Istanbul Taste of Two Continents Food Tour - Spice Market & Ferry
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Istanbul, Turkey
+24
- 5 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Discover Istanbul’s European and Asian sides—and taste a range of delectable Turkish delicacies—on this full-day, small-group tour. Meet your guide in the morning in Istanbul’s Old City, and be sure to come hungry: you have a day of feasting ahead of you. Explore a spice market, and enjoy a traditional Turkish breakfast, before crossing the Bosphorus to trendy Kadikoy. Sip Turkish coffee, visit multiple restaurants, and discover Istanbul’s must-try dishes.
- This intimate, small-group tour is capped at just eight participants
- Tour Istanbul’s European and Asian sides (ferry tickets included)
- Sample a wide range of dishes, enjoy Turkish coffee and breakfast, and more
- Visit spice markets, different neighborhoods, restaurants, and cafes
What's Included
- 8 uniquely different eateries and restaurants, multiple tastings at each
- Friendly, knowledgeable and passionate tour guide
- A day filled with culinary, cultural, historic and personal anecdotes, with a local insider’s view
- Lunch
- Snacks
- Coffee and/or Tea4-5 exciting local drinks.
- Gratuities / Tips for guide
- No vegetarian food options at 2-3 of the food stops
- No vegan food options at 4-5 of the food stops
- Private transportationThis is a walking tour. Max walking distance is 10 minutes between many stops. Total 2.5-3.5kms (1.5-2miles) walk.
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Viyana Kahvesi SirkeciHobyar, Hamidiye Cd. 16H, 34112 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
IMPORTANT: Our meeting point is "Viyana Kahvesi Sirkeci." There are multiple branches of this cafe in Istanbul. TAKING TAXI: Ask the driver to take you to the Legacy Ottoman Hotel. Viyana Kahvesi Sirkeci is on the left hand side of the hotel.
End point
- Caferağa, 34710 Kadıköy/İstanbul, Türkiye
The Taste of Two Continents tour finishes in Kadıköy Ferry Terminal. Your return ferry tickets are provided. Your guide will help you to catch the Eminönü ferry (back to the Spice Market) or Karaköy ferry.
Itinerary
Meet your guide and small group—there’s a maximum of 10 travelers on this tour, including you—at a coffee shop near the Spice Bazaar on the European side of Istanbul.
Shop for a Turkish breakfast, including cheeses, cured meat, honey, olives, bread, hazelnut paste, and Turkish clotted cream. Eat it at a local tea house with Turkish scrambled eggs as your guide explains how culture and food intersect.
Next, capture photos as you ride the ferry across the Bosphorus from Europe to Asia and the chic Kadikoy neighborhood. Sip, snack, slurp, and snap your way through Kadikoy Market. Sample fresh-brewed Turkish coffee and crispy baklava, alongside popular street foods including wraps, grills, stuffed vine leaves, and much, much more.
Your tour finishes at Kadikoy Ferry Terminal. Your guide will give you tickets and help you catch the right ferry, either back to the Spice Bazaar or over to Karakoy.
Shop for a Turkish breakfast, including cheeses, cured meat, honey, olives, bread, hazelnut paste, and Turkish clotted cream. Eat it at a local tea house with Turkish scrambled eggs as your guide explains how culture and food intersect.
Next, capture photos as you ride the ferry across the Bosphorus from Europe to Asia and the chic Kadikoy neighborhood. Sip, snack, slurp, and snap your way through Kadikoy Market. Sample fresh-brewed Turkish coffee and crispy baklava, alongside popular street foods including wraps, grills, stuffed vine leaves, and much, much more.
Your tour finishes at Kadikoy Ferry Terminal. Your guide will give you tickets and help you catch the right ferry, either back to the Spice Bazaar or over to Karakoy.
1
Historic Areas of Istanbul
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Misir Carsisi
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Bosphorus Strait
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
4
KadIkoy CarsIsI
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Sureyya Opera House (Pass By)
5
Kadikoy Iskelesi
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Maximum group size is 10
- Comfortable walking shoes recommended
- Children aged 5 years and younger are welcome at no charge
- Tour runs rain or shine
- This is a walking tour. Max walking distance is 10 minutes between many stops. Total 2.5kms (1.5miles) walk.
