Istanbul Food Tour - History and Culture of Turkish Culinary

based on 171 reviews

Duration:3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Location: Istanbul, Turkey

From $98.09

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This is a food tour with a difference in world famous Beyoğlu (Pera) neighbourhood makes sure that you will enjoy all the ranges and aspects of Turkish Cuisine leaving nothing out. From drinking Raki and tasting varieties of mezes, cheese and seasonal fruits in a Meyhane (Local Tavern) to delicious Baklava in a traditional Confectionary Shop. In this four-hour gastronomy tour, you will stroll through some of the backstreets, bustling food markets and passages off Istiklal Street stopping off at Cafes, Eateries, Kebab restaurants and street food stalls to sample a cross-section of delicious foods to include meats, stuffed mussels and chocolate. A fascinating insight in a small group tour, providing thoughtful information on the history, cultural significance and relevance not only of the food but of the locations where it was served. We discover places you never find on your own.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. Halic
Halic (Golden Horn) means inlet in English separates the old and new sections of Istanbul.
2. Galata Koprusu
This bridge spans the Golden Horn, connecting the old city with Beyoglu, the modern district of Istanbul.
3. Galata Tower
Galata Tower is one of the most iconic symbols of Istanbul. It also features to be one of the highest and oldest towers of the city.
4. Istiklal Caddesi
This tour takes you into the heart of the modern sectıon of Istanbul, 'quirky' meyhanes and bustling food markets. You and your friends and family will embark on a four-hour gastronomy tour around the world famous Beyoğlu (Pera) neighborhood. All food, snacks, desserts and drinks (such as rakı and pistachio coffee), and a professional tour passing its most famous hidden passages (Flower Passage, Hazzo Poulo, Asmalı Mescit,) are included in the price. Once our experienced guide concludes Istanbul Street Food Walking Tour, you will leave with a stomach full of traditional food, plus local knowledge and sightseeing tips, to enhance the pleasure of your trip that will last with you a lifetime.
5. Beyoglu
You must not leave Turkey without tasting Dürüm Kebab that is the sliced meat of a döner kebab may be served on a plate with various accompaniments, stuffed into a pita or other type of bread as a sandwich, or wrapped in a thin flatbread such as lavash or yufka, known as a dürüm. Since the early 1970s, the sandwich or wrap form has become popular around the world as a fast food dish sold by kebab shops and is often called simply a “kebab”. The sandwich generally contains salad or vegetables, which may include tomato, lettuce, cabbage, onion with sumac, fresh or pickled cucumber, or chili, and various types of sauces.
6. St Anthony of Padua
Venetian Neogotic Style largest Roman Catholic Church in Istanbul and has the largest community following its masses.
7. Passage Hazzopulo
We are sure, easily you will find Turkish coffee all around Istanbul but you should know another traditional type of coffee drink as Menengic Pistachio Coffee. Menengic is produced from the coffee tree. This tree is Latin name is pistacia terebinthustur. In Turkey, menengic trees grow naturally in mountainous rural parts of the Mediterranean region, Southeastern Anatolia region, and Central Anatolia region without any need of any planting process. Menengiç Coffee has different ways of cooking, but the most common method of cooking is to cook just like Turkish coffee.
8. Avrupa Pasaji
Stop at another street food vendor for İçli Köfte; Sabirtaşı makes Istanbul’s best içli köfte (a crispy bulgur shell filled with minced meat, parsley, and sautéed pine nuts), and if you don’t feel like walking up to their restaurant, their İstiklal Street vendor is always around to serve up the köfte on the go. Made by hand on a daily basis, the içli köfte are downright delicious.
9. Balik Pazari
A must see street full of amazing bars and fish meze restaurants.
10. Cicek Pasaji
A meyhane is a traditional restaurant or bar in Turkey. It serves alcoholic beverages like wine, rakı, vodka, beer with meze and traditional foods. “Meyhane” is composed of two Persian words: mey (wine) and khāneh (house). A meyhane refers to a restaurant with traditional food, decoration, and music.
11. Hagia Triada Church
Beyoğlu was the primary neighborhood of the foreign community as well as non-Muslim Ottoman subjects. You will learn about how cosmopolitan the neighborhood once was.
12. Republic Monument
Situated at Taksim Square, the heart of modern Istanbul, commemorate the formation of the Turkish Republic in 1923
13. Taksim Square
Baklava (baqlawah) is a rich, sweet pastry made of layers of filo pastry filled with chopped walnuts or pistachio and sweetened with syrup or honey. It is a very traditional Turkish Dessert. Ice cream; traditional ice cream in Turkey incorporates natural thickening agents, which give it a smooth, compact, and almost stringy texture.
14. Taksim Gezi Park
We can finish our delicious journey with Turkish Tea, is popular throughout Turkey and the Turkish diaspora. Turkish tea culture also extends to Northern Cyprus and some countries in the Balkan Peninsula..
15. Historic Areas of Istanbul
Beyoglu the old European quarter of the city is Istanbul’s bohemian quarter, full of cafes, street performers and trendy young people.
16. Karakoy
Karaköy is one of the oldest and most historic districts of the city, and is today an important commercial center and transport hub.
17. Istanbul
Istanbul

