Istanbul Food Tour: A 6-hour Culinary Journey Off the Beaten Track
5.0
165 Ratings
Istanbul
Embark on a 6-hour culinary journey through Istanbul, exploring the authentic tastes of Turkish cuisine and discovering hidden delicacies. Immerse yourself in Turkish history and culture while indulging in mouthwatering dishes off the beaten track.
Duration:
6 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Karakoy Iskelesi - Your tour guide will meet you at your hotel reception at 09.00 am. If you would like to start later in the day, please email us what time suits you the best. Firstly, we walk or catch a tram to Karakoy, where we have our Turkish breakfast, which includes Turkish menemen, sucuklu omlet, kaymak, and honey.
- Istiklal Caddesi - Following breakfast, we will catch a metro up to Pera and walk along the famous Istiklal street and give a break for a cup of tea and coffee.
- Kadikoy Carsisi - Walking down Istiklal Street will take us to Karakoy ferry station, where we will catch a ferry from the European side of Istanbul to the Asian side to Kadikoy (Kalkedon ancient name that means the city of the blind), where you can taste authentic Turkish dishes or Mersin’s tantuni or if you are feeling adventurous maybe have a liver wrap. We will continue to the fish market, where you can sample stuffed or fried mussels and pickles. Turkish people love their pickles, and some shops only sell pickles.
- Misir Carsisi (Spice Market) - So after indulging, we will then catch a ferry back to the European side of Istanbul and visit the Spice Market. Where you will have a chance to see where locals have been buying their spices for hundreds of years.
• Please note: the itinerary is subject to change, based on the location’s availability and weather.
• You will have a chance to experience local culture while visiting some local markets, bazaars, and backstreets.
• This is a 6-hour walking tour.
• We will use public transportation such as ferry.
• You have full freedom on our tours. You can even change your mind on the day as we go.
What's Included
- Private tour
- Professional guide
- Breakfast included
- Complimentary beverages
- Delicious food tasting experience
What's Not Included
- Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
- Gratuities
- Transportation to/from attractions
Additional Information
From skewered meats to sweet pastries and the well-known Turkish delight, Turkish cuisine enjoys global recognition. Although many have savored the occasional kebab, the depth of Turkish cuisine extends far beyond this popular dish, as you’ll discover on the 6-hour Istanbul Food Tour. This excursion takes you beyond the typical tourist paths, allowing you to enjoy Istanbul’s authentic flavors and discover hidden culinary treasures you might not have been aware of. In addition to exploring local markets, you will also obtain a glimpse into Turkey’s rich history and culture, and admire Istanbul’s distinctive architecture. Regardless of your level of food connoisseurship, the Istanbul Food Tour will satiate your gastronomic desires.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Please note: the itinerary is subject to change, based on the location’s availability and weather.
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Location
Karakoy Iskelesi
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(165 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
M79cjjaneth
Mar 30, 2024
Derya's Taste of Istanbul was best part of our trip to Turkey! - Thank you Derya for an amazing trip to Istanbul! The Taste of Istanbul Private and guided Istanbul food tour was amazing! We learned so much about not only Turkish foods, but through Derya we experienced how people live, work, play in Istanbul. Having her as our private guide she made sure we experienced the things we wanted to. Derya loves Istanbul and is excited to share it with others. We feel like we now have a new friend in Istanbul!
Read more about Private and guided Istanbul food tour - Taste of Istanbul - https://www.viator.com/tours/Istanbul/Private-and-guided-Istanbul-food-tour-Taste-of-Istanbul/d585-63525P7?mcid=56757
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Janet_h
Mar 11, 2024
Derya's Taste of Istanbul was best part of our trip to Turkey! - Thank you Derya for an amazing trip to Istanbul! The Taste of Istanbul Private and guided Istanbul food tour was amazing! We learned so much about not only Turkish foods, but through Derya we experienced how people live, work, play in Istanbul. Having her as our private guide she made sure we experienced the things we wanted to.
Derya loves Istanbul and is excited to share it with others. We feel like we now have a new friend in Istanbul!
