Eating Like a Local: Learn About Diverse Culinary Culture of Turkey
Recommended by 97% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Istanbul, Turkey
- 4 hours 20 minutes (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Stroll through Istanbul with the guidance and commentary of a private guide on this food-focused excursion. Your guide will provide facts about the city's culinary culture and history, and you'll stop along the way to taste traditional Turkish delicacies. Highlights include the Spice Bazaar, the back streets of Eminonu, and the Kadikoy fish market.
- Small group tour for just eight people or fewer
- Walk through Istanbul to get to know the city
- Food tastings and nonalcoholic drinks included
- Ask questions and listen to commentary from your guide
What's Included
- Food Tasting Experience
- Professional Tour Guide
- 2 Way Ferry Tickets
- Soft Drinks
- Private transportation
- Alcoholic Drinks (available to purchase)
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
We can pick up from centrally located Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Karakoy and Taksim hotels, for non-central hotels MEETING POINT can be set by guest after booking. Tours can start from Galataport as well for cruise passengers.
Itinerary
1
Misir Carsisi (Spice Market)
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Eminonu Pier
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
Kadikoy Istanbul Boga MeydanI (Pass By)
3
KadIkoy CarsIsI
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
4
Kadikoy Iskelesi
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 90 reviews
LeongHooi_T, Apr 2026
This was our first activity in Istanbul after arrival and we shared the tour with family friends. Our guide Fatih, was early and met us at the hotel. He took us over to the Asian side of Istanbul by underground and ferry. The food samplings were delicious, tasting a variety of meze and pickles. The crispy lahmacun was superb, as was the tasty tantuni. Sweets and coffee/tea followed and some samplings at the local spice market. Being a food tour, the food quantity was just nice. Fatih was very helpful in answering our questions. Overall a good experience.
Dennis_L, Mar 2026
I can't recommend this Istanbul food tour highly enough-an absolute five star experience from start to finish. Our guide, Erbil, was incredibly knowledgeable. We tasted an amazing variety of dishes from local spots that we never would have found on our own. The pace was just right with plenty of time to enjoy each location. we left not only full but with a deeper appreciation for Istanbul's culinary scene.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Dear Dennis,
A big thank you from all of us! We love what we do, and it’s so rewarding to hear that our guests have such a memorable and tasty experience.
We are so happy you enjoyed the tour! There’s nothing we love more than sharing our favorite hidden gems with fellow food lovers. Thank you for being such a great guest!
Susan_S, Oct 2025
I had Emel as my guide and she was very caring and tailored the tour to my tastes. We stopped at several restaurants and shops on the Asian side starting with savory dishes and ending with dessert. The tour did not last as long as stated in the description but we did cover several stops and had plenty to eat. The tour does state that they will meet you at your hotel but if transportation is needed to get from hotel to ferry it will be at your expense. I would definitely recommend Emel as a guide and if you like to try different foods then this tour will be a good experience.
William_M, Sep 2025
A fun, interesting and educational tour with a wonderful diversity of foods from a number of family-owned restaurants. Our tour guide, Emel, did an outstanding job teaching us about Turkish cuisine, culture and history.
Sally_C, Sep 2025
We have just returned from a food tour with Fatih - loved the experience to learn about food & culture in Istanbul. Plenty of food to try from savour to sweet with everything in between.
Michael_L, Aug 2025
The guide Emil was ausome. She tayloed the day around our likes and showed us how locals eat in the Asian side of istanbul.
Staci_L, Jul 2025
An inside look and history of some popular Turkish dishes and treats and an opportunity to explore Kadiköy. Go in the evening when it’s lively and cooler!
Shelby_T, Jul 2025
Today was a great day. Yusuf Sipahi was our tour guide. He was very knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating. He took us around both the European and Asian areas of Istanbul and had us try a variety of local dishes and drinks. We also learned a lot about Turkish history and culture. It was a great way to see Istanbul for the first time!
Mark_S, Jun 2025
Fatih was an excellent guide for this delightful and delicious sampling of Turkish foods; we couldn’t be move pleased that we chose it!
Kunal_B, Jun 2025
It was a fantastic experience with Fatih.
Other than food, he had very interesting anecdotes and stories to tell about Istanbul. He took us to the Asian side and we got to sample various type of local food, while walking around.
Highly recommend Fatih for his knowledge, energy and wonderful demeanor.
