8 Things To Know Before Taking A Food Tour In Istanbul 2025

Istanbul, straddling the Asian and European continents, is famous for its rich culinary heritage and fusion of food influences. From the best known Kebabs, Baklava, and Turkish delights, to the lesser known Börek, Manti, and Pide, you are sure to find something here that you will love. So one of the things to do while visiting Istanbul is a food tour!

Every time we travel to a new country, we feel like doing a food tour offers an incredible introduction to the culture there. We have done countless Food tours, like in Taormina Sicily, Antigua Guatemala, through Japan, and more, and it has always been a highlight experience. It is like having your own private tour guide to teach you about the transport, city, navigation, and food, all the while getting to eat a lot of meals.

Are you wondering if a food tour is right for you?

Below we highlight 8 things to know before taking a food tour in Istanbul. These are tips to help you decide whether it is right for you, what to expect during the tour, as well as how to optimize your experience.

Let’s get right in!

Best food tour in Istanbul

There are many food tours in Istanbul. Some focus on street food, others on the markets, and some bring you to experience the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. We had the pleasure of embarking on a European-to-Asian Istanbul food tour and had an amazing experience.

The key to having a good food tour is to have a guide who truly cares about what you’re eating and learning. Most food tours will allow you to try between 8-11 dishes. But there are thousands of kebab stands, Baclava shops, and breakfast places in Istanbul, where the quality of each place may vary.

With our guide, he doesn’t go to the typical marketed places. He does his research and applies his local knowledge to find the most unique and tasty spots around the city. He also swaps certain stops in and out depending on the group as well as what is freshest at the moment. It isn’t just bringing you to try food, he is sharing with you his passion for his country and culinary scene.

8 Things to know before taking a food tour in Istanbul

Check out below where we share 8 things you should know before taking the food tour. This covers what you will experience during the tour, how you should prepare when to schedule it, and some tips to optimize your experience.

1. This is the perfect activity on your first day in Istanbul

When arriving in a new city or country, it can be confusing to learn the customs and how things work there. How does public transportation work? Where are things located in the city? Do you tip in Turkey? What is the culture and the norms here? What are the best things to do in Istanbul?

It is for that reason that we feel a food tour once you arrive in a new country is the ideal activity. Your guide will be able to answer all your questions with a local’s perspective and expertise. You will be brought around the city and introduced to their public transportation and the different neighbourhoods.

In Istanbul, we were overwhelmed by the options of public transportation and understanding which ones could be paid for with the IstanbulKart. Our guide was more than happy to explain this to us. He also gave us a warning about the Ubers in Istanbul and provided alternative recommendations.

Also, when in a foreign country, you may not know what are the typical local dishes. You certainly did not travel all the way here to eat Burgers and hot dogs! The local food tour guide will present to you not only the local dishes but also many of the stories behind them.

You will learn this, and much more from a food tour! So we recommend definitely booking it on your full available day in Istanbul! This really helped us get our bearings and better plan our itinerary for our 3 days in Istanbul.

2. You will discover areas that you would otherwise miss

Istanbul is a massive city! If you didn’t already know, it actually straddles the continents of Asia and Europe. In fact, Istanbul is subdivided into the North side (Galata/Karakoy area), the South side (Sultanahmet), and the East side (Asian side with Kadikoy).

Most tourists will stay in Sultanahmet due to its central location near the main attractions of the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Grand Bazaar. However, there are few who will visit the Asian side, where the ambiance and food are actually a lot more authentic and local.

We only had 3 days in Istanbul but wanted to explore as much as possible. For that reason, embarking on the Food tour was ideal as it brought us to discover both the traditional Sultanahmet area, as well as the less-discovered Kadikoy area. Without a guide, we would’ve likely missed out on seeing the Asian side of Istanbul.

Our guide also brought us through the truly local venues there. We did not stick to the main tourist avenues but wound through the alleys of local neighbourhoods. When visiting the local shop for Börek (which we HIGHLY recommend trying), there were only locals there rushing to grab their takeout before going to work. We truly loved seeing this side of Istanbul.

3. It is also a history lesson

You know the saying “The way to a man/woman’s heart is through food” right? Well, guess what? “The way to know a country’s culture is through food”. There! it’s trademarked.