Review provided by Viator
Sightsee63361066892
Mar 9, 2024
Food and culture in Istanbul - Sude was an outstanding guide. She was very knowledgeable about both the food culture and history of Istanbul. She patiently answered all the myriad of questions that we asked her and took her time to explain every detail. At no time did she ever make us feel that we were wasting her time! Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Paradise11329334030
Feb 12, 2024
Istanbul never disappointed. - I recently went on my first guided tour, and to be honest, I wasn’t expecting much. I’m not usually a big fan of guided activities, and I had been to Istanbul before for a business meeting, which showed me the city’s excellent food scene. However, my expectations were completely exceeded. Firstly, our guide Furkan was incredibly knowledgeable and had a fun personality. He made the tour enjoyable and engaging. Secondly, we went to a kebab shop that served the best kebab I have ever had. The chef cooked it right in front of us. Thirdly, we received a warm welcome from the waitress, staff, and even the people on the street. I had a fantastic day eating and exploring the city. I will definitely be back soon and I look forward to taking more tours with Furkan.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Q9269glzehrak
Feb 7, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyable tour. - We spent five days in Istanbul and booked a private and guided Istanbul food tour - Taste of Istanbul, which was recommended by one of our friends who had taken the tour before. We took several tours while in Istanbul and this tour was by far the trip's highlights . Furkan was our guide; he was informative, engaging, and enjoyable to spend tie with. the spots we made and the Turkish food we learned bout and tasted were all amazing and delicious. I recommend the Taste of Istanbul tour for anyone looking for a great way to immerse yourself in an Istanbul experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Molly
Feb 6, 2024
The best foodie tour ever. - My husband and I recently went on a food tour in Istanbul with Furkan, and we had a wonderful time. He met us promptly in the hotel lobby in the morning. We started with a short walk to enjoy breakfast, during which he told us about Istanbul’s history, geography and what we could expect from the tour. Then, we continued to eat baklava, fish sandwiches, and some delicious home style dishes after taking a short ferry ride to Kadikoy. This was not your typical food tour; it was a combination of food and off the beaten path experiences where we learned a lot. It was a fantastic day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marywy3274af
Jan 11, 2024
The Istanbul food tour that we went on was the best ever. - My husband and I had a fantastic custom food tour in Istanbul with our guide, Furkan. He was incredibly passionate about Istanbul’s culture, history, food, and locals. We started the day on the European side with breakfast, followed by coffee, baklava, ice cream, and fish sandwiches.
We enjoyed tasty kebabs and street food after a 20– minute ferry ride to Asia. Furkan's fantastic company and anecdotes made the experience unforgettable and enjoyable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Angela_a
Oct 14, 2023
Special Experience - This was a highlight of our Mediterranean Cruise. I cannot speak highly enough about Furkan and this experience. It was like meeting with an old college friend and hanging out for the day. Furkan was so kind and considerate of the fact that I had some difficulty walking too long and condensed our tour without missing anything. Our Turkish breakfast was delightful, baklava was amazing, our coffee experience was educational, and we tried some very adventurous foods for us. Please, if you want an amazing memory of Istanbul, book this tour immediately.
Review provided by Viator
Wanderer17801382060
Oct 12, 2023
The best part of our entire trip! - WE had such an amazing time on our tour. Before the day of the tour the communication was amazing. They allowed us to create a private tour and worked with us to create a tour that best suited our likes. The communication was amazing!
Furken was an amazing tour guide!! He knew all of the right times to get to places and he had a wealth of knowledge on each location, including things that only a local would know. Working with Furken was the best thing we did on our whole trip. WE saw many places, allowed for rest times for my husband as he has a bad back and he has a "in" with the locals and we got delicious tastings, behind the scenes peeks and inside information on many of the favorite spots to visit. The best part of our whole trip! thank you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rebecca_m
Oct 8, 2023
Five stars and more! - What a fabulous experience this was! Our guide Derya was excellent, very accommodating for the one vegan in our group and our expectations were definitely exceeded. A great way to explore the city as well as sampling a vast array of local foods. Thank you so much Derya.
Review provided by Viator
More activities from this operator
