8 Best Food Tours Istanbul

Delve into Turkish culture and enjoy a tour of flavors and smells through the most gastronomic places in the city.

Ana Caballero

Ana Caballero

7 min read

8 Best Food Tours Istanbul

Spice bazaar | ©Bit Boy

Enjoying the best flavors of Istanbul is a tourist attraction, as it will allow you to get to know the gastronomic side of the city and compare it with your taste history.

Appearing out of nowhere in a city unknown to you and with a different culture can be an impediment when it comes to knowing where to eat and what dishes to taste; therefore, in this post I will tell you about the best gastronomic tours to do in Istanbul, all in order to enhance your experience and make the most of your trip.

1. Tasting of the flavors of Istanbul-Asian and Istanbul-Western gastronomy

Taste of Two Continents
Taste of Two Continents" Tour Meal| ©Diwakar_R

With this tour you will enjoy the European and Asian flavors of Istanbul, enjoy a market breakfast in Europe and in the heart of the historic Old City, before sailing to Asia and exploring the vibrant streets of Kadıköy. During your walk you will make 10 stops, and at each one you will be able to eat something characteristic of Turkish cuisine - enough to fill your belly thanks to the fantastic Turkish flavors!

From homemade dishes and street food to traditional kebabs and Turkish ice cream, the tour aims to introduce you to Istanbul's gastronomic scene and give you an insight into Turkish culture and daily life. Definitely one of the things to do in Istanbul, as it includes sightseeing and tasting.

Tour details

  • Approximate Schedule: The "Taste of Two Continents" tours start every day at 09:00 or 09:30 am and have an approximate duration of 6-7 hours.
  • Group size: The tour group size is a maximum of 8 people.
  • Approximate price: From 80€.

Book a gastronomic tour in Istanbul

2. Gastronomic tour of the classic neighborhoods of the Old City

Flavors of the Old City
Flavors of the Old City" Lunch Tour| ©Tomas D

Enjoy a fantastic journey back in time through Istanbul's historic Old City and the narrow streets surrounding the iconic Grand Bazaar. You will discover the best restaurants in the neighborhood and dine where the locals do. On this tour you will be able to treat your taste buds to the flavors of generations-old recipes. Plus, by focusing on the Old City, you'll also be lucky enough to see some of Istanbul's best mosques.

With this tour you will make more than 8 different stops, each accompanied by a gastronomic sampling: starting with traditional Turkish breakfast and street food, to the famous Turkish kebabs and desserts cooked over a wood fire. The Tastes of the Old City tour is an opportunity to immerse yourself in Istanbul's historical gastronomic scene and get acquainted with Turkish culture and habits.

Tour details

  • Approximate Time: Tastes of the Old City tours depart daily at 09:30 am and last approximately 6-7 hours.
  • Group size: Tour group size is a maximum of 8 people.
  • Approximate price: From 65€.

3. Taksim Gastronomic Tour by Night

Taksim by night| ©magdarlena
Taksim by night| ©magdarlena

Join us for an unforgettable tasting adventure in the lively heart of the city, the Taksim and Beyoğlu areas. With this food tour you can join the locals to experience the city in its night version and savor the best local street foods, with southeastern Anatolian specialties and traditional desserts. If you want to get into the middle of the local hustle and bustle of Istanbul, this is your chance to experience the authentic night in Istanbul. This tour is one of the best things to do at Christmas in Istanbul, as the Christmas atmosphere is spectacular in the Taksim and Beyoğlu areas.

Tour details

  • Approximate tour times: The Taksim evening food tour departs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 18:00. The tour lasts approximately 3 hours.
  • Group size: The tour group size is a maximum of 8 people.
  • **Approximate price : ** 75€.

4. Kadıköy Street Food Tour

Food in Kadıköy| ©nilgun erzik
Food in Kadıköy| ©nilgun erzik

With this tour you will be able to taste some dishes from the best restaurants in Kadıköy, getting to know this historic neighborhood of Istanbul, is no waste, besides being one of the least explored by tourists. It is also known for being a hub of local activity where you can taste some of the traditional Turkish dishes at relatively lower costs.

On this tour you can also enjoy some popular drinks, try more street food and savor authentic Anatolian dishes. In addition, Kadıköy is a place with a lot of nightlife, especially if you visit Istanbul in summer, so it would be nice to spend part of the night in this area.