- Not recommended for vegan, gluten free, lactose free travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with serious allergies or food restrictions
- Please advise any specific dietary/allergy requirements at time of booking
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 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
Reviews
5.0
based on 3,651 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best food tour we've ever done, and Kaan is the best guide we've ever had.
Kaan is so passionate about his job, his culture and his food, and it shows in every stop. Great personality, and he encouraged everyone to try everything. He even got my husband to try every single dish, which is a miracle in itself 👏
From the Turkish breakfast spread and İskender kebab to Kadıköy mussels, lahmacun, katmer and baklava with Turkish ice cream at Mado, every stop was fantastic. Small, lovely group too.
Can't recommend this tour and Kaan enough. 10/10 🙌
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Jess! We're so happy you had such a great day with Kaan. We agree, he's wonderful, and his passion for the food and culture really shines through. He has a way of getting everyone to dive in and try it all, which is what the day is all about! We'd love to have you back at our table again someday. :)
A good experience tour through Istanbul was what we want and our guide Buri provided us with a top notch day. He was a wealth of knowledge on the local foods and connected with Turkish history and culture
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Richard! We're so happy you had such a great day with Bahri. We agree, he's a wealth of knowledge, and the way he ties the local food to Turkish history and culture makes for a really special day out. We'd love to have you back at our table again someday. :)
Our group of 8 adults enjoyed spending the day with Ali learning about the food of Istanbul! We tried many different foods which were all delicious! Would definitely recommend this tour!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Jennifer! We're so happy you had such a great day with Ali. We agree, he's wonderful. We'd love to have you back at our table again someday. :)
Fantastic tour! Tunc was extremely knowledgeable about the culture and had so much info to share. The food was also phenomenal. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Julie! We're so happy you had such a great day with Tunç. We agree, he's wonderful, and there's always so much he loves to share about our food and culture. Wishing you happy and yummy travels. :)
Good food on both sides the European and Asia side! The Gyro was outstanding could have eaten there again!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Ronaldo! We're so happy you had such a great day with us. Sounds like the İskender kebab really won you over, it's a favorite for a lot of our guests! We'd love to have you back at our table again someday. :)
Fantastic new food experiences with an amazing knowledgeable and fun guide. Great city tours and ferry ride between continents!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Maureen! We're so happy you had such a great day with us. We love that the tour brought you some new favorites you didn't expect, that's one of the best parts of the day. We'd love to have you back at our table again someday. :)
I had an amazing time with this food tour! The food were delicious, authentic and there’s a lot of variety! At the end if the tour our belly is full and happy! The tour guide Kaan is amazing as well! He is very passionate about turkish culture and food! We enjoyed his company and great information! He has a very positive vibe and always smiling!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Ronald! We're so happy you had such a great day with Kaan. We agree, he's wonderful, all that passion and positivity makes for a great day out. So glad you finished full and happy, that's the Yummy way! We'd love to have you back at our table again someday. :)
Fun, great experience. A good way to learn about the city, its food and culture. The best way to experience Istanbul.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Ann! We're so happy you had such a great day with us. We agree, tasting your way across Istanbul really is one of the best ways to get to know it. We'd love to have you back at our table again someday. :)
This was a longer tour than most food tours. However, it didn't feel like too much! I'm sure that's due to our wonderful guide, Bahri. He kept a great pace, was very knowledgeable of both the food and the history, and kept things very interesting. He was attentive, always asking if we needed the bathroom, water, or more food. I don't know how anyone would need more food on this tour! I love that we started with a traditional Turkish breakfast, enjoying it in the traditional way. He introduced us to a few products as well and gave us follow-up recommendations. We felt very comfortable and safe with him. We walked a ton, but we got to experience so much of Istanbul in one day, all while tasting great and unique foods! To top it off, Bahri has a great sense of humor. Thanks for a great first day in Istanbul, Bahri. What a way to start!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Merili! We're so happy you had such a great day with Bahri. We agree, he's wonderful, knowledgeable, great fun, and easy company for a full day out. We agree about doing this early in your trip too, you head off knowing the food and where to eat well for the days ahead. We'd love to have you back at our table again someday. :)
