Guided tour

Istanbul Food and Culture Tour: Taste of 2 Continents

5 / 5

11 reviews

    Add to wishlist
    Guided tour

    Istanbul Food and Culture Tour: Taste of 2 Continents

    5.0

    11 reviews

    From £85.31 per person

    Savor the flavors of Asia and Europe on a 5-hour food tour of Istanbul, and conquer the cuisines of the city’s 7 hills. A local guide will take you on a lesiurely stroll to neighborhood cafés to find Kurdish food, typical drinks and much more.

    About this activity

    Free cancellation
    Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
    Covid-19 precautions
    Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
    Mobile ticketing
    Use your phone or print your voucher
    Duration 5 hours
    Check availability to see starting times.
    Instant confirmation
    Live tour guide
    English
    Small group
    Limited to 10 participants

    Experience

    Highlights
    • Try the foods of Istanbul on both the Asian and European sides of the Bosphorus
    • Cross the Bosphorus Strait by public ferry
    • Browse the local food and fish markets in Kardikoy
    • Sample local drinks like cay (tea), served in a tulip shaped glass
    • Taste the Kurdish foods typical of southeast Turkey
    • Learn how to smoke a water pipe like a local
    • See the evening illuminations of Istanbul from the Bosphorus
    Full description
    Explore the cuisines of Istanbul on a 5-hour food tour of the city on both sides of the Bosphorus. Starting at Fuego Café and Restaurant in the Sultanhamet neighborhood, board a local tram to Eminonu Port to transfer by public ferry across the Bosporus Strait to Kadikoy Port in Asia. Enjoy views of 2 continents on the journey. Then, stroll around the Kadikoy neighborhood visiting local markets and diving down a maze of streets lined with local shops selling all kinds of produce. Go to the fish market to try some delicious mussels stuffed with rice and spices. After a break at a café, full of locals playing backgammon and okey, follow your guide to a restaurant that specializes in home cooked food from the Kurdish area of south east Turkey (vegetarian and gluten free options available). Stomach full, head back to Europe on the ferry, enjoying panoramas of Istanbul at night. By now you should have room for something sweet, so your guide will take you to an establishment where you can sample a typical Turkish dessert, before taking the tram to a 300-year-old madrasah that has been converted to a café. Relax with a drink as you watch the locals going about their business. Try the fruity flavors of an authentic nargile (water pipe), washed down with some Turkish beverages, such as cay Turkish coffee, sahlep or boomba tea..
    Includes
    • English-speaking local guide
    • Transportation by public trams
    • Bosporus ferry crossing (return)
    • Entree, main course and dessert
    • 4 drinks over the evening, including 1 choice of wine, beer or raki with your main course
    • Nargile (water pipe)
    • Extra food and drinks not mentioned in "what's included"
    • Tips and personal expenses
    Covid-19 precautions
    Safety measures in place
    • All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
    • You must keep social distance while in vehicles
    • The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds
    Traveler requirements
    • You are required to bring and wear a mask
    • You will receive a mandatory temperature check

    Select participants and date

    Participants

    Date

    Prepare for the activity

    Meeting point

    Meet your guide at Fuego Café and Restaurant, Alemdar mah, Incili Cavus Sokak. No: 15A, Sultanahmet, Istanbul 34110

    Open in Google Maps ⟶
    Important information

    Know before you go

    • The meeting point is a short walk from the Sultanahmet tram station. The public tram system starts at 06:00 and ends at around Midnight
    • Parents of children under 6 years old are advised to book a private tour
    • Please advise on booking of any dietary requirements (vegetarian etc.) or food allergies
    • Please provide a contact mobile (cell) phone number
    Customer reviews

    Overall rating

    5 /5

    based on 11 reviews

    Review summary

    • Guide
      5/5
    • Value for money
      5/5
    • Service
      5/5
    • Organization
      5/5

    Sort by:

    Traveler type:

    Star rating:

    This was a fantastic food tour! It ended up just being me on the tour. My guide, Salih, met me at my hotel and off we went. We started at little earlier because of the restrictions put in place because of the pandemic. All the food I tried was delicious! Salih was a great guide and informative with the sites we passed! Highly recommend if your a foodie or want to try amazing Turkish foods!

    Read more

    5 April 2021

    Robert – United States Verified GetYourGuide customer

    Helpful?

    The guide was wonderful!

    Luckily, I was the only participant on the tour. Rafael, who is a Ph.D. student of art history, took me around the city of Istanbul, explaining the history of the city and introducing various local cuisine. Rafael was very nice and he was a great guide with deep knowledge of the local culture. He made my evening in Istanbul very special.

    Read more

    25 April 2019

    Kazusato – Japan Verified GetYourGuide customer

    Helpful?

    Delicious fascinating educational and fun!

    Salih was an excellent guide - great taste and suggestions, very informative on food, culture, history. Very flexible - we got lost in way to meeting point and he came to find us, helped us find an open shop needed on our way home. And in the middle - such an experience! Loved the walk and ferry, market tastes and history, pickles, mussels, pastrami, cheese - all delicious! And then dinner was perfect - really gave us a sampling of so many wonderful flavors that we wouldn’t have been able to find for ourselves. And we were stuffed! But still managed to find room for baklava and ice cream afterward. Only downside is no liquor license at restaurant. Highly recommended.

    Read more

    6 January 2019

    S
    Sophie – United States Verified GetYourGuide customer

    Helpful?

    Organized by
    My Local Guide Istanbul

    Product ID: 45418