The 9 Best Istanbul Food Tours: Indulge In Authentic Turkish Cuisine

To fully experience Istanbul, you have to taste the city on an Istanbul food tour.

Indeed, Istanbul is much more than just a city full of beautiful buildings, palaces, and mosques. 

It’s one of the world’s most historical and cultural cities, and that richness is also found in its cuisine.

When we first arrived in Istanbul to explore the local food specialties, we took Istanbul food tours to learn about local Turkish food.

We found the rich history of this massive city to be best uncovered on a walking tour with a culinary guide.

To help guide your food adventures in Istanbul, here are the best Istanbul food tours to take.

Experience more of the city as you get to know the local foods. And, as they say in Turkey, “Afiyet Olsun” or enjoy your meal!

Comparison Table of The Food Tours in Istanbul

The price of these Istanbul food tours are shown in Turkish Lira (TRY). We provide USD conversion at the time of writing. Please note that prices might vary slightly when you book your tour. Availability of some food tours in Istanbul may differ based on season and time of year.

Top Istanbul food tours

1. Taste of Two Continents – Yummy Istanbul

For a comprehensive taste of Istanbul on the two continents the city straddles, a Taste of Two Continents food tour is your best option.

 While exploring the local food specialties in Istanbul for the first time, we took this taste of two continents tour and loved it.

This 6 to 7-hour food tours starts with breakfast on the European side of the continent and lunch and desserts on the Asian side.

With stops at more than 10 family-owned eateries and 25+ food tastings, it is a delicious and filling food tour of Istanbul.

You’ll visit the Spice Market in the Old Town and have breakfast while glancing over the New Mosque. 

Before leaving, you’ll take a fascinating tour of the Spice Bazaar, learning about Turkish spices and herbs.

From there you’ll cross the Bosphorus Strait on a ferry, heading to the Asian district of Kadikoy. 

In this trendy and culinary neighborhood, you’ll have a traditional lunch with Turkish coffee and delicious baklava. 

You’ll also try famous street foods like kokoreç, tantuni, and midye. 

Your trip ends with a tasting of amazing dondurma, classic Turkish ice-cream.

This food tour is the perfect pick for a complete Turkish cuisine experience on two continents.

Cost: $125

Time and Length of Tour: Approximately 6 hours. From 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Group Style: Small group tour

2. Private Tour 10 Tastings of Istanbul with Locals

For a private and personalized food tour in Istanbul, this 10 tastings of Istanbul with a local is a great option.

For over 3-hours, you’ll enjoy the undivided attention of your local guide as you eat your way through the dynamic Beyoğlu district of Istanbul.

You’ll enjoy tastings of 10 different food and drink Turkish specialties.

And as you savor the culinary delights, you’ll visit historical monuments and learn about Turkish culture.

You’ll try culinary gems like Turkish delight, dürüm, and many other sweet and savory treats.

The range of Turkish drinks you’ll sample will surprise you with their unusual flavors and textures.

The Beyoğlu district, formerly the Pera district in ancient times, is rich in history.

On your walking tour, you’ll see Cicek Pasaji, a historic passage known initially as Cité de Péra. 

You’ll also hear the stories of another famous passage, Avrupa Pasaji, or Passage d’Europe, one of the oldest in Istanbul. 

And a visit to the oldest Turkish bath in the city adds another dimension to your private tour experience.

As this is a personalized tour, your local guide can tailor the visits and food choices to your preferences.

This 10 tastings of Istanbul food tour is one of the best food tours for those seeking an intimate experience in Beyoğlu.

Cost: $110.25

Time and Length of Tour: Approximately 3 hours. From 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

Group Style: Private group tour

3. Secret Food Tours Walking Tour in Kadikoy

Going on Istanbul food tours with Secret Food Tours is an exciting culinary adventure. 

This Secret Food Tour takes you to the Kadikoy district on the Asian side of  Istanbul.

Over about 4 hours, you’ll learn about Turkish cuisine and stories about Istanbul’s history and culture.

On this Kadikoy food adventure, you’ll make about 6 food stops beginning with lahmacun, an unbelievably light, crispy flatbread.

Your taste buds will delight with the amazing taste of doner at a family-run restaurant considered one of the best in Istanbul.

As you weave through the district, you’ll visit iconic monuments and food markets.

You’ll bite on samples of Turkish sheep cheese, olives, and other snacks within the market stalls.

And, if you’ve never had Turkish wine, you’ll enjoy discovering it during one of the breaks on this tasty tour.

In your small group intimate tour, you’ll also try dishes like menemen, handmade manti, and pide. 

