Istanbul · WINE TOURS
The 11 best wine tours you can book right now, with what each charges, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is first for a reason; start there and work down.
Istanbul Bosphorus sunset cruise on a luxury yacht with an English guide, wine and snacks, plus major palace, bridge, and fortress views.
“It was a wonderful evening, we had such a great time. Istanbul is gorgeous and our guide John was simply amazing, thank you so much😊!!”
Small group Bosphorus yacht tour from Karaköy with unlimited wine, snacks, and live English stories, plus palace views and sunset.
“Beautiful trip with good wine and company! Our guide, Georgina, was very friendly and shared a ton of intersting information about Istanbul.”
Private Bosphorus yacht for up to 12, with music, snacks, and classic skyline passes including Ortaköy and the bridges. 2 hours.
“I booked this experience for my boyfriend as a birthday gift, was amazed! Everything was perfect! Perfect communication, polite stuff! Would recommend 100%!”
A private 3.5-hour Istanbul wine crawl with 3 city stops, Turkish tastings, and landmark walks from Istiklal to Karaköy.
“My sister and I recently participated in a private wine tasting tour in Istanbul, led by Andrea, who was indeed a delightful guide. Unfortunately, the charm of our guide could not compensate for the overall dismal quality of the tour, which cost us €458. The tour took us to three wine bars, all of which were hidden in dreary back alleys that one could hardly associate with a premium experience. The establishments were not only lackluster but shockingly subpar, especially when considering the hefty fee. The supposed highlight, a “rooftop bar,” was merely a cramped balcony overlooking grimy buildings, far from the enchanting city vistas one might expect. Reflecting on…”
2-hour Bosphorus sunset cruise with live English guide, wine and snacks, plus close passes of Dolmabahçe, Ortaköy Mosque, and Maiden’s Tower.
“A highlight of my Istanbul trip. The sunset views were stunning, the wine plentiful.”
Walk Kadikoy by ferry and sunset spots, then taste street food paired with Turkish wines on a guided 4-hour evening tour.
“We absolutely loved this experience! Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, not just about the wines and local cuisine, but also the rich history and culture of Kadikoy. She tailored the food and wine tour perfectly to match our personal tastes, making it a truly personalized and enjoyable adventure.”
A 2-hour small-group Bosphorus yacht cruise in Istanbul with unlimited Aegean wine, fruit and nuts, and live English commentary.
“Brilliant tour with very friendly and knowledgable guide! Great communications and easy to follow instructions about meeting place. Highly recommended!”
Turkish wine tasting at WAYANA Wine Bar: six wines, indigenous and international grapes, 90 minutes, $59 per person.
“Slightly quieter than usual I believe but that made for more of a personal experience which was great. Highly recommend it for all!”
Join Ecem in Beşiktaş for an art-and-wine workshop at her home, blending Turkish fabrics with abstract painting, plus market snacks.
“I had an amazing time at the painting workshop. Ecem is a warm host who makes you feel right at home. The session was not only about painting but also experiencing Istanbul like a local, with great tips on what locals do for fun in the city!"”
Private Bosphorus sunset cruise with wine, passing Dolmabahçe, Beylerbeyi and Galata Tower views, 2h15, up to 6.
“Ozden was amazing! We had a wonderful cruise on the Water. The boat was amazing - very large for big groups”
Taste six natural Turkish wines at WAYANA Wine Bar in Kadıköy, Istanbul, with rare indigenous grapes and English guidance, 90 minutes.
“The host was really good, very knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and helpful. The printed sheets for the wines were also very useful. And the selection of wines was also very good - varied and a great introduction to what amazing wines are available in Turkey. We were a bit apprehensive about the natural wines (many we get in the UK are not very good) but these were all pretty good. One thing that would be good would be the option to have a tasting of six reds and a separate tasting of six whites, rather than a mixture. We also ordered some cheese to go with the wine, which was also excellent.…”
What this city is genuinely good at, list by list.
