Taste of Turkey on Two Continents: From European Istanbul to Asian Kadikoy

Recommended by 100% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Istanbul, Turkey

Great choice

5+ bookings last month.

4 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

5.0

· Richard_W ·

Apr 2026

Erol was a fantastic guide and made the tour an exceptional experience. He engaged with each guest, explained what we saw and ate, and responded thoughtfully and knowlegeably to our questions. The tour itself was well-designed and offered us insights and chances to try food and drink that we would never have found on our own.

· Kimberly_S ·

Oct 2025

Spent a wonderful 4.5 hours with Erol—-he is friendly, a good communicator, and so knowledgeable about food, culture and history. Excellent English. It was wonderful to ride the ferry and visit both the European and Asian sides, and sample local specialities. Would highly recommend for a new visitor to Istanbul.

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Overview

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.

A half-day, small-group Istanbul culinary tour across two continents
Compare European and Asian sides of the dynamic Turkish capital
Enjoy a personalized experience in a group capped at only 8 people
Savory and sweet snacks, refreshments, and round-trip ferry tickets are included

What's Included

All the foods, drinks and snacks
Ferry ride from Europe to Asia and back to Europe
Professional guide
Small Group

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Gratitude

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Hamdi Restaurant - Eminönü
Rüstem Paşa Mah Tahmis Caddesi, Rüstem Paşa, Kalçin Sk. No:11, 34116 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Please meet your guide in front of HAMDİ RESTAURANT – EMİNÖNÜ (outside). The restaurant is just a 2-minute walk from the Eminönü tram stop (T1 line) and is located right next to the Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı). Your guide will be wearing a tour guide badge and will be easy to recognize.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps

Most travelers can participate
This tour is required to be booked by a minimum 2 participants.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers

Supplied by

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

Lucille_M

Can't say enough good things about this tour! Our group had a fantastic guide, Tolga, who not only introduced us to many different types of Turkish foods, but also provided us with a lot of information about Turkey and its history. The tour included stops at several different restaurants and food vendors and the opportunity to sample a large variety of foods and beverages, all of which were delicious. You will not finish this tour hungry! We particularly enjoyed spending time on the Asian side of Turkey, which we might not have experienced but for this tour. Highly recommended!

Reviews

5.0

based on 74 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Great afternoon with Errol

Susannah_P, Apr 2026

We were guided by Errol who was fabulous and very accommodating of our toddler. We would never have the confidence to go to the Asian side of Istanbul ourselves, and having a food focus felt like the best was to experience this part of the city. The local restaurants are simply miles better than the European side and Errol guided us through dishes we would have never tried ourselves. I would 100% recommend this tour.

A Must-Do in Istanbul!

Richard_W, Apr 2026

Brilliant....

roger_w, Oct 2025

Brilliant. No crowds. V taysetasti All in all a very new and different experience.wooonderuuullllll.

Must Request Erol as Guide!

Ching_W, Oct 2025

It's just 2 weeks since I've returned from my trip to Istanbul and as I reminisce my trip through my numerous photos, the standout excursion of our trip to Istanbul was our guided fooding and culture tour with Erol. My friends and I learned so much from Erol's very passionate knowledge of origins of food and Turkish culture. We started off with breakfast pastries and the Spice Market on the European side and then really got to taste many delights on the Asian side. We discovered and fell in love with borek (filled with savory potatos is my fav), menemen (no onions!) and lamucun (turkish pizza) with aryan (salted milk). Erol, I tried to purchase of a few of these food items after our tour, and your versions were indeed so much better. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have had Erol as our food guide as he truly took us to the BEST local favorites to try the very best versions of all popular Turkish street foods. We also really enjoyed the deep conversations that covered so many unlikely topics. Erol was a true joy and speaks perfect English. Thank you for making our first trip to Istanbul unforgettable and so enjoyable Erol.

Wonderful Food (and Culture) Tour with Erol

Kimberly_S, Oct 2025

Great food tour!

Santiago_L, Sep 2025

The tour was fantastic! We had Kim for the tour and she was very knowledgeable and a fantastic tour guide. The food was also delicious so overall, it was a great experience!

Excellent tour with Erol

Mark_M, Aug 2025

Great experience with good food stops and informative guide Erol. We recommend this tour to other visitors.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed exploring both sides of Istanbul with Erol and that the food stops and stories made it a memorable experience. Your recommendation means so much to us, and we’d love to welcome you back for more culinary adventures in Turkey!