The pace will be relaxed and will allow you to ask your tour guide any questions you may have about Turkish culture. 

All Secret Food Tours end with a secret or surprise dish. Be sure to leave room for a Turkish culinary specialty to conclude your Kadikoy culinary adventure.

Cost: $82.3

Time and Length of Tour: Approximately 4 hours. From 10:30 am – 2:30 pm

Group Style: Small group tour

4. Private Tour – Taste of Istanbul

Taking a private tour is one of the best ways to understand Istanbul, a city that beats to its unique rhythm.

This private tour offers a bespoke experience all around Istanbul. For a full day about 6-7 hours, you’ll explore both the European and Asian sides of the city.

Your journey begins in Karakoy district for a full spread of traditional Turkish breakfast. Savor menemen, kaymak, sujuk, honey, cheese, olives, and more.

Using local transportation, you’ll head up to the historic Pera area and walk down the famous Istiklal street.

 For a taste of Asia, you’ll board a ferry to Kadikoy, on the Asian side for Turkish specialties like tantuni, midye, kokorec, kebabs, and more.

After your return to the European side, your private food tour ends at the Spice Market. 

You’ll weave your way through the Spice Bazaar while getting introduced to Turkish spices and ingredients.

As you will end in the Old City, you’ll also learn about some important monuments in the area.

One of the best perks of taking a private tour is that you can personalize it to suit your schedule and preferences. 

If you want to get to the heart of Istanbul and explore the city in an unforgettable way, enjoy the undivided attention of a private guide on a customized tour.

Cost: $175

Time and Length of Tour: Approximately 6 hours. From 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Group Style: Private tour

5. Istanbul Foodie Tour by Night: Traditional Meyhane & Street Foods

Istanbul by night comes to life with a different vibe and unique local foods and drinks.

To explore the traditional street food and drinks culture at night, this Istanbul foodie tour by night is one of the best Istanbul food tours.

This tour takes place in the Beyoğlu, or Pera, neighborhood, where you will explore the area and eat at traditional meyhanes. 

These meyhanes are traditional restaurants that serve mezze, local foods, and alcoholic beverages like beer and raki.

The former Grand Avenue of Pera and today’s Istiklal Street is where you’ll sample Turkish specialties.

You’ll enjoy Dürüm Kebab, İçli Köfte, a bulger shell crispy kofte stuffed with minced meat. 

Turkish coffee, baklava, ice cream, and Turkish tea are other delightful  treats you’ll eat along the way.

Some of the Istanbul sights and highlights include discovering secret passages in Pera. 

You’ll also pass by and learn about the Galata Tower, the Roman Catholic Church of St. Anthony of Padua. 

And you’ll see the Republic Monument in the bustling Taksim Square.

If you are staying in the Beyoğlu district, this is one of the best food tours in Istanbul that captures the area’s vibrant and dynamic nightlife.

Cost: $96.5

Time and Length of Tour: Approximately 3.5 hours. From 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Group Style: Small group tour

6.  Kadikoy Evening Street Food Tour

Kadikoy, one of Istanbul’s trendiest neighborhoods is an exciting district to explore on a food tour.

We stayed in Kadikoy while in Istanbul and took a Kadikoy street food tour to explore the local eats.

This 3.5-hour Kadikoy street food tour takes you through the main streets and lesser-explored areas to sample a wide variety of Turkish dishes.

This street food tour of Istanbul starts at the Spice Bazaar in the Old City. You’ll hop onto a ferry and cross the Bosphorus to the Asian side of Istanbul.

You’ll explore the bustling Kadikoy Market and try famous Istanbul street foods.

As this is an evening tour, you’ll taste popular evening street foods like pide, kokoreç, or midye dolma. 

You’ll also stop at family-owned traditional restaurants for other popular Turkish dishes.

What we loved about this tour and you will too, is the knowledgeable guide and discovering the hidden gems throughout the neighborhood.

No Istanbul food tour would be complete without a stop for traditional Turkish desserts.

Plan to make room for some of the tastiest Baklava from one of the best local bakeries. And amazing Turkish goat milk dondurma or ice cream. 

On this evening food tour, you’ll savor more than 10 local specialties, including street food and drinks, paired with Turkish culture. 

This Kadikoy street food tour is one of the best Istanbul food tours for night owls looking for an exciting culinary adventure in a hip and trendy neighborhood.

Cost: $85

Time and Length of Tour: Approximately 3.5 hours. From 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm

Group Style: Small group tour

READ MORE: Istanbul Street Food Tour: How To Eat Your Way in Kadikoy Trendy Neighborhood

7. Istanbul Food Journey Tour 

Embark on an Istanbul food journey across the two continents.