Awesome experience with an awesome guide. Not too short, not too long, not too much food. Would highly recommend
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Christopher! We're so happy you had such a great day with us. We'd love to have you back at our table again someday. :)
This was an amazing introduction to Turkish culinary culture and a wonderful way to experience the city. Come with an empty stomach and enjoy all the delicious food! There’s quite a bit of walking, but Kaan’s enthusiasm, knowledge, and passion made the whole experience enjoyable and memorable. Highly recommended!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Marion! We're so happy you had such a great day with Kaan. We agree, he's wonderful, all that passion and enthusiasm makes for a great day out. Starting early in your trip is a great idea too; you head off knowing the food and where to eat well for the days ahead. We'd love to have you back at our table again someday. :)
We had such a wonderful day with our guide Selen. She was very knowledgeable & also entertaining and made it a great day. The format of the tour was perfect covering both breakfast & lunch and both the Asian and European sides of Istanbul. There was a lot of food and gave a great overview of Turkish food and culture. I would highly recommend & thank you Selen who was fabulous.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Leanne! We're so happy you had such a great day with Selen. We agree, she's fabulous, and no one leaves this tour hungry, that's for sure! We'd love to have you back at our table again someday. :)
What a great experience. We tasted so many wonderful bites and UG was a wonderful guide! He shared local knowledge and lots of history of Istanbul! Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Stacey! We're so happy you had such a great day with Uğur. We agree, he's wonderful. We'd love to have you back at our table again someday. :)
We had so much fun on this tour. The food options were plentiful and all really delicious. It was very cool to visit the Asia side of Turkey by ferry.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Melissa! We're so happy you had such a great day with us. The Asian side really is special, so we're glad you enjoyed it. We'd love to have you back at our table again someday. :)
Our guide Ali was exceptional. Super informative, patient, professional. He made sure to tailor food options to include everyone’s dietary needs. Major props to both him and the establishments visited for that. I am vegetarian and feel like I hardly missed out on a thing! We tried a great variety of Turkish specialties and felt this was a perfect way to spend our first full day in Istanbul. Not only did it help in getting accommodated with the food in Turkey, but the customs and the city itself as well. We’ve travelled a lot and this is our first time booking a food tour. I’m so glad we did! The price tag was hefty and we wondered if it would be worth it but we had a great time. Huge thanks to Ali and Yummy Istanbul!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Sarah! We're so happy you had such a great day with Ali. We agree, he's exceptional. Turkish cuisine has so much for vegetarians to love, so we're glad you felt spoiled rather than left out. Starting early in your trip is a great idea too, you head off knowing the food and where to eat well for the days ahead. We'd love to have you back at our table again someday. :)
Ali was a wonderful guide. He taught us about the foods consumed by residents of both the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. It was a really fun tour and I learned a lot.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Jean! We're so happy you had such a great day with Ali. We agree, he's wonderful. We'd love to have you back at our table again someday. :)
Did this tour for the second time in four years and will do it again on my next visit. The group size is perfect and the range of food you enjoy is spectacular. Ali was such a friendly guide and took us to locations in all three parts of Istanbul. I suggest this tour on your first full day in town to really get a sense of the neighborhoods, their different vibes and to see what kind of local flavors you like best so you can focus on those for the rest of your time in the city. Truly one of the top food tours I have taken in the world. You will end full, so arrive hungry and with good walking shoes. We covered about 21000 steps by the end of the tour. You get to enjoy the ferry ride twice which is an added bonus!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Derek! We're so happy to have you back with us a second time, and to know there's a third on the way. We agree, Ali's wonderful. Being one of the top food tours you've taken anywhere means a lot, coming from someone who's clearly done a few! We'd love to have you back at our table again someday. :)
I took this tour of my first day in Istanbul. It was a great way to get a walking tour, a different parts of the city and get to taste some amazing and unusual foods unique to the area. I learned a lot of history, culture, and felt like I was on good footing to explore the rest of my trip in the city. Our house was friendly, informative, and engaging..
