, a fermented millet drink with Ottoman roots, or Turkish-style ice cream at a beloved dairy bar run by the third generation of a local family.

Let your tastebuds lead the way on this culinary tour of Istanbul's old city. Have breakfast in a local teahouse. Visit a local confectionary store where Turkish delight has been made for four generations. Visit a roadside inn where a cup of tea brings shopkeepers together. See hidden historical sites, an Ottoman-era bozacı and, finally, enjoy traditional pit-roasted lamb for lunch next to a Byzantine aqueduct.

Istanbul has some delicious vegan and vegetarian options, if you know where to look. Enhance your culinary experience of Turkey’s cultural capital on a private, plant-based food tour that can be customized to suit your dietary requirements. You’ll get off the beaten path and head to foodie hotspots such as Kadikoy Carsisi and Istiklal Caddesi.