Best Food Tours in Istanbul
One of the best parts about traveling is indulging in all the local food and drinks. This is one of the best ways to get to know the heart and soul of a location. We love to do food tours because you get to sample so many things that you might not ordinarily order yourself at a restaurant and you have a local guide there to tell you more about the foods, history, and culture.
Food tours can be pricey, but with the right guide and setup-it is well worth the price! The first food tour our family did in Istanbul was just OK. The food was fine but our guide was not very “guide-y”. He didn’t tell us much about what we were eating. So to save you from booking something underwhelming, I did the homework for you and put together this list of highly-rated and well-vetted food tours in Istanbul.
The first tour listed is the food tour in Istanbul that I did with my friends and it was MUCH better than the original tour I did with my family. Keep reading until the end for more food experiences, cooking classes, and activities in Istanbul.
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Best Food Tours in Istanbul
Culinary Backstreets
This is the tour company I used when I visited Istanbul with my friends. The tour was great, we actually had the guide to ourselves, probably because we booked on a weekday in February which isn’t exactly the tourist season.
This company limits groups to 7 so you’ll never be in a massive tour group, which is really nice. You’ll get a much more personalized experience this way. We met our guide on the Karaköy side of town where we were staying and she took us to several places in this neighborhood before jumping on the ferry to take us across the Bosphorus to Kadıköy on the Asian side of Istanbul.
Since I had taken a food tour before in Istanbul, I was wondering if much of it would be repeated for me but our guide showed us new and interesting dishes alongside some of the classic Turkish dishes I was already familiar with.
Some of the highlights of the tour:
Trying tavukgöğsü for the first time (a milk pudding with shredded chicken)
Turkish breakfast in a local teahouse that I would’ve never found on my own
Sampling sweet beans and pilav (another dish I had never tried)
Our guide also had us try börek, baklava, lahmacun, and lokum (Turkish delights) which are all very classic foods that you must try in Türkiye.
Now for the semi-bad news. I can’t find the exact tour we did on the website. I suspect that because we were basically a private group of 3, our guide molded our tour to us based on our meeting point and our interests. She let us deviate and wander a little bit based on things we showed interest in.
But with that said, based on my experience with the company and the guide, I would feel perfectly happy booking any of the food tours in Istanbul that they have available. The Two Markets, Two Continents tour sounds the most similar to the tour we did.
Two Markets, Two Continents
“This intimate and in-depth Istanbul food tour focuses on lesser-known culinary hotspots and locally renowned backstreet locations. Eat your way around both European and Asian sides of the city, with stops in Karakoy, Kadikoy, and the up-and-coming Moda neighborhood. The full-day experience includes breakfast, lunch, snacks, tea and coffee, and bottled water.”
Duration: 6.5 hours
Price: $135
Born on the Bosphorus
“Go off Istanbul’s beaten track on this small-group food tour around three of the city’s local neighborhoods. Visit an Ottoman-style bakery in Beşiktaş, browse the market in Üsküdar, then get a different perspective in scenic Kuzguncuk. Benefit from the local knowledge of your guide and enjoy a full day’s dining, with breakfast, lunch, snacks, and drinks all covered.”
Duration: 6.5 hours
Price: $135
Culinary Secrets of the Bazaar Quarter
“Taste your way around Istanbul’s bustling and history-filled Bazaar Quarter during this five-hour, small-group food-tasting tour. Sample delicacies with origins from around the country, from a traditional Konya wedding soup to the Ottoman-era dessert kadayıf from Gaziantep. Understand the neighborhood’s melting pot food culture with explanations and stories from your guide. A full Turkish breakfast spread, lunch, refreshments, and coffee are tea are included.”
Duration: 5.5 hours
Price: $135
Kids are welcome on the tours and charged at a 50% rate (ages 6-12), under 6 is charged at a 25% rate.
