Culinary Backstreets of the Bazaar Quarter

Recommended by 100% of travelers

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Istanbul, Turkey

5 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Taste your way around Istanbul’s bustling and history-filled Bazaar Quarter during this five-hour, small-group food-tasting tour. Sample delicacies with origins from around the country, from a traditional Konya wedding soup to the Ottoman-era dessert kadayıf from Gaziantep. Understand the neighborhood’s melting pot food culture with explanations and stories from your guide. A full Turkish breakfast spread, lunch, refreshments, and coffee are tea are included.

A 5.5-hour food tour through Istanbul’s Bazaar Quarter
Learn about Turkey’s rich culinary heritage while tasting a selection of food items
Enjoy a personalized experience within a group limited to only 7 participants
Tours include two meals, snacks, refreshments, and a hot drink

What's Included

Coffee and/or Tea
Snacks
Lunch
Soda/Pop
Breakfast

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Anadolu Nargile Çorlulu Ali Paşa Medresesi
Molla Fenari, Yeniçeriler Cd. No:38, 34120 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
We will meet at the entrance of Çorlulu Ali Paşa Medresesi, just off Yeniçeriler Caddesi. Look for the main archway entrance that leads into the tea garden area.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.9:30 am

Itinerary

Grand Bazaar

5 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed

Near public transportation
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 7 travelers

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Grace_J

Wow - I can wholeheartedly say, this is a must do activity while in Istanbul. I have done many food tours which have all been amazing, but this is hands down the best I have ever done (by far). Kadir is an incredible, kind and knowledgeable guide and it was amazing to be able to explore the backstreets with him. He made the experience even better. I am so grateful to him for such a wonderful day in Istanbul, trying an array of amazing, tasty and diverse food - you will be so full after, the tour is great value.

Reviews

5.0

based on 118 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

A must do if food is a big part of your travels!

Lauma_M, Oct 2025

A wonderful tour that was not just food but so many stories and experiences, meeting local craftsmen and cooks, tasting so many different things some in places you likely would not find by yourself. And the amount of tastings was just right - we were full by the end but not to the extent of feeling too stuffed. But be sure not to eat breakfast before the tour and at least we also did not need a dinner after it!

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re delighted that you enjoyed the Bazaar Quarter tour and all the stories, tastings, and encounters with local craftsmen and cooks. It’s wonderful to hear that the balance of food and experiences hit just right – that is exactly what we are going for. We’re so glad you got to explore hidden gems that are often missed and truly immerse yourself in the local culture. Don’t forget to check your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see all the stamps you’ve collected!

Great tour! A must experience!

JamesW_S, Oct 2025

Far more than food and the Bazaar. Many interesting historical and cultural sights! Good food. Reasonable pace

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear that your Culinary Backstreets of the Bazaar Quarter tour offered such a rich mix of food, history, and culture. It’s wonderful that you enjoyed the pace and all the sights along the way. We take pride in working with guides who share their city’s stories and culinary treasures with knowledge and passion. Don’t forget to check out your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see your new stamp and track all your delicious discoveries!

The best food tour ever with Kadir!

Grace_J, Jul 2025

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Thank you so much for your fantastic review of Culinary Backstreets of the Bazaar Quarter! We’re thrilled to hear it was the best food tour you’ve ever done — that means the world to us. Kadir will be so happy to know you appreciated his kindness, knowledge, and passion for Istanbul’s hidden culinary gems. We take great pride in working with guides who love their cities deeply and bring that enthusiasm to every tour. We’re glad you enjoyed the diverse and delicious food, and agree — it’s definitely a day that leaves you full and satisfied! Don’t forget to check out your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see all the stamps you’ve collected — and we hope to welcome you back soon for more amazing experiences!

Lovely guide - food was...

Sarah_M, Jun 2025

Lovely guide - food was wonderful. I really enjoyed tasting the food and hearing about it. A terrific day.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad you enjoyed the wonderful food and the stories behind each bite. Our guides take great pride in sharing the rich culture and traditions that make these flavors special. Don’t forget to check your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see the delicious stamps you’ve collected from your journey!

Kadir was a fantastic...

Mellissa_J, Jul 2024

Kadir was a fantastic guide. I had such a wonderful day discovering hidden gems around the old city. Not only were the food stops fantastic but the opportunity to interact with local craftsmen and learn more about Istanbul and its people was priceless I highly recommend this tour to anyone who truly wants an insight into Turkish culture, food and her people.

Response from Host, Jul 2024

Thank you very much for your great feedback and leaving us a 5-star review, this is exactly what we’re going for! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed our tour with the amazing Kadir! We take pride in working with great people like him who are very knowledgeable and extremely fond of the cities they live in. We hope to see you again soon in one of our cities. You can check out your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see the stamps you have collected. All the best!

Great guide

Mike_D, Apr 2024

Ughur was an excellent guide and we visited amazing “back street” eateries! Great intro to Turkish cuisine.

Response from Host, May 2024

We are glad to hear you enjoyed the walk! Thank you very much for leaving us a 5-star review! We look forward to having you with us again soon.You can check out your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see the stamps you have collected.

Perfection

Brittany_C, Apr 2024

Absolutely outstanding! The guide was very knowledgeable about the history of the food as well the best locally owned places to eat. I've taken tours in 20+ countries and this tour was one of my very favorites!

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Exploring Turkish Food and Culture in Fatih 🇹🇷

Melissa_G, Oct 2023

Our tour began outside the train station in Fatih and was easy to find. Our tour guide Esin was wonderful. She had arranged a traditional Turkish breakfast for us inside the train station (the same one built to accommodate the Orient Express! After breakfast we continued through the streets of Fatih constantly stopping at various restaurants for different selections of traditional Turkish dishes. Esin explained all the meals and how they were prepared. She also talked about the area and history of Istanbul. She took us behind the scenes near the Grand Bazaar to meet with some local craftsman. The tour lasted several hours and we learned so much. Our group was great and by the end of the day we felt like we had made new friends and hope to see Esin and all of them again at some point.

Excellent

Kim_S, Aug 2022

This was a wonderful tour. Our guide was so knowledgeable. We tried all kinds of authentic food with the best products to be found. Bring your appetite and walking shoes.

Response from Host, Sep 2022

Thanks! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour! You can check out your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see the stamps you have collected. We hope to see you again soon in one of our cities.