This Istanbul food journey tour takes you on a 3.5-hour walking tour tasting the go-to specialties locals devour.

The tour begins at the Karakoy pier, where you will visit a fish market and try fresh and stuffed mussels. You will also savor delicious Baklava from a famous bakery in Karakoy.

You’ll learn about the area’s history before boarding a ferry to the Asian side. 

In Kadikoy on the Asian side, you’ll wander the streets trying many Turkish street foods and snacks.

Amongst the many local foods you’ll try are dried figs, Turkish cheese, Ayran, Lahmacun, pickle juice, and more.

Tastings of 10 different local specialties will delight and intrigue you on your Istanbul food journey.

The adventure ends with traditional Turkish coffee and a Künefe, a tasty cheese and pastry dessert.

This food tour is an excellent option to experience the life of a local, with street foods and markets on both continents.

Cost: $75

Time and Length of Tour: Approximately 3.5 hours. Starting at 2:00 pm

Group Style: Small group tour

8. Culinary Backstreets Istanbul -Secrets of The Old City

Istanbul’s Old City is home to world-famous monuments like the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace.

Ottoman Sultans ruled from the palace for almost four centuries influencing government, education, and cuisine.

This Istanbul culinary secrets of the Old City takes you behind the scenes to the Ottoman period with a focus on the cuisine.

Taking place in the Fatih neighborhood, an area not so frequented by tourists, you’ll explore the Old City and culinary culture.

Your days tarts with a traditional Turkish breakfast in a classic teahouse. Next, you’ll make your way to the Egyptian Spice Market. 

At a four-generation-old confectionary store, you’ll learn about the famous Turkish Delight, beloved worldwide.

As you explore several historical places in the Old City, you’ll take a break at an old roadside inn for tea and Turkish treats with local shopkeepers.

When lunch rolls around, you will stop to enjoy an authentic pit-roasted lamb with a view of a Byzantine aqueduct.

Istanbul is a medieval and enchanting city. This half-day Istanbul food tour is a chance to see parts of the city only locals know about while tasting amazing local specialties.

Cost: $125

Time and Length of Tour: Approximately 5.5 hours. From 9:30 am – 3:00 pm

Group Style: Small group tour

9. Food Tour Istanbul with Local Guide

This guided tour of Istanbul takes you on an exciting culinary and cultural journey on two continents. 

With your passionate food and history enthusiast local guide, you visit two of the city’s most famous two food markets for a slice of daily Istanbul life.

For about 4 to 6 hours, you’ll visit off-the-beaten-path locations discovering multiple restaurants only locals know about. At each one, you’ll savor century-old dishes, while learning their history. 

Your food tour Istanbul with a local guide, starts with a delicious Turkish market breakfast and a visit to the Misir Carsisi, the second oldest covered food bazaar. 

From there, you will cross the Bosphorus Strait to the Kadikoy district. In Kadikoy, you’ll visit the second food market on the tour. 

You will enjoy your lunch at locally owned restaurants where you can try kebabs, mezes, and home-cooked dishes.

Upon your return to the Karakoy neighborhood, you will visit a famous baklava shop to end your tour on a sweet note. 

This is one of the best Istanbul food tours for independent and adventurous travelers

Cost: $70

Time and Length of Tour: Approximately 5 hours. Tours start from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

Group Style: Small group tour

What to Consider When Choosing a Food Tour in Istanbul

Although Istanbul tours may visit similar attractions, the experiences differ from one trip to another. 

Before you make your decision, here are some considerations you might want to take into account.

What Kind of Food Tour Experience Do You Want

As you consider booking your tour of Istanbul, consider your timing and preferences.

How much time do you have? Do you want a half-day tour or would you prefer a full-day immersive culinary guided experience?

Are there any particular districts or monuments you want to visit?

Do you enjoy meeting new people on small group tours or would you prefer a personalized private tour experience? 

Do you have any dietary restrictions?

With these considerations in mind, simply select one of the best Istanbul food tours that meets your criteria.

What Is Your Budget for Your Istanbul Food Tour

Another point to consider for your culinary tour in Istanbul is your budget.

The best food tours in Istanbul range in price from $70 to $175 per person. 

Depending on the size of your group, you might be able to obtain some discounted rates 

Also, some of the tour providers offer customized experiences so you can enjoy them at your own pace, following your diet and schedule.

On a positive note, all these Istanbul food tours have a free cancellation policy up to 24 to 72 hours before the event.

Have you taken food tours in Istanbul before?  Please let us know in the comments below.

Savor the Adventure!

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