ADDITIONAL INFO

CANCELLATION POLICY

Posted By : CK_S
Our guide, Erol Utgun, did an amazing job taking us to different places and giving us history and geography lesson on the food we were eating. We had an amazing time!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-12-18 09:34:01

Posted By : ianhosoosiang
Tolga was an awesome guide throughout the 3-4 hour tour. On top of the wide range of food that he brought us to try, he was extremely friendly and able to share with us his deep knowledge of everything Turkey, from language to culture to sports and politics.

If possible, please ask for Tolga to be your guide for the trip.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-12-14 14:15:18

Posted By : Gary K
Our tour guide, Erol Utgun, did a fantastic job of taking us to some great local places to try turkish foods. He described the nature of the foods, the style of service and the places to go back to. Food was included in the price. I highly recommend this tour. It was an exceptional evening of food, beverage, education and comfort in a foreign place.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-12-12 13:37:25

Posted By : Elizabeth_S
A fabulous tour that included delicious food along with great history of the city.
Erol was a fantastic guide who made the evening fun yet informative. We would recommend this tour to anyone who wants a good insight into the food and culture of this amazing city!!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-12-11 16:16:12

Posted By : Morrowalyssa
Erol was a great tour for food, history, and culture in Istanbul. We were able to try many types of food. He was also nice enough to help us navigate to and from the meeting point, and taught us to how to use the metro which was helpful for the rest of our trip.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-12-09 19:50:48

Posted By : Deborah_h
Erlo was great. Felt like I was talking around the neighborhood with a friend. Had drinks, talked about all different aspects of life and growing up in Turkey, and was shown a lot of great spots. Went back to one spot in particular TWICE on my own time after. I don’t think you can go wrong with this food tour!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-12-09 14:18:51

Posted By : sousaidh
My friend and I were in Istanbul from Canada and decided to go in this tour. Erol was our tour guide!! He took us to many different locations to try numerous different food options. He is so knowledgeable, friendly and easy going!!!! We had a great night eating a lot of new food and had great conversations!!!

If anyone gets the chance to do this tour; book with Erol. He is so amazing!!!! We enjoyed every moment!!!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-11-30 15:03:00

Posted By : Cross_A
The guide has so much knowledge about the local food.

He was very enthusiatic and enjoy very much explaining us the local.

Great guide.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-11-28 22:45:05

Posted By : Jessheel_D
Our tour guide was Tolga k. and he was incredible. He brought us to many hidden gems that we would not have chance upon on our own. He introduced us to Guzleme and the one we had, the cheese was just amazing. The Guzleme we tried at other places (after the food tour) could not compare. We even went back to the restaurant he introduced for breakfast later on.

Tolga introduced some mussels with rice, that was delicious too. We loved it. Also, the Baklava we had, was delicious.

I would highly recommend this tour cause it’s a good way of learning about the hidden passages along the shopping area, places we would not have entered otherwise.

We told Tolga we were heading to Cappadocia and he recommended a restaurant to us too. We went there for a late lunch, and to our lovely surprise, we bumped into Tolga in Cappadocia, so lovely and we are so tremendously grateful for his tips. We had a lovely late lunch in the restaurant too.

If you love food, trying new dishes, and wanting hidden gems, this tour is for you. Very worth the money, once again, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you Tolga. Wishing you and your family Happy Holidays.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-11-22 02:26:19

Posted By : Gerald_O
Lucked out and it became a private tour for me and my wife (: had a really good time learning about the cultural origins of food in Istanbul and tried many delicious foods that we wouldn’t have ordered ourselves! Our guide Tolga was the best and we were impressed by how connected he was on the streets of Istanbul (:
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-11-14 01:39:43