Flavors of Istanbul – Private Local Food & Market Experience

Recommended by 98% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Istanbul, Turkey

4 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.9

· dnbatcheller ·

Oct 2025

I am not normally an adventurous eater, but decided to go out of my comfort zone and try this culinary tour. Very happy I did. Ugur Kilerci was knowledgeable, personable, and fun. He explained the history and preparation of the food. I sampled a wide variety of items from main courses, snacks, sides dishes, pickled vegetables, honey, desserts, and tea & coffee. Delicious. It was a thoroughly enjoyable tour.

· Alison_B ·

Jun 2026

Feiza was wonderful. We were introduced to so many new and delicious things and learned a lot about Turkish cooking and culture. We also just had a lot of fun together.

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Overview

Embark on a culinary adventure through Istanbul's Kadikoy district, guided through hidden alleyways to savor authentic local flavors. Meet your guide and take the ferry across the Bosphorus Strait, taking inn the view of Istanbul’s European and Asian sides. Wander through the Kadikoy and Spice market to indulge in several tastings such as freshly baked simit, börek, baklava, lahmacun, and street food favorites like mussel dolma. Conclude at a coffeehouse, for a classic Turkish ending.

Perfect introduction for first-time visitors
Venture into hidden pastry shops
Experience Istanbul like a local
Conclude at a traditional Turkish coffee house

What's Included

Private guide
Samples to taste and drink
Water
Transportation (public transportation)

Personal expenses

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Guests will be met at their hotels or a meeting point can be set by talking to our team.

Itinerary

Karakoy

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Bosphorus Strait

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

KadIkoy CarsIsI

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Misir Carsisi

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps

No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

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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)

Reviews

4.9

based on 41 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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Sort by: Most insightful

Feiza was wonderful. We...

Alison_B, Jun 2026

Feiza was wonderful. We were introduced to so many new and delicious things and learned a lot about Turkish cooking and culture. We also just had a lot of fun together.

Really lovely day; good way to see Anatolian side

kelsey, May 2026

Okay the cons- you probably need more than 4 hours, especially if you want to go to the Asia side of Istanbul. My only feedback is do not limit yourself to 4 hours because you can easily do more! Pros- Volkan was lovely, very chill. The food is lovely. I love finding a random alleyway with the best food in it. The Asia side of Istanbul is so unique and has spectacular views of the European side. Oh and if you love cats and dogs everywhere, you will REALLY enjoy! I tried to pet every cat I saw! But obviously this is optional ;)

A ‘must do’ experience

David_G, May 2026

Emel was such an awesome guide. We sampled authentic, high quality Turkish cuisine, coupled with great local knowledge and humour. Could not recommend this tour highly enough - it’s a ‘must do’.

Try it, you'll like it.

dnbatcheller, Oct 2025

A fantastic day with our...

Scheree_K, Aug 2025

A fantastic day with our guide Baruk! Highly recommend for an introduction to the area, its history, and cuisine. A beautiful city!!!

Istanbul food tour

Igor_S, Aug 2025

We had a fun time on this Istanbul food tour. Our guide, Vulcan was great. Very friendly and knowledgeable about his city. We tried different traditional street food as well as checking out the spice market.

Eating and Shopping in Istanbul

Trent_W, Jul 2025

This was a wonderful experience with Vulcan. He was able to customize our experience with some specific shopping with some unique food experiences. We had some delicious Turkish food that we would not have tried otherwise. We were amazed at all the shopping!!!!

Great for foodies

Purav_P, Jun 2025

Immersive experience in the food culture of Istanbul both European and Asian parts of the city. Our guide Volkan was amazing.

Interesting and tasty tour

Lee_J, Feb 2024

Great tour and was a brilliant tour guide in Emre , we learned so much from him . Very honest company also we over booked and they brought it to our attention and gave us a refund highly recommended

So much food in an amazing city!

Marla_T, Aug 2023

Do not eat anything before this tour! There is so much food, you'll want room to enjoy it all! Ugur was an excellent tour guide who shared the vast history and culture of Istanbul along with its culinary treasures. We only had one day in this interesting city, and he helped us feel like we spent our time well. Be brave and try everything, even the unfamiliar. Our time in the spice market allowed us to bring some treats back with us. Thank you for giving us an unforgettable day in your city!