Spice Market & Bosphorus ferry Two continents in half a day We meet near Istanbul's Spice Market for a Turkish breakfast, then cross the Bosphorus by ferry to Kadıköy on the Asian side. This small-group walking food tour moves through local markets, backstreets and neighborhood restaurants. Eight carefully chosen stops, more than 20 Turkish tastings, guided by locals who know where Istanbul actually eats. 1 Viyana Kahvesi Sirkeci Meet your guide inside, by the entrance. Easy to reach on foot, by public transport, or taxi. Viyana Kahvesi Sirkeci Meet your guide inside, by the entrance. Easy to reach on foot, by public transport, or taxi. 2 Spice Market visit ← since 1664 Walk through the vaulted lanes of the Mısır Çarşısı, past sumac mounds, smoky isot pepper, lokum towers, dried apricots and figs. Two tasting stops along the way. Spice Market visit Walk through the vaulted lanes of the Mısır Çarşısı, past sumac mounds, smoky isot pepper, lokum towers, dried apricots and figs. Two tasting stops along the way. 3 Traditional Turkish breakfast Sit down to a full kahvaltı: cheeses, olives, honey with kaymak, sucuklu yumurta, pastirma, simit, çay refilled while you eat. Traditional Turkish breakfast Sit down to a full kahvaltı: cheeses, olives, honey with kaymak, sucuklu yumurta, pastirma, simit, çay refilled while you eat. 4 Bosphorus ferry ← scenic crossing Cross the Bosphorus by ferry, with twenty minutes to wander the deck, take photos, or listen as your guide shares stories of the city from the water. Bosphorus ferry Cross the Bosphorus by ferry, with twenty minutes to wander the deck, take photos, or listen as your guide shares stories of the city from the water. 5 Kadıköy market ← locals' favorite Walk through Kadıköy's market streets, past fishmongers, cheese counters, olive and pickle shops, and the smell of fresh börek. Four tasting stops along the way. Walk through Kadıköy's market streets, past fishmongers, cheese counters, olive and pickle shops, and the smell of fresh börek. Four tasting stops along the way. 6 Backstreets of Moda Move into Moda's quieter backstreets, past neighborhood bakeries, old meyhanes, local dessert shops and the side of Kadıköy most visitors never reach. Two tasting stops along the way. Backstreets of Moda Move into Moda's quieter backstreets, past neighborhood bakeries, old meyhanes, local dessert shops and the side of Kadıköy most visitors never reach. Two tasting stops along the way. 7 Kadıköy ferry station End at Kadıköy pier with return ferry tickets included. Your guide will help you catch the ferry to Eminönü (Spice Market), Karaköy, Kabataş or Beşiktaş, depending on where you're heading next. Kadıköy ferry station End at Kadıköy pier with return ferry tickets included. Your guide will help you catch the ferry to Eminönü (Spice Market), Karaköy, Kabataş or Beşiktaş, depending on where you're heading next. Tasting highlights Six dishes to come hungry for 1 the long table 2 family-run since 1867 3 eaten by hand 4 the Antep cure 5 straight from the shell 6 the sweet finish Simit, fresh from the local carts Ezine peynir, tulum, olives, pastırma Fındık ezmesi, Antep fıstığı ezmesi (hazelnut and pistachio spread) Menemen and sucuklu yumurta, hot from the pan Honey poured over kaymak Hot çay, refilled throughout breakfast İskender kebab, thin-sliced over toasted pide Browned butter poured tableside Fermented grape juice Variety of pickles Lahmacun, paper-thin, eaten by hand Beyran soup, lamb broth with garlic and pepper Bread torn fresh for the soup Midye dolma, popped open with lemon (traditional and spicy) Pistachio baklava and plain, cacao and pistachio Turkish dondurma (ice-cream) Please note: the foods above are a sample of what we often feature on this tour. Exact tastings may change by day or season, depending on what our favorite vendors are serving best. Every tour still includes more than 20 tastings across 8 food stops. What the day looks like. Markets, ferry decks, long tables and plenty of food. What's included Everything in one ticket 8 different eateries and restaurants, with 20+ tastings across the day 4-5 exciting and local drinks (non-alcoholic) Ferry tickets, Europe to Asia and back An experienced, licensed English-speaking Istanbul food guide with deep knowledge of Turkish cuisine Food stories, local history, and personal insight that connect each tasting to Istanbul's neighborhoods, people, and daily life Not included: Guide gratuities Where we'll meet Viyana Kahvesi Sirkeci Hobyar, Hamidiye Cd. 16H, 34112 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye Taste of Two Continents tour finishes at Kadıköy Ferry Terminal. Your return ferry tickets are included. Your guide will help you catch the ferry to Eminönü (Spice Market), Karaköy, Kabataş or Beşiktaş. Practical details Booking & cancellation Instant confirmation, no booking fees. Secure payment.