Enjoyed Fresh Prepared Food!

MaryJo_C, Jul 2025

We thoroughly enjoyed the food and background information Erol provided on this tour. We had seen some of these items on restaurant menus, but all the items we sampled were fresh prepared and delicious. We booked this tour at the end of a long vacation filled with significant walking and were apprehensive about a 5 hour tour. Luckily, we were the only ones on the tour that morning, and Erol worked with us to minimize the walking time. Highly recommend.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the fresh and delicious foods, as well as the background stories Erol shared. It’s wonderful that he was able to adapt the tour to make it comfortable for you after a long vacation. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you back for more culinary discoveries in Istanbul!

Erol was our guide. We...

Mark_D, Jul 2025

Erol was our guide. We really enjoyed our experience because Erol focused on the foods that Turkish people eat every day. He explained every food that we ate and told us whether the item was something that could be made at home. He was also took an interest in us personally. Overall, a great afternoon on the European and Asian sides of Istanbul.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear that Erol’s knowledge and personal attention made your afternoon so enjoyable. It’s wonderful that you appreciated exploring the everyday foods of Istanbul and learning about how they can be prepared at home. We truly value your feedback and hope to welcome you back for more culinary adventures across the city!

We had a fantastic time...

sharon_k, Jul 2025

We had a fantastic time with Erol. His English was excellent and we learned a lot about Turkish culture, history, and cuisine. We tasted a variety of Turkish food and really enjoyed spending time with Erol. It was the best tour that we’ve taken. We highly recommend taking a food tour with Erol.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that you had a fantastic time exploring Turkish culture, history, and cuisine with Erol. It’s wonderful that you enjoyed the variety of foods and the time spent together. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you back for more memorable culinary experiences in Istanbul!

A great food experience

Jill_S, May 2025

Erol was a brilliant tour guide. Apart from knowing a lot about Istanbul’s history, he was an expert on local food and knew all the little places where we could taste the variety of dishes which locals eat. We didn’t see a any other tourists on our tour.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you for your fantastic review! We are so thrilled to hear that you had such a brilliant time on our Istanbul food tour with Erol. It's wonderful to know that you appreciated Erol's deep knowledge of both the city's history and its local culinary scene. Our goal is to provide an authentic experience away from the typical tourist crowds, and it sounds like Erol delivered perfectly by showing you those hidden local gems. We will be sure to pass along your kind words to him. We hope to welcome you on another one of our tours in the future!

Fabulous Food Tour!

Lucille_M, May 2025

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you for your fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear that you had such a wonderful experience on our Istanbul food tour with Tolga. It's great to know that Tolga's passion and knowledge of Turkish history and food made the tour so special. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive and delicious experience, and we're so glad you enjoyed the large variety of foods and beverages. We're also delighted that you got to explore the Asian side of the city—it's one of our favorite parts of the tour! We'll be sure to pass along your wonderful compliments to Tolga. Your high recommendation means a lot to us, and we hope to see you on another tour in the future!

A Must Try!

Asia_J, Apr 2025

Our guided food tour on both the European and Asian sides of Istanbul with Erol was an absolute highlight of our trip! Most of the tastings were done on the Asian side, so we took the ferry over as a group. As we traveled across to the other side, Erol engaged with us throughout. Upon arrival to the other side, Erol truly opened our palates to flavors we wouldn't have typically tried on our own. Beyond the delicious food, Erol was outstanding. He was incredibly easy to talk to, creating a relaxed and engaging atmosphere. He answered all of our questions, not just about the food, but he also provided us with history about both the Asian and European sides of Turkey. Erol's knowledge and passion truly brought the city and its cuisine to life. If you're looking for an authentic and insightful food experience while in Istanbul, Erol is your guy! Thank you for making this experience a great one!

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that your Istanbul food tour with Erol was an absolute highlight of your trip. It sounds like Erol's passion and expertise truly shone through, making the journey to the Asian side and the culinary discoveries an unforgettable experience. We believe the best tours offer a blend of delicious food, rich history, and genuine connection, and it's clear Erol delivered all of that and more. Your high praise for Erol means the world to us, and we'll be sure to pass on your fantastic feedback. We hope you'll come back for another culinary adventure in Istanbul soon!

