Istanbul · FOOD
The good food experiences fill up first and the great ones go weeks ahead. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes, and where they genuinely differ.
Taste Istanbul across Europe and Asia on a 5.5-hour guided food walk with 8-9 stops, ferry crossing, Kadıköy market, baklava, and dondurma.
“Murat was a wonderful guide. Very informative and thorough. He took us through the sites at a comfortable pace and was very patient with questions. Highly recommended!”
Istanbul’s European and Asian food highlights with a ferry ride, dairy tastings, kebabs, fish sandwiches, and sweet finishes.
“Önder was an incredible guide! So knowledgeable, and curated such a well-paced delicious experience! I left Istanbul with zero food regrets, 10/10 would recommend!”
Small-group Turkish food night in Istanbul, with street snacks, rooftop tea with skyline views, and dinner at a 140-year restaurant.
“Sule was our guide and she was terrific, always smiling, super kind and full of information. She lead us from delicious Turkish delights to wonderful tea chai and Turkish coffee to a beautiful rooftop view of the entire city . Then We went to an amazing dinner. She was very kind and taught us wonderful stories about the city as we made it from one location to another. She was Absolutely wonderful. The food was delicious. I had the best time.”
Taste Turkish street food and a rooftop city view, then feast on kebabs, meze and künefe at a 130-year-old Istanbul restaurant.
“Our guide, Suli, was extremely passionate about her job and truly brought the experience to life. She took us to several insider spots we never would have found on our own. We started with street food and the off to a beautiful rooftop view overlooking the lights of Istanbul, followed by a fantastic final restaurant filled entirely with locals – always a very good sign. We had a wonderful time, felt well informed throughout, and enjoyed excellent food, all of which was included in the price. Thank you again for a great experience! Marcus & Josi”
Taste Istanbul on a 4-hour guided food tour from Karaköy to Kadıköy, with a return Bosphorus ferry and Kurdish bites for $136.
“Burak was awesome. It was a really great evening with a bunch of great food and a wonderful experience, exploring the Asian side of Istanbul. Highly recommend this tour for people that want to experience the food scene like a local”
Istanbul small-group Beyoğlu food tour with tastings and city stories, from Galata Bridge to Taksim, with funicular transport.
“Our guide Gamze was fantastic! So knowledgeable about all things Istanbul and Turkey. She took us to multiple venues where we could try all the flavors of Istanbul. We highly recommend this tour!”
Small-group Kadıköy food tour with 12+ tastings: pide, lahmacun, Turkish coffee, tea, wine, ayran, and baklava on Istanbul’s Asian side.
“Melis was a great tour guide. She kept the group engaged and shared so much information about Turkish history and culture as well as the local neighborhood and of course, the food. Our small group of 6 had a great time! Highly recommended!!!”
Taste Istanbul street food on a small-group dinner tour with Bosphorus ferries to Kadıköy, plus dessert and coffee.
“This was a great tour! Experienced so much food that we would never would have tried on our own. There is plenty of food and you don't walk away hungry. The ferry rides are nice at night to see all of the lights of Istanbul. The guide Salik was most enjoyable, and we all agreed we had a really good time.”
Private guided Istanbul food tour across Karakoy, Tophane, and Kadikoy with Turkish breakfast, coffee, baklava, and a Bosphorus ferry.
“We had such a wonderful time walking around different neighborhoods, eating incredible food, and learning about Istanbul. Our guide Derya, was amazing, so friendly and knowledgeable. Was the perfect introduction to the area.”
Small-group Istanbul street food tour with breakfast, a Bosphorus ferry to Asia, Kadıköy tastings, charcoal coffee, and kunefe.
“Omg so much delicious food! Our guide Cenay was AMAZING and so considerate, explaining all the dishes very well, making sure we are well fed and watered throughout. It was not tiring at all! My personal favorite was the mussels. Would definitely recommend, but come on an empty stomach :)”
Walk Istanbul’s Spice Market, Tahtakale pide, coffee, Süleymaniye döner, Grand Bazaar bites, and baklava in 4.5 hours with a small group.
“I hate to leave a bad review as our female guide was so sweet but would like to offer some constructive feedback and an honest review for other travelers. We were told we were meeting our female guide who was there in addition to a male guide. No problem with this, but it does add to cost when tipping and good info to have ahead of time. I don’t feel these two were passionate about food the way other tour guides I have had are. On food tours you typically have a set agenda/menu with sampling all while receiving information about the history and culture of the food and area.…”
A private Kadıköy food tour with 12+ local tastings, Turkish breakfast, pide, lahmacun, and coffee, ending at the Bull Statue.
“If you want to learn about authentic Turkish food, traditions and every day life of locals this tour with Melis is a must do !!”
A private Kadıköy food tour with 10 tastings, raki and padi, plus landmark stops and local tips, in about three hours.
“What a wonderful afternoon we had with Sozum. We tried so many Turkish foods and enjoyed the conversation in a relaxed, well paced afternoon. Would definitely recommend this tour as a way to taste a little of Turkiye.”
A 5-hour evening walking street-food tour on Istanbul’s Golden Horn with Lahmacun, kebap, lentil soup, Künefe, tea, and sea views.
“We had a very familial experience with our guide. It felt as if we were with an additional family member. He showed us all the great local spots which was amazing. This is an ALL walking tour, so be prepared! Ali was literally part of our family after the tour.”
Istanbul Karakoy food tour with 10 tastings, spice and coffee lessons, and locals-only restaurants. Tea, kebab, fish, desserts included.
“Nusret was a great guide. Took me to great places and we had a blast. I would recommend this to anyone visiting Istanbul.”
What this city is genuinely good at, list by list.
