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Istanbul Food Tour

Two Markets, Two Continents

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This full-day Istanbul market tour draws from our best-of list in the European side’s Karaköy neighborhood and the Asian shore’s Kadıköy, tied together by a ferry ride across the Bosphorus, visiting two markets on two continents.

ABOUT

On this tour, we’ll get to experience the best of both worlds: we’ll eat our way across the continental divide, dropping into local eateries and meeting vendors that give the city’s cuisine a greater meaning. The route for this Istanbul market tour draws from the Culinary Backstreets best-of lists in the European side’s Karaköy neighborhood and the Asian side’s Kadıköy, tied together by a Bosphorus crossing on the public ferry.

The historic Perşembe Pazarı of Karaköy, where this tour begins, might look like a place to buy springs, ship anchors, hardware and paint supplies, but we’ll go there for an unforgettable, seasonal breakfast experience, followed by a stroll through the atmospheric mariner market streets, where we’ll stop into an Ottoman-era caravanserai for tea. Then we’ll hop the boat to Kadıköy on the Asian side and eat our way through that neighborhood’s market, which holds the highest concentration of traditional food shops and eateries in the city. There, we will perk up with one of the best cups of Turkish coffee in town before sampling regional specialties such as Mersin’s famous tantuni, the flatbread, lahmacun, of Southeastern Turkey and Aegean-style meze. We’ll continue on toward the lesser-explored culinary hotspots around the Moda area at the market’s edge, where an infectious neighborhood vibe and a sweet finish await us to conclude our Istanbul market tour.
This award-winning food tour is our most popular tour in Istanbul and is a full day of eating, drinking and walking across two markets on two continents, visiting a dozen or more small eateries and meeting many of the faces in the kitchens.

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DETAILS

  • Group size: 2-7
  • 6.5 hours
  • Monday - Saturday 9:30am
  • Karaköy - Kadıköy

Dietary

Some, but not all, stops can be altered for vegetarians. Can accommodate gluten-free diets but not vegan diets. No pork is served on the tour.

Mobility

Easy and flat terrain. Includes market visits and ferry ride across the Bosphorus. Children welcome.
REVIEWS
We had an amazing time on tour.... Read more Read less
Fantastic day and a great introduction to the city as well as the food.... Read more Read less
We managed to sample literally everything you can think of when you think of Turkish cuisine and got plenty of recommendations for spots/foods to try for the rest of the week.... Read more Read less
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How are you dealing with COVID-19 risk on your walks? We have reinforced our commitment to safety with new guidelines to assure maximum safety of our guests on our walks in terms of social distancing and hygiene while maintaining the quality of the experience. For more details on our precautions, read here. Our routes have been altered during this period of time to ensure the safety of our guests, guides and community. Our cancellation policy is extremely flexible to deal with changes in travel plans.
What is included in the fee? In addition to your Culinary Backstreets guide, all food consumed on the walk – almost a dozen different edible specialties – are included in the price. Alcoholic beverages are not included.
Why is the Culinary Backstreets tour more expensive than some other walking tours? Our approach is different than most tour companies. Each of our culinary walks is the outcome of considerable research. We work with academics in the field and our own team of experienced professionals – both guides and local journalists. Our ongoing publishing of articles, from restaurant reviews to features about the intersection of food and culture, constantly feeds new material into the culinary walks, so they evolve and constantly improve. Though costly, we believe that this is how to create the quality experiences we strive for. We practice honest tourism and would never accept a free lunch or any sort of commission. On the contrary, we are proud to know that the money spent during the culinary walk goes to support businesses that we believe in, helping to preserve the social and cultural fabric of the cities we love so dearly.
How does the payment process work? Once you have made a reservation, we require the full fee to be paid in order to complete the online booking. Our online booking system uses Stripe to process secure payments. Your card is only charged if the walk is confirmed.
What is your cancellation policy? 90% will be refunded if given 1 week notice prior to walk and 50% will be refunded if given 72 hours notice or more. Less than 72 hours is non-refundable.
Are your walks public or private? How many people are on them? Our walks are 2-7 people and are open to the public. If you would like to do a private walk, you can book it for a supplement by selecting book entire excursion. If it is not available on booking, we may be able to arrange one for an additional fee. Please contact us at walks@culinarybackstreets.com for more information.
Can I get a discount if I join more than one walk? Yes, we offer a 10% discount to those who join more than one walk. Please email us at walks@culinarybackstreets.comif you’d like to join multiple walks.
Are your walks suitable for people with food allergies? This can vary based on a number of factors, including the food item in question. Please email us at walks@culinarybackstreets.com to discuss your situation before booking.
Are your walks suitable for vegetarians, pescetarians and vegans? This walk can be enjoyed by vegetarians,however there are some stops that may need to opt out of.
Are your walks gluten-free? Gluten free is difficult in Turkey as so much of the dishes are wheat based. Culinary Backstreets® and Istanbul Eats® can accommodate a gluten free diet on this walk but there are some stops that may need to opt out of.
Is alcohol served on the walks? No.
Is the food offered on the walks halal? This is difficult to answer. In Turkey the halal certification process is relatively new, so though many butchers are halal they may not be certified and though many restaurants use halal products they may not advertise or even recognize it. Because of this, we cannot confidently say that all of the food is halal.
How physically demanding is the walk? The walks are all about 2KM (1.25 miles) of fairly flat terrain. The streets and sidewalks of Istanbul can be a bit unpredictable so we recommend good walking shoes. All Culinary Backstreets® and Istanbul Eats® walks include numerous breaks along the way.
Can children join the walks? Of course! We offer a 50% discount to children ages 12 and under, and we charge $25 for children 6 and younger.
Do you offer walks during Ramazan? Culinary Backstreets® and Istanbul Eats® do offer this walk during the month of Ramazan and some local holidays, although our schedule is more limited during that time.
How will I return, once the tour is over? Our tour prices don’t include transportation. If you book a tour, you’re responsible for arriving to the pre-arranged meeting spot on your own. Once the tour is over, we will help you get an authorized, safe taxi to your hotel, or provide directions on public transportation, if you’re interested in that.
How much food will I get to try? This is really up to you. Culinary Backstreets® and Istanbul Eats® tours generally make between 9 and 12 eating stops on our walk and try to include some breaks from eating along the way. The price includes as much food as you’re open to trying. We offer a suggested portion size at each stop and you can take our recommendation if you’d like. Culinary Backstreets® and Istanbul Eats® walks often involve street food and sharing food.

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Guests
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Guests

Adults
Age 13+
Children
Ages 7-12
Children
Ages 6 & under
Two Markets, Two Continents
Adults x $135
Total
Fee includes everything consumed on the walk.
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