Full refund up to 24 hours before the tour. Vegetarian alternatives at 6 of the 8 food stops. Not ideal for severe nut and dairy allergies. Daily departures at 09:30, 10:30 and 11:30. Max 10 people per group. Private groups also available. Meeting point details sent in your confirmation email. Infants (0–5) join free. Children 6–12 are US$85. An empty stomach and your appetite. Casual, comfortable shoes. An umbrella if rain is forecast. We run rain or shine. What guests mention again and again A summary based on 7,985+ verified guest reviews. More than a food tour, this is a local introduction to Istanbul. Travelers consistently praise the generous amount of food, the variety of dishes, the ferry crossing to Kadıköy, and the guides' ability to bring Turkish food, history, and daily life together in a relaxed way. Many guests say it was one of the best things they did in Istanbul, especially because it helped them discover local places and dishes they would not have found alone, and left them feeling more confident exploring the city on their own. local guide 2,140 ferry crossing 1,892 small group 1,350 generous tastings 1,287 hidden local spots 1,120 great value 980 come hungry 860 Started with breakfast, ended with baklava First food tour I've ever done. Ali walked us from a Turkish breakfast right through to baklava at the end, with a Bosphorus ferry crossing in between. I'd do it again on day one of any future trip. Eight stops with a true local Bahri walked us through eight stops across the city with patience, humor, and deep food knowledge. It felt like we were learning Istanbul through the food, not just tasting it. Come hungry. Seriously. The food itself was a fantastic variety, and the portions are no joke. We were absolutely stuffed by the end. Do yourself a favor and arrive hungry. Seriously, skip breakfast. A great first thing to do in Istanbul Phenomenal introduction to the city, culture and the wide variety of food. Good thing to do early in your trip. We learned a lot! Is this food tour good for a first day in Istanbul? Yes, day one is the best day to do it. By the end of the tour you'll know where to eat for the rest of your trip, which neighborhoods to come back to, and the must-try dishes. We send our guests a list of recommendations across the city. What makes this food tour different from exploring Istanbul on our own? Exploring Istanbul on your own is possible, but this tour gives the day shape. Your local guide knows where to go, what to order and why it matters, turning Istanbul's history into something you can taste. You move from the Spice Market to Kadıköy without wasting hours on maps or menus, with a small group of like-minded food lovers. Does the tour visit both the European and Asian sides of Istanbul? Yes. The tour starts near the Spice Market on the European side, then crosses the Bosphorus by ferry and finishes in Kadıköy on the Asian side. The ferry crossing is part of the experience, with time on deck for photos, sea air, and skyline views. Which neighborhoods do we visit? You'll visit Eminönü on the European side, around the Spice Market, then cross the Bosphorus by ferry to Kadıköy and Moda on the Asian side. Along the way, we walk through market streets and backstreets, stopping at local vendors where Istanbulites still shop and eat every day. What kind of Turkish foods will we try? Your day begins with a Turkish breakfast: cheeses, olives, kaymak, simit, menemen and çay. From there it moves into thin-sliced döner with hot butter, hand-rolled lahmacun, stuffed mussels, lamb broth, and ends with pistachio baklava and Turkish dondurma. It's a generous taste of Istanbul, built around foods locals actually eat. How much food is included, and should I eat before the tour? Come hungry. Over 5.5 hours, the tour includes eight food stops and more than 20 tastings: a Turkish breakfast to start, then enough food across the rest of the day to add up to another full meal. It's best to skip breakfast at your hotel. You'd do okay with just a coffee on the way. Is this a walking food tour? How much walking is involved? Yes. This is a walking food tour, with about 3 km of mostly flat walking in total. You sit down at the longer food stops, while a couple of quicker tastings are eaten standing. Either way, you're never walking for long without a break. Good shoes help, and the pace is comfortable throughout the day. Where does the tour start and finish? We meet at Viyana Kahvesi in Sirkeci, a 5-minute walk from the Spice Market on the European side. The tour ends at Kadıköy ferry station on the Asian side. Your return ferry tickets are included, and your guide will help you find the right ferry back to Eminönü (Spice Market), Karaköy, Kabataş or Beşiktaş. After you book, we send the exact meeting point with a Google Maps link. Is the tour suitable for children and families? Yes. Children are welcome, and many families love this tour. Children aged 6 to 12 join at a reduced US$85 rate, and kids five and under come along free. Group size is capped at ten, so the day stays small and family-friendly. The pace is relaxed, with short walks between stops, seats at the main tastings and plenty of foods kids can enjoy, like Turkish breakfast, simit with honey and baklava. If you're traveling with a baby or toddler, a foldable stroller or carrier works best because some stops are small and the market streets can be busy. Can you accommodate dietary restrictions or food allergies? We can work around most dietary needs, but please mention them in the booking notes so your guide is prepared. Vegetarians and pescatarians have alternatives at 6 of the 8 stops. Vegan is harder, since Turkish cooking leans on butter, cheese and yogurt, but we make it work at about half the stops. Most meat is halal, though not formally certified. For gluten-intolerant guests, 3-4 of the 8 stops can't be made gluten-free; at 2-3 others we plate the filling without the bread or wrap. This tour isn't a fit for severe gluten allergies or celiac disease. We can accommodate nut allergies, but 1-2 stops feature nut dishes with no alternative, and traces are possible everywhere. We don't recommend this tour for severe allergies where cross-contamination is a risk. For specific dietary concerns, or if you are pregnant, please get in touch before booking. What happens if it rains? The tour runs rain or shine. Most food stops are indoors, and the ferry runs as normal in rainy weather. Please dress for the forecast and bring a light jacket or umbrella if needed. We only cancel for extreme weather, and in that rare case we'll offer a reschedule or refund. What is the cancellation policy? You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the tour starts. Within 24 hours, bookings are non-refundable, but we'll try to reschedule if we have room. The earlier you let us know, the better. Didn't find your answer? Contact us. We answer within a day. If you've already done the European side Istanbul · 3 hours Kadıköy Street Food Tour The Asian side as locals eat it: stuffed mussels, lahmacun and goat's-milk dondurma. Ferry to Europe included. For an evening in Beyoğlu Istanbul · 3 hours Taksim Evening Food Tour An evening in Beyoğlu: kebabs in the backstreets off İstiklâl, traditional desserts to finish. US$135 · 5.5 hours · free cancellation 24h before Calendar not loading? Book here instead We use Google and Meta cookies for analytics and to measure our ads. Privacy policy