Throughout the food tour, you will have the opportunity to learn so much about the history of Turkey, the people, and the food. It was truly fascinating and we would’ve never discovered this side without the tour.

For example: we learned that Turkish coffee was used as a secret message in order for the woman to tell the man whether he should ask her for her hand in marriage. If the woman sees that her parents are not in approval of their marriage, she will secretly pour some salt instead of sugar into his Turkish coffee as a means of saying “stop”. This way, it will save him from the shame of rejection.

Another fascinating historical lesson we learned was about the street food Kokoreç. It is a popular dish in Turkey made of lamb or goat intestines which are skewered then grilled, and then sliced into thin pieces. When Turkey was invited to join the European Union, they realized that if they joined, street food like Kokoreç would likely be banned.

The local people took a stand to say that they did not want to be part of the EU in order to preserve their food and culture. There was even a song called Kokoreç to showcase this opinion!

So by going through a food tour, you will also learn so much about the history of Turkey.

4. You will be walking a lot!

Most of the food tours in Istanbul include a lot of walking. This is a good thing as you will be enjoying over 11 courses of food! Our walking tour lasted 6 hours and brought us through both Sultanahmet all the way over to Kadikoy on the Asian side.

Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and clothing that are not too tight. You will be eating a lot and walking a lot!

This will also help you digest quickly between each meal and leave you more room for the next course!

5. Do not try to finish every dish that you sample

This is a very crucial thing to know. Do not try to finish every dish that is offered to you.

When we sat down for our first course, which included Simit, olives, cheeses, cream, and honey, with Turkish Cai, we could’ve easily eaten it all. It was absolutely delicious but we had to keep in mind that there are still 10 more courses of food coming.

Take 2-3 bites of every dish and then save some room for the next. There are some stops where the food is already bite-sized, but at other stops, they will bring you an entire dish.

The Tour guide knows this so he/she will usually have proportioned the food correctly so as not to waste it.

6. You will discover many dishes that you would otherwise miss

There are several typical dishes that most know about. These include Kebabs, Turkish delights, and Baklava. But have you heard of Menemen, Manti, Dolma, Pide, Lahmacun?

Without prior research, most would’ve missed out on those dishes. By joining a food tour, you get a local’s perspective on what are the must-try dishes.

You might’ve also missed out on the Kokoreç. Skewered and grilled lamb intestines? It doesn’t sound the most appetizing right? But given that it may be one of the food stops, you will likely try it!

When in Rome… or in this case Istanbul.

7. Bring a bottle of water

Since you will be eating over 10 courses of food, you will likely get thirsty. Not every stop includes a beverage to accompany the meal. It is for that reason that we would highly recommend bringing your own bottle of water.

Whether you are thirsty from the delicious tastings, or from all the walking, it is better to be prepared!

8. Choose the type and duration of food tour wisely

There are several options for food tours in Istanbul. These include:

• Taste of two continents: where you discover the European and Asian side of Istanbul
• Street food and markets
• 10 Tastings tour: local’s 10 favourite foods
• Kadikoy food tour: focusing mostly on the Asian side
• and more…

Make sure to choose the one that most interests you. Do you prefer to discover street food? Do you want food just from the Asian side of Istanbul? Do you want to discover both European and Asian sides?

Also, note that some tours last 3 hours and others last 6 hours. 6 hours may seem long but we feel it is worth it as you have a lot more time to learn about the country, and also enjoy more meals. It also ensures that you do not feel rushed from one stop to the next.

Overall we would recommend going for a 4-6 hour food tour.

This post is part of our series about Turkey. If you want to learn more about Turkey, planning your trip, and some of the best experiences there, check out the guides below:

Is Uber in Istanbul? Guide To Getting Around The City 2025

10 Day Turkey Itinerary: Ultimate Guide

27 BEST Things To Do In Kas For A Unique Experience 2025

Where to stay in Cappadocia, Turkey (2025): Complete Guide

Do You Tip In Turkey: Tipping Etiquette For Every Situation

Is Turkey Expensive to Visit? Budget Breakdown and Tips (2023)

3 Days in Istanbul: Perfect Itinerary for First-time Visitors (2025)

Is Cappadocia Worth it? 10 Best Reasons & Things To Do 2025

Best places to stay in Istanbul

In our blog post where we break down a 3-day itinerary in Istanbul, we go into detail about the best areas to stay in Istanbul. If you want a quick look at some of the top hotels we recommend, check it out below.