Istanbul Taste of Two Continents Tour
This tour has a similar set-up to the food tour mentioned above but has some slightly different offerings. The final stop is for dondurma, Turkish ice cream which is very unique compared to American ice cream or Italian gelato. It also comes with some entertainment, so it’s definitely something you want to try while you’re in Istanbul.
This Istanbul food tour will also take you on a ferry across the Bosphorus to let you experience both continents and sides of Istanbul. The tour is highly rated at 5.0 with over 3,000 reviews (at time of writing) so you can be assured that it is an experience travelers are happy with.
Duration: 5.5 hours
Price: $135
You might also be interested in this 4 Day Istanbul Itinerary
Istanbul Food Tour-History & Culture of Turkish Culinary
If you want to experience Turkish food and culture but don’t have time for a full-day tour, this is a half-day food tour in the Beyoglu neighborhood (on the European side near Galata Tower). This is my favorite neighborhood in Istanbul because it’s quirky, interesting, and full of character.
On this tour you’ll get to sample traditional döner, köfte, baklava, rakı (liquor), çay (tea), and more! The tour is very well rated with over 250 five star reviews!
Duration: 3.5 hours
Price: $125
Read next: Unforgettable Things to do in Cappadocia
Turkish Food Night and Rooftop Experience
This is a shorter tour if you don’t want to commit as much time to doing a day-long food tour. It features both stops for street foods and a Turkish dinner at a panoramic, 140 year old family-owned restaurant. It says they can accommodate vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free diets.
Most food tours I’ve seen do not have mezzes on their list but this one does. Mezzes are a staple of Turkish cuisine and having a guide there to help you order and pick interesting ones to sample is a huge perk!
The experience is capped at 15 people so you won’t be a huge group. It also includes transportation to/from your hotel so you don’t have to worry about public transportation or taxi drivers ripping you off (a very common thing in Istanbul)!
It also has excellent ratings and reviews, 4.9 from over 600 travelers.
Duration: 3.25 hours
Price: $74
Istanbul Guided Food and Culture Tour
This tour will take you to both the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. I should mention that getting onto the Bosphorus is a must on any trip to Istanbul. You absolutely must see it from the water, so the tours that include the ferry ride are also helping you check that off your Istanbul experiences list.
The tour features Kurdish food from southeast Turkey, something I haven’t seen featured on other similar tours. You’ll get to stop at 8 food stops and sample 4 drinks on this tour. One of those drinks is kahve (Turkish coffee) which is prepared in an interesting way. The dessert stop on this tour is a favorite of mine, you will not be disappointed, I’m drooling just thinking about it.
Duration: 4 hours
Price: $120
More Food Related Experiences in Istanbul
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise
As I just mentioned above, sailing on the Bosphorus needs to be at the top of your list when you visit Istanbul. There are many ways to accomplish this, here is one that offers a cruise, traditional Turkish food, and entertainment! This would be a fun way to end a full day of touring around Istanbul.
If you’re staying in some of the most popular neighborhoods in Istanbul, the company will even pick you up from your hotel and drop you off after the cruise is finished. Dinner consists of mezzes, hot appetizer, main course, and fruit. Non-alcholic drinks are included and you can purchase an option to include alcohol as well.
Duration: 3-5 hours depending on availability and the option you book
Price: $28 (starting)
Private Turkish Cuisine Cooking Class with Local Moms
If you’re looking to get more hands-on with your Turkish food experience, then this cooking class might be the right choice for you. Join a local Turkish mom in her kitchen to learn how to make a variety of dishes. This is going to be a great way to immerse yourself in Turkish culture and cuisine.
You can book the class for dinner or for breakfast. In case you haven’t heard, Turkish breakfast is a whole ordeal, it will be a feast for your eyes and your belly. Turkish hospitality is very warm and welcoming. You’ll be made to feel like an honored guest, not a stranger when you enter the house.
This is an opportunity to also get to know the family and their story, learn what their lives are like, and connect on a personal level.
