12 Food Experiences in Istanbul to Book First

1.European and Asian Side Guided Foodie Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,038 reviews · 5.5 hours · from $135Our pick

Spend 5.5 hours eating across Istanbul with an English-speaking guide and a group of no more than 10. Start near the Spice Bazaar, then cross by ferry to Kadıköy and Moda for kebab, dolma, tantuni, kokoreç, baklava, Turkish coffee, and dondurma.

“Selen was an amazing guide and had so much useful information about where different foods originated and how it reflected Istanbul's multicultural history. Absolutely recommend!!”

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2.Turkish Food Night and Rooftop Experience Istanbul

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 666 reviews · 3 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $77Top rated

Meet near Sirkeci and follow guides such as Sule, Zeynep, Zey, or Eylul to local snacks, Turkish delights, rooftop tea, and a generous dinner at a nearly 140-year-old family restaurant. A private van connects the stops, with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices available.

“The food was excellent!! This is the tour to take if you want an authentic Turkish dining experience. Our guide, Sule even gave us a list of recommended dining places in Istanbul so it is definitely worthwhile to take this tour at the beginning of your stay in the city.”

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3.Guided Food Tour with Ferry Ride and Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 600 reviews · from $131

Follow an English-speaking foodie guide from the Spice Bazaar to Kadikoy and back, stopping for kaymak, simit, menemen, iskender kebap, mussels, fish sandwiches, künefe, ice cream, and coffee. Guides including Binnur, Önder, Burak, and Salih add food and city stories along the way.

“This tour is truly excellent. It was the best food tour I have done. The tour leader was fantastic -she guided us on a busy Easter Sunday effortlessly throughout the day. Every food tasting place we stopped at was first rate. The choice of food was perfect. The ferry trip and other sightseeing opportunities was excellent. Can’t thank you enough for a wonderful day. Thank you”

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4.Turkish Food Night and Rooftop Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 569 reviews · 3 hours · from $69Best value

Meet your English-speaking host at Sirkeci Station for street snacks, rooftop tea or coffee near Suleymaniye, and a generous dinner of 10-plus Turkish dishes in a historic Fatih restaurant. Guides such as Şule, Zeynep, Eylül, and Bilal add local food and city insight.

“The experience was incredibly interesting and, above all, very generous with the portions. There was so much food! We visited several different spots throughout the night, which allowed us to try a great variety of authentic dishes. My only piece of advice: if you don’t like having a very heavy meal late at night, I highly recommend booking an earlier time slot. You definitely won’t leave hungry! The logistics were also a huge plus—the transport was organized perfectly, making the transitions between locations smooth and stress-free. Our guide, Zeynep, was absolutely wonderful. She was super friendly and kept us entertained with fascinating stories about both the city of Istanbul and…”

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5.Guided Food and Culture Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 528 reviews · 4 hours · from $136

Join an English-speaking guide such as Burak, Salih, or Cumali for a four-hour food walk from Karaköy to Kadıköy and back. You will cross the Bosphorus by public ferry, visit markets, taste Kurdish dishes, sip Turkish drinks, and finish with dessert.

“The best part of our tour was our guide, Burak. The evening was more than just a sampling of Turkish dishes. Burak shared his knowledge of Istanbul, Turkish history, and the customs of dining with family and friends in such an interesting way that we were thoroughly entertained and pleased with how much we learned. The foods were unlike anything we’d eaten in the 3 days we had been in Turkey so we were glad we booked this tour.”

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6.The Award-Winning PRIVATE Food Tour of Istanbul: The 10 Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 462 reviews · from $192

Spend about three hours eating your way from Cihangir to Karaköy with a private local guide. Expect 10 food and drink tastings, from Turkish delight and dürüm to coffee, kebabs, fish, and ayran, plus stories around Çiçek Pasajı, Avrupa Pasajı, and Ağa Hamamı.

“Gamze was the best! Great knowledge of food and local tips! Plenty of tastings on this your so you won’t go away hungry. We have a memorable experience!”

