9 Best Istanbul Food Tours To Taste Turkish Cuisine

Istanbul is one of the world’s most historical and cultural cities, and its richness is also found in its cuisine. To fully experience Istanbul, you have to taste it on an Istanbul food tour.

When we first arrived in the city, we took Istanbul food tours to learn about traditional Turkish food.

Local food guides helped us understand the nuances of Turkish cuisine, as food, culture, and history are inextricably intertwined.  

To help guide your food adventures in Istanbul, we’ve curated the best Istanbul food tours to take.

Get more out of your culinary experiences, and, as they say in Türkiye, “Afiyet Olsun” or enjoy your meal!

Comparison Table of The Best Istanbul Food Tours

Istanbul Food Tours	Price ($USD)	Group Size	Start Time	Duration (hours)	Location
Taste of Two Continents With Yummy Istanbul	$125	Max 10	9:00 am or 9:30 am	5.5h	Eminonu and Kadikoy districts
Istanbul Food Tour at Night – Local Tavern, History, Street Food	$100.28	Max 8	6:30 pm	3.5h	Beyoğlu neighborhood
Food Tour  Istanbul with  Local Guide	$120	Max 6	9:00 am or 9:30 am	4-6 h	Eminonu, Kadikoy and Karakoy districts
Private 10 Tastings with Locals	$120.34	Private	Every half hour from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm	3h	Beyoğlu district
Secret Food Tours Walking Tour in Kadikoy	$89	Max 12	10:30 am	4h	Kadikoy district
Kadikoy Evening Street Food Tour Yummy Istanbul: Bosphorus, Kadıköy and Moda	$85	Max 10	6:00 pm	3.5h	Kadikoy district
Private Guided Tour Taste of Istanbul	$175	Private	Every half hour from 8:30 am to 10:30 am	5-6h	Karakoy and Kadikoy, Eminonu districts
Istanbul Food Journey	$111.43	Max 30	4:00 pm	3.5h	Karakoy and Kadikoy districts
Culinary Backstreets Istanbul – Culinary Secrets of the Old City	$135	Max 7	9:30 am	5.5h	Fatih district

Top Istanbul Food Tours

1. Taste of Two Continents – Yummy Istanbul

For a comprehensive taste of Istanbul on the two continents the city straddles, you can’t beat this delicious and filling food tour.

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

This 5.5-hour taste of two continents food tour 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.

Along the way, you’ll visit the Spice Market in the Old Town and take a fascinating tour of the Spice Bazaar.

You’ll cross the Bosphorus Strait on a ferry, and in the trendy Asian district of Kadikoy, you’ll savor a traditional lunch complete with Turkish coffee and delicious baklava.

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

What You’ll Love About the Taste of Two Continents Tour

• A fully immersive Turkish culinary experience on both the European side and Asian side of Istanbul.
• Visiting and learning about cultural attractions while on the walking tour.
• A fun experience of crossing the Bosphorus Strait on a ferry.
• Trying famous street foods like kokoreç, tantuni, midye, dondurma, and more.

2. Istanbul Food Tour at Night – Local Tavern, History, Street Food

The Istanbul food scene comes to life at night with a different vibe and unique local foods and drinks.

This 3.5-hour Istanbul food tour takes place in the Beyoğlu, or Pera, neighborhood. You’ll sample a variety of Turkish food along Istiklal Street, the former Grand Avenue of Pera. 

During your walking tour, you will eat at meyhanes or traditional taverns that serve mezze, local foods, and alcoholic beverages like beer and raki.

Enjoy delicious local cuisine such as Dürüm Kebab, Turkish coffee, and İçli Köfte, a bulger shell crispy kofte stuffed with minced meat. 

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, as well as 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.

What You’ll Love About This Istanbul Foodie Tour by Night

• Exploring the vibrant night scene in a popular and historic neighborhood.
• Sampling unique street foods at several meyhanes or traditional taverns.
• A small group tour experience for a a more intimate experience.

3. Food Tour Istanbul with Local Guide

When you visit Istanbul, one of the best things to do is explore two of the city’s most famous food markets for a slice of daily Istanbul life.

This 4- to 6-hour food tour in Istanbul takes you to off-the-beaten-path locations, discovering multiple restaurants only locals know about. 

You’ll enjoy 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 to visit the second food market on the tour. 

With your passionate food and history enthusiast tour guide, you’ll eat at family-owned restaurants and savor century-old dishes while learning their history. 

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.

What You’ll Love About This Food Tour in Istanbul with a Local Guide

• Experience an exciting culinary and cultural journey on two continents. 
• Savoring traditional Turkish dishes and learning their history at local family eateries.
• An intimate experience with a total of six culinary travelers.

AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: Taking an Istanbul cooking class is a delicious way to learn about the popular dishes. Read more about our cooking class experience in our guide to The Best Cooking Classes in Istanbul To Take

4. Private Food Tour of Istanbul: The 10 Tastings

Enjoy the undivided attention of your local guide as you eat your way through the dynamic Beyoğlu district on a private Istanbul food tour.

On this private 3-hour 10 tastings of Istanbul food tour, you’ll get to try 10 different Turkish food and drink specialties. 

You’ll taste Turkish delight, dürüm, and many other sweet and savory treats. The range of drinks will surprise you with their unusual flavors and textures.

As you savor the culinary delights, you’ll visit historical monuments and learn about Turkish culture on this walking tour. 

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

And you’ll see Cicek Pasaji, a historic passage known initially as Cité de Péra.  

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

The 10 Tastings of Istanbul food tour is one of the best culinary tours for those seeking an intimate experience in Beyoğlu.

