We had an wonderful Istanbul food tour with Furkan that took us through both the Asian and European sides of this vibrant city. We began our day with a delightful breakfast, sampling delicious local dishes that we might not have tried on our own. Everything was truly perfect and full of flavor, making it a memorable experience.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Experience the delicious taste of authentic home-cooked meals or indulge in an enticing selection of kebabs that will satisfy your cravings!
- Public transportation (ferry)
- Indulge in a delightful traditional breakfast featuring flaky pastries, savory sucuk, sweet honey, and rich clotted cream, accompanied by fragrant tea, fresh olives, and a variety of cheeses.
- As you stroll through the vibrant streets of Istanbul, indulge in the irresistible flavors of kokorec, stuffed mussels, and delectable baklava.
- Coffee and/or Tea
Excludes
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Private transportation
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Your guide will be waiting for you at the renowned Murat Muhallebecisi in Karakoy, conveniently situated just steps away from the Karakoy T1 tram station.
Return
- We will conclude the tour at the Kadikoy ferry station, where you can easily take a ferry back to your accommodation, the cruise port, or the European side of Istanbul.
Itinerary
Your adventure begins as your tour guide meets you at Karakoy Murat Muhallebicisi, just steps from the Karakoy tram station. Embrace the morning with a delightful breakfast featuring Turkish menemen, a savory sucuklu omelet, rich kaymak, and sweet honey, setting the perfect tone for your day ahead.
Next, we’ll take a leisurely stroll through the vibrant streets of Karakoy, immersing ourselves in the rich colors and lively atmosphere. We’ll pause to enjoy a comforting cup of coffee at one of the beloved local coffee houses, and we can’t wait for you to experience the delight of tasting the freshest baklava in Turkey. It’s moments like these that create lasting memories, and we're excited to share them with you.
Later in the day, we'll embark on an exciting ferry ride from the European side of Istanbul to the vibrant Asian side, specifically Kadikoy (historically known as Kalkedon, which translates to "the city of the blind"). Here, you can indulge in delicious stuffed or fried mussels from the bustling Kadikoy market, a treat you won't want to miss. Our journey will culminate with a tasting of authentic home cook-style local cuisines OR mouthwatering kebabs. For the adventurous at heart, why not try a unique liver wrap? It’s an experience that promises to delight your taste buds! We will conclude the tour at the Kadikoy ferry station.
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
We always make sure to go on a food tour in every city we visit. When we were in Istanbul, we booked a foodie tour with Derya. She met us at the cruise port and took us an amazing food tour, starting with a delicious breakfast on the European side and finishing on the Asian side after our authentic Turkish food tasting experience. Derya is a local who knows all the hidden gems and was thrilled to share all the stories with us. We’re so excited to visit Istanbul again next year in May, and we can’t wait to book more tours with Derya, both in Istanbul and throughout Turkey.
I had the most incredible experience during my brief stay in Istanbul, a food tour! Our guide, Derya, was an absolute gem, and she took us on a compelling journey through the city’s culinary delights. We learned so much from her about the fascinating history and origins of Turkish dishes and their makers. What made the tour even more special was that it was personalized to our preferences, so we got to indulge in everything we loved. We covered a lot of ground at an easygoing pace, which made the experience all the more enjoyable. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Istanbul.
We were so lucky to have Derya as our guide for two days while we visited Istanbul. She took us on an adventure through both the old and new city, as well as the bazaars. Prior to our cruise, we connected with Derya via WhatsApp and were impressed by her prompt and clear responses. On the first day of our trip was a driving tour of an off the beaten food paths of Istanbul where we tasted delicious Turkish foods. The second day, we enjoyed a walking tour of the old city where we learned a lot while walking around. We had a great time with Derya and would love to come back to explore the city again with her soon.
We planned a trip to Istanbul before my sister’s wedding to shop for some wedding related items. We wanted to explore the city in a different way and experience some offbeat places that are not typically visited by tourists. We were fortunate to find Derya, who came highly recommended by someone we know. On our first day, Derya took us on a customized food tour that was tailored to our taste, and it was an absolute delight. She took us to some hidden gems that we would have never found on our own. We got to taste some authentic Turkish food and learn about the history and culture behind each dish. On the second day, we spent our time exploring the Grand Bazaar and the surrounding areas. Derya was very organized and professional, and she managed our family with ease despite our constant request and last minute changes. She was very patient and understanding, and we felt like we were in good hands throughout the trip.