Great experience

NathanHeaps, Apr 2025

One of the best food tours we have taken. Erol was knowledgeable, friendly, and paced the tour well. We tried a lot of food and numerous places without feeling rushed.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that you consider our Istanbul food tour one of the best you've taken. It sounds like Erol delivered the perfect experience—we're so glad you found him to be knowledgeable, friendly, and that the pace was just right. Our goal is for guests to truly enjoy each dish and location without feeling rushed, and your feedback confirms we achieved that. We will be sure to pass along your kind words to Erol. We hope to have you join us for another culinary adventure in Istanbul soon!

Make sure to save room for the Stuffed Miscles

Mike_A, Oct 2024

The muscle stop !! Our guide was very engaging and truly shared her love of food with us ! Was a nicely paced tour and the ferry ride to the Asian side was enjoyable.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you for your review! We're so glad you enjoyed the Taste of Turkey on Two Continents tour. It sounds like "The muscle stop" was a highlight, and we're thrilled that your guide's passion for food made the experience so engaging for you. We agree that the ferry ride to the Asian side is always a treat, and we're happy to hear you had a great time!

Great intro to Turkish food

b5ypwrzhbx, Oct 2024

This was a great introduction to Turkish food and great way to start your trip. Erol our guide took us through breakfast snacks coffee and lunch spots through the European and Asian sides as well as explained history of food and Istanbul. Be careful about the stop in the spice market. They will rip you off and the tour guide didn’t say anything. Otherwise it was good.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you for sharing your experience. We are so happy to hear that your tour with Erol was a great introduction to Turkish food and a wonderful way to start your trip. It sounds like you had an amazing time exploring the culinary delights of both the European and Asian sides of Istanbul, and we'll be sure to pass along your compliments to Erol. However, I'm very sorry to hear about your experience at the spice market. It is unacceptable that you felt taken advantage of, and we sincerely apologize for the lack of intervention from our guide. We take your feedback seriously and will be immediately addressing this with all our guides to ensure they are proactive in protecting our guests' interests. Your comfort and trust are our top priority, and we appreciate you bringing this to our attention.

Best day in Instanbul.

Shelley_S, Aug 2024

We had the best day with Elif. She had a lot of historical information to offer as we were tasting some delicious Turkish food. We enjoyed going to many of the aras that the locals were eating as we felt very immersed in the Turkish culture. I would highly reccommend Elif if you are in Istanbul.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you for the wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had the "best day" on the **Taste of Turkey on Two Continents** tour. It sounds like **Elif** did a fantastic job of blending historical information with delicious Turkish food, creating a truly immersive experience. We love that you got to explore areas where the locals eat and feel a part of the Turkish culture. We'll be sure to pass on your kind words and high recommendation to Elif!

Highly recommend

Ginger_S, Jun 2024

Very knowledgeable tour guide! Loved the experience! Lots of food! Personalized private tour. Could of never done on own

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you for your fantastic review! We are so glad to hear that you had a wonderful experience on your personalized private tour. It's great to know that your guide's extensive knowledge made the tour special and that you enjoyed all the delicious food. We're proud to offer experiences that help you discover the city in a way you never could on your own.

Best food

Sharon_P, Jun 2024

This was the best introduction for our trip to Istanbul. We got to taste so much traditional food both breakfast on European side plus snacks and then lunch on Asian side. All foods we may not have tried on our own. Our guide Gamsie was a delight. Very friendly and gave us lots of tips and information as well. Do not eat beforehand you will be so full after. Loved it!

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that our tour was the "best introduction" to your trip to **Istanbul**. It's fantastic that you enjoyed the variety of traditional foods, from breakfast on the **European side** to lunch on the **Asian side**. We love that our tours encourage guests to try new things they might not have discovered on their own. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to **Gamze**—it sounds like her friendliness and helpful tips made the experience extra special. And your advice to come hungry is perfect! We're so glad you loved it.

Gamze the Great

Prasadi_T, May 2024

My partner and I got a private tour because there were no others. Our guide Gamze was incredible. She is a true local with extensive knowledge of not only the cuisine but history too. She was very personable and passionate which made the tour unforgettable. Highly recommend doing this tour within the first few days of your stay in Istanbul.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that your private tour with **Gamze** was so incredible. It sounds like Gamze's deep knowledge of both **Istanbul**'s cuisine and history, combined with her personable and passionate nature, made for a truly unforgettable experience. We believe that getting an authentic, local perspective is the best way to explore the city. Your advice to take the tour within the first few days of a trip is excellent, and we appreciate you sharing your high recommendation. We'll be sure to pass on your kind words to Gamze!