Overall, we suggest staying in the neighbourhood of Galata/Karakoy or Sultanahmet. They will be the most convenient also for starting your food tour. Our food tour departed from the spice market which is located on the northern side of Sultanahmet.

For more highly recommended hotels in Istanbul, click below:

Visiting Istanbul: FAQs

Istanbul is a bustling metropolis and it can be overwhelming to understand everything. Below we answer some of the most frequent questions about Istanbul!

What are the famous foods of Istanbul?

There are so many famous foods in Istanbul! In fact, Istanbul is home to over 53 Michelin-recommended restaurants!
Here are some of our top suggestions for foods you must try while you are there

🔸 Kebabs: these include Adana kebab, shish kebab, and doner kebab. It is essentially grilled meat

🔸 Baklava: A sweet pastry made with layers of filo dough and nuts

🔸 Manti: Turkish dumplings filled with meat, served with yogurt and garlic sauce

🔸 Pide: A boat-shaped flatbread typically topped with minced meat, cheese, and vegetables. It is like a long-shaped pizza

🔸 Dolma: Grape leaves stuffed with rice, herbs, and ground meat

🔸 Menemen: Typically served as breakfast, it comprises eggs, tomatoes, cheese, peppers, and spices all served together. It reminds us of a full omelet

🔸 Simit: It is like a Turkish bagel

🔸 Turkish Coffee: A small glass of thick and strong-tasting coffee

🔸 Turkish Çai: Turkish tea

🔸 Midye dolma: Fried or steamed oyster stuffed with herbed rice and lemon

🔸 Börek: A pastry made from thin layers of phyllo dough stuffed with cheese, meat, spinach

🔸 Kokoreç: Lamb intestines, skewered, grilled, sliced, then served on a sandwich

🔸 Dondurma: Local Turkish ice cream. It is typically made with goat’s milk and is a lot denser than the typical ice cream

There are for sure way more dishes but these are some of the highlights we think you should not miss!

Can I tour Istanbul on my own?

It is definitely possible to do this food tour on your own, however, the true value of this experience is having the local guide’s insights and favourite spots. If you tour on your own, there is a likely chance that you may end up at one of the tourist trap restaurants.

Furthermore, you can’t eat what you don’t know about right?

When we arrived, we had no idea what manti, pide, börek, and menemen were. Therefore, we would’ve never had the chance to eat it without the guide suggesting it.

How many days do you need in Istanbul?

We would highly recommend spending at least 3 days in Istanbul. The city is massive and filled with so many activities! You can eat, cruise the Bosphorus, see whirling dervish, explore the mosques, the markets, people watch, and so much more. To get a better idea of the best things to do and how to organize 3 days in Istanbul, check out that post.

Is Istanbul a walkable city?

Istanbul is a walkable city overall but you will likely require some public transportation to get around. If you are staying in Sultanahmet, then you can reach most of the main attractions in Sultanahmet within 20-30 minutes of walking.

However, if you would like to see Galata Tower, Istiklal Street, or Ortakoy mosque, then the walk can be 1-2 hours each way. To get a better understanding of where things are, how to get there, and what you should see in Istanbul, visit our guide for 3 days in Istanbul.

You will definitely require some transport service after arriving at the Istanbul Airport. We would highly recommend booking a private transport service for a stress-free experience!

Conclusion: Food tour Istanbul

Doing a food tour is one of the best ways to learn about the history, culture, and people of Turkey, all while savouring delicious food! It is also the optimal way to get your bearings on how things work in the city. 

We always recommend doing a food tour on one of the first days upon arrival. And now that you learned the 8 things to know before booking a food tour in Istanbul, you are perfectly equipped to start your adventure!

Wondering where to head next? Other than Istanbul, our favourite food in Turkey was while visiting the coastal town of Kas! It is absolutely beautiful and has so many things to do! If you want to see our complete Turkey Itinerary, check out our 10 Days in Turkey Guide!

If you would like to have a better idea of how much things cost, check out this post where we break down all our spending in Turkey!

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