Istanbul Cooking: A Taste of Turkish Culture

Experience authentic Turkish home cooking in Istanbul. Join a local for a cooking course, visit local stores, cook together, and learn about Turkish culture.

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Dericiler Sokak - Experience a day in the kitchen, just like visiting an old friend for a homemade meal.
    Begin the journey in the vibrant markets of Kurtuluş, a central, historic neighborhood brimming with colorful spice shops, fresh produce stalls, family-run charcuteries, and local bakeries. As you wander through the bustling streets, be…
What's Included
  • Authentic Turkish Dessert
  • Local Market Tour to experience local life
  • Authentic home cooking
  • Dinner
  • Cooking Materials and Ingredients
  • Tea and coffee
What's Not Included
  • Tips and Gratitudes
  • Things you buy for you from Market Tour
  • Private Transfer, arranged on request
  • Alcoholic beverages
Meal Options
  • Soup (Lentil Soup or Yogurt Soup)
  • Salad or Meze - A fresh, cold appetizer bursting with Turkish flavors
  • Pilaf or Börek - Fragrant rice, bulgur, or flaky pastry filled with cheese, spinach, or minced meat
  • Vegetable Dish - Seasonal vegetables cooked in a traditional Turkish way
  • Turkish Pumpkin Dessert with Tahini - A sweet and nutty traditional dessert
Additional Information

This is more than a cooking class—it’s an exploration of the flavors, history, and everyday life in Istanbul.
The adventure starts in the vibrant markets of Kurtuluş, a bustling area with century-old specialty shops. Participants will explore a spice store, charcuterie, and bakery, tasting and discovering the ingredients that contribute to the rich and…

Location
Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Istanbul City Center
Halaskargazi Caddesi
Istanbul has traffic issue. I suggest you use metro, ferry as much as you can. Instructions to the address via public transportation is written on tickets
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(62 Ratings)
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M221temargarets
Sep 29, 2025
Turkish cooking - Learned a lot about Turkish cooking. Will try recipes at home. Some of the tricks of cooking as to how to make eggplant less bitter and how to make onions less potent when cutting them were very helpful.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mona_g
Sep 26, 2025
Cultural and culinary experience. - Gülşah’s cooking class was one of the absolute highlights of our trip to Istanbul. She began by taking us on a fascinating tour through the vibrant food shops in the heart of the city. Her knowledge of the local markets, ingredients, and culinary traditions made the experience both eye-opening and delicious. After the bustle of the city, she welcomed us into her gorgeous and tranquil apartment, a perfect setting to slow down and cook together. In our small group, we prepared a range of delicious dishes under her expert guidance. Every bite was full of flavor, and it felt like learning not just recipes but also the stories and traditions behind them. What made the day especially memorable was the conversation. Over cooking and dining, we discussed culture, history, and social issues. Gülşah is smart, insightful, and passionate about her city, which shines through in everything she does. This was much more than just a cooking class - it was a rich cultural exchange and an unforgettable experience. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Viator
Mary
Sep 7, 2025
Dinner in Turkey - The host was gracious, food delicious, and fellowship outstanding. Would highly recommend for a cultural experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alexander_r
Aug 30, 2025
The whole experience was... - The whole experience was great we went shopping in the neighborhood then went back to her home and prepared an excellent meal with her help and another couple. It was great food and company thank you again for your hospitality!!
Review provided by Viator
Sandra_m
Aug 29, 2025
Great fun and yummy food - Great walk thru the neighborhood and see what locals buy Great fun cooking and eating together Love the spices used
Review provided by Viator
Conor_n
Aug 28, 2025
Gulsah was lovely when we... - Gulsah was lovely when we met her, took us around her neighbourhood and gave us really good local insight into the area. IF you love cooking like us, and want to take back some spices/unique foodstuffs from your trip, defo waiat until gulsah takes you to the market! Lots of good quality ingredients. Cooking was fun, and great to learn what traditional home Turkish cooking is like. 5/5 would recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Kevin_g
Aug 27, 2025
Great Host and Learning Adventure - very welcoming experience. as a solo traveller i had booked and would have been by myself for the day but Gülşah made a great suggestion to join another group the next day which made it wonderful. only wish I had remembered to take a few photos as we were so immersed in the cooking a food
Review provided by Viator
Kristen_d
Aug 22, 2025
Wonderful Hospitality and Delicious Meal - We had a lovely evening with Gulsah.  We started our evening exploring neighborhood markets for fruit, vegetables, prepared foods, spices, and baked goods, where she explained the various common foods and ingredients of Turkish cuisine.  Gulsah then welcomed us to her home where she showed us how to prepare various food items including a wonderful cold yogurt-based soup, a tomato/cucumber salad, a delicious dish with zucchini and rice, and a meat dish with beef and garlic wrapped in a phyllo dough.  She encouraged us all to participate in preparing the meal which made the experience even more fun.  The meal itself was delicious but Gulsah's warm hospitality made the experience even more special.   
Review provided by Viator
Leelal2018
Jul 25, 2025
Traditional home cooking at its best - One of the absolute highlights of my trip to Istanbul was taking part in a traditional Turkish cooking class. I’ve always believed that food is one of the most meaningful ways to connect with a culture — and this experience confirmed it. What I loved most was how personal the experience felt. We learned about local ingredients, shopping habits, and home cooking traditions passed down through generations. It was much more than just following a recipe — it was about understanding Turkish hospitality and the joy of sharing food. If you’re looking for something authentic and memorable to do in Istanbul (or anywhere in Turkey), don’t miss a Turkish cooking class. It’s the perfect blend of culture and cuisine.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dawn_h
Jul 22, 2025
This is a great beginner... - This is a great beginner friendly cooking class for those who are not only interested about cooking Turkish food, but also an insight into the ingredients and Turkish culture. The cooking class is very organized and informative and we made more than enough food to share for a group of 7. Would definitely recommend and would come back again in the future!
Review provided by Viator
From $80
up to 5 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).