Duration: 3 hours
Price: $90
Vegan/Vegetarian Cooking Class
This is the class for you if you want to learn to make dishes that follow a vegan or vegetarian diet. It takes place in the home of a Turkish family, so you are getting an intimate and local experience. Many Turkish dishes are naturally vegetarian but they have also developed creative ways to turn classic meat dishes into vegan/vegetarian options.
Since you’re in someone’s home and not in a cooking school or restaurant, the class will feel much more personal and like you are really getting to know more about life in Istanbul.
Duration: 2 hours
Price: $104
Other Istanbul Tours and Activities
Turkish Mosaic Lamp Making
I’ve done this workshop with the same company in Cappadocia and it was really fun. You get to create your own mosaic lamp and bring it home with you! Choose your colors and design for a custom lamp that is exactly what you want. These classes also teach you, it’s not always as easy as it looks!
My children did this at ages 5, 9, and 11. We still have everyone’s lamp and it was a fun hands-on experience for the whole family.
Duration: 3 hours
Price: $22
Carpet Weaving Workshop
When you come to Turkiye, you think about carpets! This class will teach you how to weave a carpet yourself. Of course, you won’t have time to make a big carpet but you’ll learn how it’s done and create a small piece to take home with you.
Duration: 2.5 hours
Price: $26
Turkish Coffee & Fortune Telling Workshop
I’ve also done this class in Cappadocia with the same company. This class is better suited toward adults, I did it with two friends. Learn the history and culture behind Turkish coffee and then learn how to brew it yourself in hot sand. After you drink your coffee the Turkish way, your instructor will help you read your fortunes.
To be honest, I thought it would be cheesy but our instructor ended up really touching on some things that really resonated with each of us! We also went home with a little gift set of items for making the perfect cup of Turkish coffee.
Duration: 1.5 hours
Price: $27
Perfume Making Class
This is still on my list of classes to take, but it looks really fun. Learn how to blend and mix scents to create your perfect perfume. Your instructor will also teach you about the spice and perfume trade history of Turkey. I love that with these classes you get to create your own souvenir. It feels more meaningful than just buying something in a shop.
You’ll enjoy learning more of the history and chatting with the other travelers in your class. Sip on çay and kahve while you learn and create.
Duration: 2 hours
Price: $22
Istanbul Hotels
Still need to book a place to stay in Istanbul? My favorite neighborhood is near Galata Tower, but for a first time visit you might want to stay in Sultanahmet to be closer to all the big sites. Stay in Kadiköy on the Asian side for a more local, less touristy vibe.
Istanbul Food Tour FAQ
Are food tours in Istanbul kid-friendly?
Most tours are kid-friendly and offer discounts for children. The tours which are nighttime pub crawls would be the ones where kids would likely not be allowed.
Can they accommodate food allergies and dietary restrictions?
This is very tour dependent. You should contact the company directly if you have concerns about this. Gluten and nut allergies will be hard to avoid as there is so much wheat in many dishes and nuts are also a staple.
Are tours offered during Ramadan/Ramazan?
Check with your specific tour company because some companies do not do food tours during this month-long period and some have more limited offerings.
2026 Ramadan dates: February 19-March 19
2027 Ramadan dates: February 8-March 8
2028 Ramadan dates: January 28-February 25
2029 Ramadan dates: January 16-February 13
2030 Ramadan dates: January 5-February 3
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Hi, I’m Lindsey!
I’m an American expat, wife, mom of three, traveler, photographer, and travel writer. Our family has been living abroad for over a decade in countries like Germany, Ukraine, Georgia, and now Türkiye. We travel every chance we get, taking kids on European road trips, overseas adventures, and day trips closer to home.
On this blog, I share practical tips, itineraries, and inspiration for families traveling in Europe (and beyond). If you’re planning your first big adventure or you’re a well-seasoned traveler you’ll find resources to help your family make memories with less stress. I love connecting with fellow travelers, so follow our latest adventures on Instagram and sign up for my email updates.
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