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Jay! We're so happy you had such a great day with us. Starting early in your trip is a lovely way to go, you head off knowing the food and where to eat well for the days ahead. We'd love to have you back at our table again someday. :)
Fantastic tour. One of the highlights of our trip to Istanbul. Come hungry - there is a lot of food. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Kate! We're so happy you had such a great day with us, and that it was one of the highlights of your trip. We'd love to have you back at our table again someday. :)
This was an amazing food tour. The guide was excellent offering many insights into Istanbul. The food was excellent and we experienced restaurants on both the Europe and Asian sides. Highlights were definitely the spice market, breakfast and the kabab meal. Food tours are often a higher priced tour option but definitely worth the price.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, John! We're so happy you had such a great day with us. There's definitely a lot packed into the day, with a full breakfast, lunch, and plenty in between; it works out to a couple of meals' worth. We'd love to have you back at our table again someday. :)
We spent over 6 hours eating our way across two continents sampling all kinds of Turkish food
We started the morning with a delicious Michelin-starred light breakfast at the hotel — and then somehow managed to keep eating all day!
The food tour took us from one fun stop to another, with some history lessons, laughs and good conversation along the way. And thankfully, we had some probiotic pickle juice to help us digest everything we ate!
A long day, a very full stomach, and a fun experience!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks! We're so happy you had such a fun day with us, eating your way across two continents from morning right through to a very full stomach. That pickle juice does the trick, doesn't it? We'd love to have you back at our table again someday. :)
We had a great day with Bahri as our tour guide. He was punctual, informative, friendly and funny. There was soooo much food. Come hungry and be adventurous.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Lorene! We're so happy you had a great day with Bahri. Great advice, too: come hungry and don't be shy, because some of the best things are the ones you'd never think to order yourself. We'd love to have you back at our table again someday. :)
This tour was great, and Ali, the tour guide was really prepared and friendly. The tour is a bit pricey but worth it!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Laurentiu! We're so happy you had a great day with Ali. Glad you found it worth it, too. There's a lot packed into the day, with breakfast, lunch, and plenty in between, so you get a couple of full meals out of it. We'd love to have you back at our table again someday. :)
Our tour guide, Ayse, was fantastic! She was full of historical information, food knowledge and entertainment. Highly recommend this tour and specific guide.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Dana! We're so happy you had a great day with Ayşe. We agree; she's wonderful company, and we're lucky to have her in our Yummy Istanbul team. Wishing you happy and yummy travels. :)
Well worth doing! Great food, amazing host and brilliant day out, recommended for the first day of your holiday to get your barings, food tips and history
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, James! We're so happy you had such a good day out with us. We agree about doing this early in your trip; you head off knowing the food, the history, and where to eat well for the days ahead. Wishing you happy and yummy travels. :)
Well recommended and well worth the money! Go to places that you wont find on your own and a real authentic Turkish experience.
Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks, More food, coffee and dessert!
Ali is and was a great tour guide and very knowledgeable
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Steven! We're so happy you had a great day with Ali, eating your way through those spots only locals know about. That's the real Turkish experience we love to share. Wishing you happy and yummy travels. :)
Really well run tour , probably no one will enjoy everything you try , but everyone will enjoy the experience.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Shaun! So glad you had a good time with us. You're right, with so much to try, not every single thing will be everyone's favorite, and that's part of the fun. A lot of these flavors are new to people, and giving them all a go is the best way to find one you love. We'd love to have you back at our table again someday. :)
Fantastic tour where you discover the true Turkish food experience. Tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Neil! We're so happy you had a great day with us, tasting some of our favorite traditional Turkish foods. Wishing you happy and yummy travels. :)
Really enjoyed this food tour-had lots of local specialties. Also went on a nice ferry ride to the Asian side as well where we checked out even more delicious foods!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Sandra! We're so happy you enjoyed all the local specialties, especially over in Kadıköy, where some of the best food on the Asian side is. We'd love to have you back at our table again someday. :)
Wonderful food tour with guide, Tunc. Truly a wonderful, energetic, friendly, funny, bright guide. He brought the experience to life with great stories and insights into Turkish foods and culture. Learned a lot and really enjoyed the day. All the food was terrific, as well!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks, Dimitria! We're so happy you had a great day with Tunç. We agree, he's wonderful company, and we're lucky to have him in our Yummy Istanbul team. We're glad you enjoyed the food and everything he shared about Turkish culture along the way. We'd love to have you back at our table again someday. :)
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