Annabel_S, May 2025
This tour was terrible. I booked it because we could start late afternoon. I am embarrassed to say we paid £310 for it. Our guide was Kadir. We had none of the food shown in the photograph advertising the tour. The food we did have was inexpensive and not the best. We turned down intestines! We heard very little about the culture and history of the food but a lot about history (this was a food tour not a history tour) and a lot about him. We paid for our ferry tickets on the way over because he didn't realise they were included. He did buy us a beer to compensate. We had enjoyed some delicious food in Istanbul before this tour for nowhere near this amount of money. This is the first negative review I have ever done but we didn't want other people to be 'ripped off' like us
Anne_B, May 2025
Excellent tour of both sides of Istanbul!! Yusef was an amazing guide and personalized the tour to our group. He was very knowledgeable about the city and culture and helped us order things we never would have tried ourselves - all delicious. Highly recommend!
Fadi_H, May 2025
We were so excited for this tour! We wanted it to be great! My husband has celiac, so is gluten free. The guide did not understand or did not give a crap that he couldn’t eat wheat. We sampled four different items. That’s it. Again, knowledgeable about Turkey, and friendly guy, just not with food. For the price we paid, I would not recommend, esp with a food allergy.
Response from Host, May 2025
Dear Fadi,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback on TripAdvisor. First and foremost, we’re truly sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations, and we deeply regret any disappointment you felt during the tour.
We fully understand how important it is for every guest to feel both included and cared for—especially when it comes to dietary needs such as gluten sensitivity. We’re sorry to hear that there weren’t enough tasting options available to suit your needs, and that you felt your guide did not show the attention and flexibility you deserved in this regard. This is certainly not the level of care and customization we strive to provide.
Your comment has been taken seriously and shared with our team, including the guide involved. Your guide was praised for their knowledge, and we’re thankful for that—yet we recognize that knowledge alone is not enough if the experience doesn't feel attentive or personalized.
We are truly sorry for any frustration caused, and we’d love the opportunity to make things right. Please let us know if there’s anything we can do to improve your impression or support you further in any way.
Thank you again for your honesty. Your input helps us grow, and we hope to have a chance to restore your trust in us.
Reva_S, May 2025
We had an amazing food and culture focused evening in Istanbul with Emel! She was warm, right on time, so easy to chat with, and full of fascinating information. She customized the tasting to our interest and food preferences. She was really flexible and made everything feel effortless. It was like exploring the city with a super knowledgeable, local friend! We highly recommend booking a tour with her!
Beth_P, Jan 2025
We had a great experience walking around the European and Asian sides of the city with Yusuf. He was an excellent host. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and always open to answering our questions. We went to many different establishments and tried SO MUCH food. Yusuf was able to easily accommodate one of our group being a vegetarian. I would highly recommend this tour. It was a great way to learn our way around parts of the city and to be more comfortable dining out during the rest of our trip.
Amelia_T, Oct 2024
A lovely food tour of the wonders of everything Istanbul has to offer through food. Started at the Spice Bazaar tasting and trying beautiful spices, baklava, teas, and turkish delights. Then took a ferry to Kadikoy to try Mezze, visit one of the oldest pickle shops in Istanbul, try lahmancun, tantuni, and finished off with beautiful baklava and coffee. Fatih was amazing, very knowledgeable, patient and happy to adapt the tour to whatever you like to enjoy most. Also, wants to ensure that you have the best experience, so if there's something you'd rather try or learn, he'll adapt and work with you to find the best thing that works. Very enjoyable experience, all of the food was wonderful and I'm very grateful for being able to eat and drink everything and left at the end of all of the tastings feeling very full and content!
Make sure you wear comfortable shoes, and are happy to walk. It's a lot of walking and wandering, but definitely worth it for all the wonderful food and history of deliciousness that Istanbul/Turkey has to offer.
kenneth_a, Oct 2024
Yusuf was an excellent guide who was very eager to share his culture and foods. He tailored the foods to our tastes and showed us things we would never have tried on our own. Highly recommended.
Mary_R, Sep 2024
I love experiencing a new culture through its food. I appreciated get to try some of the best examples of the local foods and discuss the food culture with someone knowledgeable on the topic. The ferry ride to the Asian side of Istanbul was also a treat.
Richard_D, Sep 2024
Had a good food tour with Josef. We mostly experienced the Asian side. We got to sample quite a variety of foods which is what we wanted. He tried hard and did a good job of making sure we were happy and informed. I recommend!