Tour details

  • Approximate Tour Schedule: Kadıköy street food tour departs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 18:00. The tours have an approximate duration of 3 hours.
  • Group Size: The tour group size is maximum 8 people.
  • **Approximate price : ** From 70€.

5. Private tours in Istanbul: Ideal for understanding Turkish cuisine

Turkish Food| ©Marcela L
Turkish Food| ©Marcela L

Private tours of Istanbul are an excellent way to get a relatively deep insight into the food culture of the city. Not only will you be able to taste the food in different places and find out where the best places to eat are and what kind of food each place offers, but you will also have the opportunity to understand the reason for everything and what role gastronomy plays in Turkish culture. An experience that you can enjoy individually or in small groups.

On private tours of Istanbul, you can savor the delicious Turkish food and taste the famous Turkish drinks, immerse yourself in the interesting daily life of the residents of Istanbul and walk the centuries-old paths that have shaped the culture of this city. Your private Istanbul tour guide will focus on introducing you to Istanbul's historical food culture and solve all your questions.

Tour details

  • Approximate Tour Schedule: Private tours in Istanbul are offered throughout the year, every day. Because the tour is private, you will have the flexibility to decide the start time and duration of the tour. Please note that daytime tours must end before 17:00 and evening tours can only start after 18:00.
  • Group size: Private tours of Istanbul can include from 2 to 5 people.
  • **Approximate price : ** 220€ for 1-2 persons, 400€ for 3-4 persons, 100€ per person for 5 or more persons.

6. Istanbul's top 10 tastings with locals: private street food tour

Durum, typical Turkish food| ©MichalPL
Durum, typical Turkish food| ©MichalPL

With this tour you will taste the 10 best culinary delights of Istanbul on a half-day private food tour. The guide will lead you through a carefully selected itinerary that includes the most typical foods of Turkey including raki, durum, baklava, among others... This private tour is created to satisfy your curiosity as well as to get to know the gastronomy of Istanbul in a direct way. You will get to know some interesting and relatively new places, and others that you will want to return to for the rest of your stay in Istanbul, even if you are in Istanbul for 1 day.

You will also learn about Turkish culinary traditions through guided commentary.

Important details

  • Approximate Tour Time: This tour starts at 9:00 a.m. and lasts approximately 3 hours.
  • Group size: This tour includes a maximum of 8 people.
  • **Approximate Price: ** From 74 euros

7. Culinary tour of Istanbul: local tavern and gourmet street food

Entrance of the Flower Passage, Istanbul| ©Deep K
Entrance of the Flower Passage, Istanbul| ©Deep K

With this tour you will learn about Istanbul's complex food culture on a guided walking tour of the areas where most of the food is offered. You will explore the Pera neighborhood and visit some of the hidden passages and streets, such as the Flower Passage, Hazzopulo and Asmali Mescit. You'll also stop at traditional meyhanes and food markets to sample a wide range of food including snacks, desserts and drinks. You'll also learn about Turkish food culture with a culinary guide and explore ** Istanbul's historic neighborhoods** where people used to gather to share food and chat.

Important details

  • Tour Schedule: This tour starts at 9:00 a.m. and lasts approximately 4 hours.
  • Group size: Small group of less than 7 people.
  • Price: From 80 euros

8. Night tasting tour and food sightseeing in Istanbul

Ikli kofte dish| ©Tom D
Ikli kofte dish| ©Tom D

Discover the delicious bites of Istanbul and the sights illuminated by night on this gastronomic tour. Along with an expert guide, you'll wander through bustling Taksim Square, home to the mighty Monument to the Republic, to sample Turkish specialties from multiple restaurants. You'll also have the opportunity to try some Turkish dishes such as icli kofte (spiced meat and nuts), authentic Turkish kebabs, and work up an appetite with a sweet treat such as baklava, a traditional Turkish dessert.

Transportation to and from the hotel is included in this small grouptour, limited to 14 food lovers. Ideal for first-time visitors and food lovers.

Important details

  • Tour Schedule: This tour starts at 10:00 a.m. and lasts approximately 4 hours.
  • Group size: Group of 8 to 10 people.
  • Price: From 53 euros

Book a food tour in Istanbul