Excellent tour

Kathryn_E, Feb 2024

Excellent tour with Erol. He was very knowledgeable and fit many tastings into our 4 hour tour. We particularly enjoyed our tour on the Asian side of Istanbul, where many small restaurants specialized in 1-2 delicious dishes. We were able to enjoy breakfast foods, coffee and tea, side dishes such as authentic pickles, lunch and dessert. We would highly recommend.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you for your excellent review! We are so glad to hear that you had a wonderful experience on our **Istanbul food tour** with **Erol**. It sounds like you had a truly comprehensive culinary adventure, from breakfast to dessert, and we are thrilled that you enjoyed exploring the unique, specialized restaurants on the **Asian side**. Erol is fantastic at showcasing the best of authentic local cuisine. We're glad he was able to fit so many delicious tastings into the tour, and we will be sure to pass along your high recommendation to him. We hope to see you again soon for another adventure!

Great food and fun experience.

Steve_H, Oct 2023

This was a great experience, probably one of the best food tours we have ever had. This was a small group, was scheduled for just 4 of us and the guide ( one person couldn't make it so it was just three of us). The guide was very good and making this a very great experience, we felt like we had a great new turkish friend by the end. There was a ton of food to try and it never felt rushed. The ferry ride over to the Asian side was a fun way to explore a different part of istanbul. The variety of food to try was great. I don't think we would have known to try so many things without having taken this tour.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you for the fantastic review! We are so thrilled to hear that you had such a wonderful time on the **Taste of Turkey on Two Continents** tour and that it was one of the best food tours you've ever had. It sounds like the small group size and your guide's enthusiasm made the experience truly special, and we love that you felt like you had a great new Turkish friend by the end. We're also glad that you enjoyed the wide variety of food and the fun ferry ride to the Asian side. We couldn't agree more—exploring with a local guide is the best way to discover and try so many new things!

Gastronomic Turkish Delight

William_B, Jul 2023

Gamze (Dimples 😉) was an excellent guide for our group of 5 on the Taste of Turkey on Two Continents: From European Istanbul to Asian Kadikoy! Multiple incredible gastronomic delights were sampled as we toured local restaurants and neighborhood, as well as the Spice Bazaar. She was professional, humorous, thoughtful, high energy ambassador for both Istanbul and Turkey. The foods sampled were abundant in portions and delicious every single stop along the tour. Take this tour and be sure to bring your appetite! You will be in good hands and not be disappointed.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you so much for your wonderful review of our "Taste of Turkey on Two Continents" food tour! We are thrilled to hear that Gamze (Dimples 😉) provided such a high-energy, professional, and thoughtful experience for your group. It’s fantastic that you enjoyed the abundant portions and delicious gastronomic delights at every stop, including the Spice Bazaar and local neighborhoods. We take pride in offering authentic culinary tours that showcase the vibrant flavors and rich culture of Istanbul on both its European and Asian sides. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you and your appetite back for another unforgettable food adventure in Turkey!

Recommend this tour.

David_J, May 2023

Errol was an expert in local foods, history and current affairs. He gave us a great tour. Highly recommended.

Food, history, and fun on two continents!

HeidiK, May 2023

Erol Ütgün was our amazing guide. We began our tour at the Spice Bazaar on the European continent and ended on the Asian continent completing a fun food filled 3 hours of history, local flavors, and a better understanding of Türkiye in general. I highly recommend this tour!

Really good

FridaMajgaard_R, Oct 2022

We had a good experience. Great guide who also knew alot about the history of Istanbul and the food we had.

Response from Host, Feb 2023

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience! We're glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found our guide knowledgeable and informative about Istanbul's history and cuisine. We hope to see you again in the future for more memorable experiences!

Food tours are the Best!

Magdalene_T, May 2022

Glad I took this food tour as I wouldn't have been adventurous to try so many delicious Turkish food on my own! It was a great way to introduce Turkish breakfast, Turkish coffee and of course its desserts!

Experiencia fenomenal

Miguel_J, May 2024

Callejeando y probando los platos típicos. Estuvo genial. Terminamos que ya no podíamos probar más comida. Se aconseja no desayunar nada…

Response from Host, Sep 2025

¡Qué gran reseña! Nos alegra mucho saber que disfrutaste callejeando y probando los platos típicos en nuestro tour gastronómico de Estambul. Es genial que la experiencia te dejara tan lleno que no pudieras probar más comida. ¡Ese es el mejor cumplido para un tour de comida! Y tu consejo de no desayunar es perfecto. Gracias por compartir tu experiencia. Esperamos verte de nuevo en otra aventura culinaria.