Robyn_H, Aug 2024
Learning about the wonderful city of Istanbul and tasting the many various foods of this region. A great guide who had local knowledge and took the time to get to know you …. A very enjoyable experience.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Dear Guest, Thank you for taking time to write your comment and appreciation on Trip Advisor. It gives us great pleasure to hear that you enjoyed the tour given by our dear colleague and we truly appreciate your positive feedback.
Kind Regards
Hatice Kelek
Ernest_F, Jun 2024
My guide Yusuf made it all quite easy for me to experience many different Turkish foods. We went to the “Spice” (Egyptian) Bazaar where I tried some fascinating new fruits. He showed me the classic source for Turkish Delights, which were more flavorful and less sugary than most I see sold here. Yusuf made the metro and ferry systems seem accessible to me, which was helpful for the rest of my visit. We went to about 8 spots in all. I feel like I had an immersive course Turkish foods, history, and culture.
Michelle_W, Jun 2024
Poor value. We chose a pricier option for the timing flexibility of a private tour. Due to issues our tour guide didn’t show up and they sent a replacement after we called and notified them that we had been waiting to no avail. The tour started an hour late and felt rushed. The substitute tour guide was kind to step in. It didn’t seem like it was his speciality as the content of the tour was not what we expected based on the description. Overall the price we paid did not match the value of the experience (time delay, rushed, skipped spice bazaar, inexpensive foods, minimal to no content over culture and history of the food). I wish we had gone with the more reliable group tour instead. It was great to do this on the first day to get familiar with the city and its transportation options, nonetheless.
Alvin_W, Dec 2023
We recently took this tour when we were in Istanbul and were lucky enough to have Emel Kesir to be our guide for the night. We got to try food that we never had before and they were all delicious, especially those stuffed mussels. Emel made sure we had a great time and at the same time providing us with historical info not just about food but the community and the city. Highly recommend this tour!
Roksana_S, Oct 2023
Very good Tour! We loved street food on the asian side from Istanbul.
Our guide was very kind and explained us a lots of interesting things about the city and his citizens.
Susan_A, Oct 2023
Outstanding experience with EMEL. She met us at our hotel for a private tour of Istanbul with ferry rides and tastings of delicious foods. She even got my olive hating husband to eat olives. Fantastic experience. Very personalized and professional.
Beverly_P, Oct 2023
Loved Katicoy in the Asian section of Istanbul. Vibrant, busy, car free walkways with food stalls, restaurants, shops and lots to see. Enjoyed taking the ferry ride and views of the coastline at sunset, as well. Amy was a great and fun tour guide.
MURALI_K, Aug 2023
Ozge OKUMUŞ the guide was amazing, very friendly and knowledgeable, we tried
1) çiğ köfte
2) balık dürüm
4) siyah çay
3) kokoreç - ayran
4) lahmacun -ayran
5) Kazandibi - Türk Kahvesi
We walked everywhere, took the ferry and she took great photos too, very impressed with her English language proficiency, highly recommend this experience!
Tim_B, Jul 2023
One of the best tours that I have EVER been on! Our tour guide, Yusuf Sipahi, was nothing short of perfection. He made us feel very comfortable, was extremely knowledgeable of the culture and history of Istanbul, and even added a few extra history stops along the way. We enjoyed food at 10 different locations and left stuffed. Since we came on a cruise, we only had 8 hours in Turkey. Yusuf went above and beyond making sure we got to experience everything we could in such a short period of time. 10/10 tour
Stephanie_C, Jun 2023
We are from Sydney Australia and wanted to experience genuine Turkish cuisine. Our guide Yusuf Sipahi was a local who also loved to share (with pride) his wonderful cultural and food heritage. We saw and tried so many interesting things and Yusuf even found me a really clean bathroom when I asked to use a toilet. His knowledge of the history, old and new was fabulous, we learned and experienced so much and I'd recommend this tour to anyone wanting to experience Turkey as a "foodie"!
Response from Host, Jun 2023
Dear Guest,
Thank you for taking time to write your comment and appreciation on Trip Advisor. It gives us great pleasure to hear that you enjoyed the tour given by our dear colleague and we truly appreciate your positive feedback.
Kind Regards
Hatice Kelek
Sherry_W, May 2023
Our tour guide Ozge was incredible! I had expected this to be a small group tour but turned out that it was private. The tour was mapped out but we were able to deviate occasionally when something interesting caught our eye. The food was all delicious and just the right proportions to keep you from getting too full. It was fun to see some different neighborhoods and learn about the culture and history of Turkey through the food. A lot of walking but with frequent stops it was quite manageable. Ozge was not only a great guide but by the end of the tour I felt like I had spent the day with a local friend.
From $139.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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