What You’ll Love About This Private 10 Tastings Tour

• Award-winning private tour with undivided attention from your local guide.
• Visiting historical monuments in the Beyoğlu district.
• Ability to tailor the visits and food choices to your preferences.

5. Secret Food Tours Walking Tour in Kadikoy

Spend the day learning about Turkish cuisine, tasting amazing food, and listening to stories about Istanbul’s history and culture.

This 4-hour Secret Food Tour takes you to the Kadikoy district on the Asian side of Istanbul.

On this culinary 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.

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.

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

What You’ll Love About This Secret Food Tour in Kadikoy

• Visiting iconic monuments and food markets while weaving through Kadikoy district.
• Diving deep into the cuisine and culture in one popular Istanbul neighborhood.
• Savoring a wide variety of Turkish food and unusual drinks, including wine.

6. Kadikoy Evening Street Food Tour: Bosphorus, Kadıköy and Moda

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 street food tour to explore the local eats.

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

Starting at the Spice Bazaar in the Old City, you’ll hop onto a ferry and cross the Bosphorus strait to the Asian side of Istanbul.

At the bustling Kadikoy Market, you’ll sample popular evening street foods like pide, kokoreç, or midye dolma. 

You’ll also stop at local restaurants for other delicious Turkish dishes as you explore the nearby Moda district.

What we loved most about this tour, and we know you will too, is discovering the hidden gems in the neighborhood.

Plan to save room for some tasty Baklava from one of the best local bakeries, as well as the absolutely incredible Turkish goat’s milk dondurma or ice cream. 

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.

What You’ll Love About This Istanbul Street Food Tour

• Discovering the exciting nightlife of Kadikoy on your Istanbul holiday. 
• Savoring more than 10 local specialties, including street food and drinks, while learning about Turkish culture
• Getting to know the authentic foods and hidden gems on the Asian side of Istanbul.

AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: Read more about our fun adventure into the culinary heart of Kadikoy on this Istanbul How To Eat Your Way in Kadikoy Street Food Tour

7. Private Guided Tour – Taste of Istanbul

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

This 5- to 6-hour private Taste of Istanbul tour is one of the best food tours for exploring popular foods in different regions of the city.

Your culinary journey begins in the 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 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, weave your way through the Spice Bazaar while getting introduced to Turkish spices and ingredients.

Your tour ends in the Old City, where you’ll learn about important monuments in the area.

What You’ll Love About This Taste of Istanbul Private Tour

• A two continents tour of Istanbul eats and culture. 
• An unforgettable experience with the undivided attention of a private guide.
• Learning about Turkish food culture while savoring delicious foods and drinks.

8. Istanbul Walk and Eat Food Journey Tour

There’s no better way to learn about the history and food of Istanbul than walking the backstreets like a local. 

This 3.5-hour Istanbul walk and eat food journey lets you taste the go-to specialties locals devour.

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

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.

The more than 10 different local specialties you’ll savor will help you experience a slice of local life on your Istanbul food journey.

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

What You’ll Love About the Istanbul Walk and Eat Food Journey

• Sampling more than 10 Turkish specialties as you wander the backstreets of Istanbul.
• Visiting the two continents on an exclusive food journey.
• Experience the life of a local while learning about the city.

AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: Visiting Cappadocia is an unmissable experience from Istanbul. This all-inclusive Cappadocia tour from Istanbul takes you to explore the unusual rock formations in the region. This tour also includes an optional hot-air balloon ride with unbelievable panoramic views. Find out more.

9. Istanbul Culinary 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 5.5-hour Istanbul culinary secrets of the Old City takes you back to the Ottoman period with a focus on Ottoman cuisine.

Taking place in the Fatih neighborhood, an area not so frequented by tourists, you’ll start with a traditional Turkish breakfast in a classic teahouse. 

You’ll then make your way to the Egyptian Spice Market, followed by a visit to an ancient confectionary store to learn about the famous Turkish Delight.

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

When lunch rolls around, you’ll 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.

What You’ll Love About Istanbul Culinary Secrets Tour

• Learning about Ottoman cuisine, culture, and history in Istanbul. 
• Discovering parts of Istanbul that tourists don’t often see.
• Explore several historical sites and local eateries in the Old City.

RELATED: Istanbul Street Food Guide: 20 Tastiest Street Foods To Eat in Turkey

What to Consider When Choosing a Food Tour in Istanbul

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

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

AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: Make your culinary travels worry-free! With the right travel insurance, you’ll enjoy a delicious experience. From medical emergencies, flight cancelations, car rental protection, or tour cancellations, a good travel insurance has got you covered. Check out our travel insurance review for food lovers to get started.

What Kind of Food Tour Experience Do You Want?

Having spent time in Istanbul and taken many of these tours, we can confidently say you’ll have absolutely incredible authentic experiences.

Beyond that, are there any specific experiences you want to have?

Are there any particular districts or monuments you want to visit? Some of these Istanbul food tours cover the two continents, while others focus on the European or Asian side.

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

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

With these considerations in mind, simply select the best Istanbul food tour that meets your needs. 

What Is Your Budget for Your Istanbul Food Tour?

The kind of experience you are looking for will play largely into your budget considerations.

The best food tours in Istanbul range in price from $85 to $135 per person. 

However, depending on the size of your group and dates, you may be able to negotiate discounted rates.

On a positive note, all these Istanbul food tours allow free booking cancellation up to 24 to 72 hours before the tour.

Have you taken food tours in Istanbul before? Please let us know in the comments below which tours you’ve taken or would like to take.

Savor the Adventure!

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