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7.Istanbul Food Tour – History and Culture of Turkish Culinary

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 265 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $127

Walk from Galata Bridge through Beyoğlu, İstiklal Street, Çiçek Pasajı, and Taksim Square while sampling Turkish street food, mezze, mussels, tantuni, baklava, coffee, and more. Guides such as Erol, Tolga, and Gamze add local history and practical Istanbul tips.

“We had such a fantastic experience on our food tour in Istanbul! Kim was an amazing guide — warm, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about her city. It honestly felt like spending the day with a friend who couldn’t wait to show us all her favorite local spots. She not only shared great stories and insights, but also had such genuine connections with the restaurant owners and staff. At a few stops, she even jumped in to help when things got busy — you could tell she’s truly part of the community. Our group was wonderful too — we toured with a couple from Toronto, another from Ohio, and us —…”

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8.Istanbul Kadikoy Food Tour with 12+ Local Delicacies Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 247 reviews · 3 hours to 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $100

Spend about three hours walking Kadikoy with a local English-speaking guide such as Melis or Jeremy. Taste Turkish breakfast, menemen, muhlama, pide, lahmacun, baklava, coffee, tea, wine, ayran, and a secret dish while learning about food and neighborhood life.

“Great conversation, great food. Kind of experience one would miss if you did not travel around with someone from the city. Not just about the food but the neighbourhoods, quaint streets and off the beaten track places Gunes took us to.”

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9.Istanbul Traditional Food Tour with Dinner on Off-Touristy-Path

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 230 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $139

Spend about five hours eating across Istanbul with a licensed English-speaking guide such as Burak or Salih. Cross by ferry from Karakoy to Kadikoy, sample market foods and local drinks, then return for kebabs, meze, kunefe, and Turkish ice cream.

“Our tour guide led us into the best neighborhoods where the locals meet up and dine. He took us to wonderful restaurants for delicious tastings. We ate foods we had not eaten before and found it to be much to our liking. I would highly recommend.”

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10.Private and guided Istanbul food tour – Taste of Istanbul

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 205 reviews · 5 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $270

This private 5 to 6-hour food walk links Karakoy, Tophane, and Kadikoy with guides such as Furkan and Derya. Expect Turkish breakfast, coffee, baklava, ice cream, kebabs, mussels, market stops, and a ferry crossing. Vegetarian and gluten-free choices can be arranged.

“Furkan was so knowledge, entertaining, and really knew his good. We had a great time! We recommend this to anyone e who wants to get familiar with the layout of the city as well as sample it’s food.”

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11.Istanbul Guided Street Food Tour Around European and Asian Sides

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 200 reviews · 5 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $139

Spend 5 to 6 hours eating across Istanbul with guides such as Önder, Binnur, Salih, and Şenay. Start with Turkish breakfast near the Spice Market, cross by ferry to Kadıköy for local specialties, then return to Karaköy for fish wrap, künefe, and Maraş ice cream.

“Really fun experience. Tried lots of things which I would never have thought of trying and it was a great opportunity to explore the Asian side of Istanbul. Binnur was a great guide. Really friendly and know”

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12.Istanbul Home Cooking Course – Cook and Eat

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 52 reviews · from $102

Meet Gülşah near Osmanbey for a small-group food walk through Kurtuluş, then shop, cook, and eat in her home. You may prepare dishes such as börek, dolma, lentil soup, mezes, pilaf, or dessert while learning Turkish customs, family recipes, and kitchen tricks.

“Exploring the Turkish cuisine with the guidance of Gülseh was an unforgettable experience. At first we were looking at shops in her neighborhood and she explained about the traditions and which food ingredients are most common when cooking Turkish food. Later we arrived at her beautiful flat and with the help of all participants we prepared a three course meal. The dishes were new to us, but they were not hard to make and definitely something I will try at home. Gülseh was delightful to be around and the conversations within the group went smoothly. A true cultural experience in Instanbul.Read more”

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