The 15 Lunch Experiences in Istanbul We Would Book Again

1.Bursa & Uludag Tour with Lunch & Cable Car Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 1,879 reviews · 12 - 13 hours · from $30Our pick

Spend 12 to 13 hours traveling from Istanbul to Bursa and Uludağ with an English or Arabic-speaking guide. Visit the Green Mosque, Green Tomb, historic plane tree, local food shops, and mountain resort. Lunch is included, while ATV rides, ski equipment, chairlifts, and the cable car may cost extra.

“Luckily we witnessed snow in Uludag mountain in Bursa❤️ The guide was really helpful and hospitable. Made us entertained throughout the trip with pickup and drop off at hotel”

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2.Full-Day Highlights Tour with Guide and Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,662 reviews · 7 hours · from $37

Cover Istanbul’s old city with a licensed guide, visiting Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace, and Grand Bazaar. Lunch is included, but Topkapi and Hagia Sophia admission costs extra. Guides such as Baris, Kemal, and Zeynab are frequently assigned.

“Baris our guide was excellent. He knows the history, he is courteous, patient and just funny enough to not deviate much from the topic. Got a great group of people as well making the tour even more special.”

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3.Full-Day Princes Island Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,550 reviews · 7 hours · from $26

Spend seven hours sailing from Istanbul to Kınalıada and Büyükada, with English guidance from hosts such as Dilek, Gül, or Muhittin. You’ll have island free time, Ottoman mansions, sea views, and summer lunch aboard the boat. Bikes and electric buggies cost extra.

“Very relaxing day trip and good quality for money very friendly guide too”

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4.Sapanca and Masukiye Day Trip with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,036 reviews · 12 hours · from $29

Leave Istanbul for a full day in Sapanca and Maşukiye, with hotel pickup, a guide in English or Arabic, lunch, lake time, and optional ATV, zipline, cable car, zoo, and aquarium stops. Guides such as Apo, Osman, and Oktay are known for keeping the busy schedule friendly and well organized.

“Amazing experience!! Everything was very well with our guide tour Asman. We apprecieted his explication. I love Sapanca!!”

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5.Princes’ Islands Cruise w/Music, Lunch & Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 711 reviews · 7 hours · from $34

Leave Istanbul by boat for Kınalıada and Büyükada, with hotel pickup available, a guided walk, lunch onboard, music, and free time for swimming or renting an electric vehicle. English and Arabic support is offered, and guide Burak has been praised for keeping the day organized.

“Did the prince's island tour with them, It was a very good experience for the price. food was delicious and had a good ambience with music when returning on the boat. Just maybe one recommendation would be to provide soft drinks as well for lunch in the package instead of water. But overall great experience, Highly recommended.”

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6.Istanbul to Gallipoli Full Day Tour with Lunch and Transfers

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 567 reviews · 17 hours (approx.) · from $157Top rated

Travel from Istanbul to Gallipoli by air-conditioned minivan, then tour ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair, Turkish cemeteries, trenches, and memorials with guides such as Burak, Hasan, or Bülent. Lunch, hotel pickup, and return transport are included, but expect a 17-hour day.

“For any Australian growing up with tales and images of Gallipoli it’s going to be an emotional experience. The place is just so recognisable. Walking along Anzac Cove through the trench’s and graveyards with an amazing guide who knows more about the story from both sides than anyone I’ve ever listened to. This was an unforgettable day.”

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7.Istanbul Historical Tour with Guide, Lunch and Transfers

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 561 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $248

Spend about eight hours exploring Istanbul’s old city with an English-speaking guide such as Fatma, Alize, Burak, or Umutcan. Visit the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and Grand Bazaar, with lunch and central-hotel pickup included.

“Excellent attention and knowledge of the history, well coordinated to pick up and trimming. Ismael very good person”

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8.Bosphorus Luxury Lunch Cruise & Black Sea Swimming Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 447 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $181

Spend about five hours aboard a modern, air-conditioned boat cruising from Kabataş toward Anadolu Kavagi. You’ll get a two-course lunch, snacks, hot drinks, palace and bridge views, an Asian-side village stop, and a summer swimming break near the Black Sea.

