Taste of Turkey: Culinary Walk Through Istanbul's European and Asian Sides
5.0
41 Ratings
Fatih
Embark on a culinary adventure through Istanbul's European and Asian sides, tasting traditional Turkish dishes and exploring local food markets. Indulge in a delicious Turkish breakfast, savor Iskender Kebab and Baklava, and learn about the rich food culture from your knowledgeable guide.
Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Eminönü - Turks love eating and since a traditional Turkish breakfast is the ultimate way to start the day, our food journey starts browsing and gathering our local bites from the specialty breakfast shops. We will taste and get a bit of everything, from iconic street food Simit to pastries. A proper Turkish breakfast cannot be contemplated without cheese. Like cheese, a Turkish breakfast without olives is considered incomplete. Menemen is a Turkish breakfast classic made with scrambled eggs, red and green peppers, tomatoes, and onions. So we choose and prepare our own spread, filled with anything your heart desires.
What's Included
  • All the foods, drinks and snacks
  • Professional guide
  • Ferry ride from Europe to Asia and back to Europe
  • Small Group
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Gratitude
Additional Information

Embark on a culinary journey through Turkish gastronomy in this small group food tour in Istanbul, extending from the European side to the Asian side. The tour commences with a customary Turkish breakfast comprised of simit, menemen, olives, local cheese, and an array of pastries, along with fresh tomatoes and cucumbers. The adventure continues as you jump aboard a ferry to Kadıköy on the Asian side. Here, distinguished restaurants and food markets await you with more traditional Turkish delicacies. Key highlights of the tour range from the Iskender Kebab (a doner kebab with yoghurt and tomato sauce), içli köfte (a type of meatball in a shell), and pide (ground meat and vegetable stuffed flatbread), rounded off with the renowned Turkish dessert - Baklava (a dessert made up of layers of pastry filled with pistachios or nuts.) Throughout the tour, your guide will provide invaluable knowledge about Turkish food traditions and local gastronomy.

  • This tour is required to be booked by a minimum 2 participants.
Location
Hamdi Restaurant - Eminönü
Kalçin Sokak
Your guide will meet you outside the entrance to Hamdi Restaurant in Eminönü which is right next to Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı). Located on the street where the tram lines (T1) run through Galata Bridge, approximately 2-minute walk from Eminönü Tram Stop.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
5.0
(41 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Ginger_s
Jun 19, 2024
Highly recommend - Very knowledgeable tour guide! Loved the experience! Lots of food! Personalized private tour. Could of never done on own
Review provided by Viator
D6777nflaurac
Jun 8, 2024
Welcome to Istanbul! Let's eat! - Elif was a wonderful guide and shared shared so much of her culture with us! We had so many great tastes from breakfast, to street food, coffee, tea, and sweets! Very friendly and knowledgeable. What a perfect introduction to Istanbul!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sharon_p
Jun 2, 2024
Best food - This was the best introduction for our trip to Istanbul. We got to taste so much traditional food both breakfast on European side plus snacks and then lunch on Asian side. All foods we may not have tried on our own. Our guide Gamsie was a delight. Very friendly and gave us lots of tips and information as well. Do not eat beforehand you will be so full after. Loved it!
Review provided by Viator
Prasadi_t
May 29, 2024
Gamze the Great - My partner and I got a private tour because there were no others. Our guide Gamze was incredible. She is a true local with extensive knowledge of not only the cuisine but history too. She was very personable and passionate which made the tour unforgettable. Highly recommend doing this tour within the first few days of your stay in Istanbul.
Review provided by Viator
Claudio
May 10, 2024
A Feast for the Senses: Gastronomic Tour in Istanbul - As a first-time traveler in Istanbul and with no knowledge of the language, I was excited but also a little nervous. However, the food tour was a revelation. Our local guide was the perfect ambassador of Turkish hospitality. Their friendliness and pride in their culture made the tour more than just a food tasting; It was an immersion in the life of Istanbul. With meticulous attention to our experience and safety, the guide took us through both sides of the city, introducing us to a variety of local delicacies. From the savory kebabs to the sweet baklavas, every bite was a story told through flavours. Most impressive was their consideration for our personal tastes and possible allergies, ensuring that each dish was a pleasurable experience. The tour not only satisfied our appetite, but also filled us with knowledge and appreciation for Istanbul's rich culinary culture. I highly recommend this tour to any traveler looking for an authentic and carefully curated experience. It's a celebration of the palate not to be missed! Tip: Wear comfortable shoes and come hungry. There is much to try and enjoy!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lorna
May 9, 2024
Delious food of Istanbul - Had a wonderful time sampling the delicious food, especially enjoyed eating some of the local specialties. Our guide, Erol was very informative, answered all our questions, and helped us feel very comfortable. Would highly recommend this tour and our guide, Erol!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sstignielsen
May 9, 2024
Amazing introduction to local food delicacies - We meet with our guide Erol at 9 am and started our exploration of Istanbuls great food culture. Erol was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the city and how different food specialties came to be. We tasted everything from breakfast treats to lunch delicacies and ended the tour with yummy sweets. The tour covering both the European and Asian side of Istanbul was really interesting.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Wendy
Apr 23, 2024
Must do foodie tour!! - What a great start to our time in Istanbul. We tasted so many delicious foods we probably would never have tried on our own, had the best juice ever and tried authentic Turkish tea and coffee. Our guide was lovely and clearly passionate about Istanbul and it was a pleasure to have Casey and Nic from USA join us on the tour. Couldn’t think of a better way to spend our first full day in Turkey. This tour is a must do!!! 10/10
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cassandradr9984jb
Apr 23, 2024
10/10! Must try for all foodies! - We loved this tour, highly recommend if you get the chance!! The guide was knowledgeable in more than just the food and very personable. The group size was perfect and we saw so much of city during our tour and got to visit more local shops. A must try!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kathryn_e
Feb 19, 2024
Excellent tour - Excellent tour with Erol. He was very knowledgeable and fit many tastings into our 4 hour tour. We particularly enjoyed our tour on the Asian side of Istanbul, where many small restaurants specialized in 1-2 delicious dishes. We were able to enjoy breakfast foods, coffee and tea, side dishes such as authentic pickles, lunch and dessert. We would highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Select Date and Tickets
minimum 2 guests
-
up to 8 guests
2 Adult
June 2024
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today