“Everything was as mentioned. We found our guide and the tour went on time. Amazing views, relevant information from the guide, a quiet trip as the boat was not completely full (end of September). We had a bath in a little town, not a great beach but we did get wet in the Black Sea!”

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9.Istanbul Heritage Tour – Incl. Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 416 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $216

Join a small group of up to 25 for a seven-hour tour of Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar, Topkapı Palace, and Gülhane Park. Hotel or cruise-port pickup, entrance fees, lunch, and an English-speaking guide are included, but drinks and the Topkapı Harem cost extra.

“Points of interest and lunch were great! High pressure sales at the leather shop was not good and sales personnel got mad when we tried to leave and yelled at us as we walked away.”

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10.2 Continents of Bosphorus ( Boat & Lunch )

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 304 reviews · 7 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $60

Spend 7 to 9 hours crossing Istanbul by boat, bus, and cable car. Cruise past Ottoman palaces, fortresses, mosques, and two bridges, then visit Beylerbeyi Palace, Çamlıca Mosque, and Pierre Loti Hill. Guides such as Jam and Nazmieh add useful context, while breakfast and lunch are included.

“Was not able to join because we were not picked up from hotel. I paid for transfer. I contaced the operator the day before the event and in the morning to confirm pickup time but no response. Got reply 15 mins after the event started saying we can not be picked up. How irresponsible. My money will be refunded but I missed the opportunity to see the Bosphorous strait. Bad business not delivering as promised.”

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11.Full-Day City Highlights Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 254 reviews · 7 hours · from $70

Spend seven hours exploring Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Sultanahmet Square, and the Grand Bazaar with an English-speaking guide. Pickup is available from central hotels, lunch is included, and guides such as Baris, Okan, and Ece adjust the pace for small groups.

“10 out of 10!! Fatih was a fabulous guide. Really friendly, full of interesting information about all the sites we saw and made our visit to Istanbul one to remember. A must book!”

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12.Full-Day 2-Sides City Tour with Lunch & Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 250 reviews · 12 hours · from $106

Spend a full day crossing Istanbul by bus and boat, with stops at Camlica Hill, Camlica Mosque, Beylerbeyi Palace, Eyup Mosque, and Pierre Loti Hill. Hotel pickup, lunch, guide service, and a two-hour Bosporus cruise are included. Guides may speak English, Russian, Spanish, French, or Arabic.

“We had a wonderful trip to Istanbul. We visited many different places, and our guide was very knowledgeable.”

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13.Istanbul Off the Beaten Path Tour with Guide, Lunch and Transfers

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 237 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $120

Spend six hours seeing Istanbul beyond the usual sights, from Karaköy and the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George to Balat, Tahtakale, Süleymaniye Mosque, and old book markets. Your English-speaking guide leads you by ferry, tram, and foot, with tea, lunch, and local stops included.

“Great experience to visit the lesser known highlights of Istanbul. Doing the ferry for some good views of the city, walking nice streets, an amazing lunch and we had a great tour guide with Ozge”

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14.Sapanca & Maşukiye Full-Day Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 226 reviews · 12 hours · from $22Best value

Leave Istanbul for Sapanca and Maşukiye with hotel pickup, a guide, lunch, lake time, Turkish delight tasting, and optional cable car, ATV, and zipline rides. Guides such as Osman, Doğan, and Ertugrul have led recent departures, though the assigned guide can vary.

“We took the all-inclusive option. It was a really fun tour. The guide took care of us throughout the day. Lunch was delicious, and the driver was very professional.”

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15.Small Group Full-Day Istanbul: Old City, Bosphorus Cruise & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 225 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $108

See Istanbul’s essential old-city sights, eat a three-course Turkish lunch, browse the Grand and Spice Bazaars, and cruise between Europe and Asia. Expect hotel pickup, groups of up to 18, mosque dress rules, plenty of walking, and possible guide changes between tour sections.

“This was a great full day tour that was very well paced and included a lot of major attractions with lunch just adding to the experience. Our guide Muzaffer was so knowledgeable and helpful and kept us on schedule. Pick up and drop off were spot on. Highly Recommended!”

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