Derya is such a unique soul. Istanbul and the food were delicious, but she was one of the best parts of the tour. She was so friendly and had excellent knowledge. She took us to places we hadn’t seen in the guidebooks-fantastic value for money. We learned a lot and saw so much of Istanbul in just six hours, and it was perfect for our ten-year-old son as well. We already have, and will continue to, recommend her and her company to anyone we know visiting Istanbul.
We had a fantastic food tasting tour with Derya. Her knowledge was extensive, she was super friendly and fun to be around with. We learned so much about the local life of Istanbul and best food spots in Istanbul which was exactly what we needed and seeking for. We can not recommend Derya and her company enough. If you are lucky, you’ll get Derya.
I enjoyed every minute of my food tour with Derya. She is extremely friendly, accommodating and knowledgeable. In about six hours we wander through the local markets, eateries and hidden gems. She tailored the tour to my taste, I had choices in what I tried, did a lot of walking and enjoyed couple of seated tasting. I have done so many tours in different cities and my food tour with Derya by far and superior to all. A wonderful way to spend your day in Istanbul.
Derya is a joy to experience Istanbul food with. It felt like a friend was sharing her favorite spots and foods with great style and professionalism. We usually prefer to stroll around at our own pace and stop when we see something interesting. We are so glad we booked this food tour and spent the day with Derya. We stayed with Derya longer than we should have and even wandered the Grand Bazaar together after the food tour. We will definitely book another tour when we back in Istanbul. Such a great experience.
We really enjoyed the tour. We saw and tasted pretty much everything Istanbul has to offer. Derya was fantastic and knew everything about Istanbul and she loved to answer all our endless questions. She treated us like family and we all adored her. She absolutely knows how to inform, entertain and maintain a good vibe. We will always keep our short weekend Istanbul experience in our memories. We highly recommend this tour company and we will definitely be coming back to experience more of Istanbul with Derya.
Our guide Furkan was excellent and taught my family and I so much about Turkish cuisine and culture. Our tour came a tricky time because restaurants were starting to close again due to COVID. Despite this, Furkan went out of his way to find places for us to sample a wide variety of foods all over Istanbul. He showed us so many new dishes and restaurants that we wouldn't have been able to find on our own. He was a great host that truly loves talking about cuisine and it was one of the best tours my family has ever been on. If you're ever in Istanbul, I highly recommend this tour. You will learn so much about the Turkish cuisine and culture!
Derya and her colleagues met all of our needs in the planning stage and fulfilled all our expectations on our trip. My husband and I had an amazing trip thanks to all the planning she did for us. They provided customizable experiences that we were looking for. We certainly got everything that was promised, from private transfers from the airport, gorgeous centrally located hotels with traditional delicious breakfasts, and outstanding personalized private tours in Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus and Pamukkale and of course recommendations that maximize our time and allows us to do our own thing in our free time in Turkey where we would be lost because of the language barriers and our unfamiliarity. We fell in love with Turkey and will certainly take our family in the future for another wonderful trip with Derya.
My husband and I had the holiday of a lifetime. Since we knew very little about Turkey we relied on our travel agent heavily in deciding where to go, what to do, and eat. The tour itinerary and additional options made for an unforgettable experience, giving us the best to see in Turkey in the 9 days we had. Derya made what was already a great holiday even more awesome with her professionalism, warm personality, knowledge, and willingness to be so helpful. We had the opportunity to get close to locals and not only doing the touristy things. We stayed in outstanding boutique hotels in every city. From the food to the experiences we did during the day and night helped us get more out of our holiday. We highly recommend Derya to anyone who wants a fabulous trip to Turkey and of course we want to go back again.
We had a fantastic trip and appreciated having Derya our local guide with us. The trip was a fantastic introduction to the highlights, the social and cultural traditions of Turkey. However, Derya was the one who really made the trip memorable through her knowledge, enthusiasm, and great organizational skill. She always led us to the right and authentic point whether this was shopping, art, or museums. Turkey was a big surprise to my family because of all the adverse political media coverage and we thoroughly enjoyed the rich culture with many smiling faces.
Furkan made the tour one of the best experiences we had during our time in Istanbul. He met us by our apartment and we were able to spend a wonderful day getting to see sites and sample food on both the European and Asian sides of the city. The walking tour was broken up by stops at various cafes and restaurants and the use of trams and ferries. We went to places we likely would not have stumbled upon on our own. Furkan is very knowledgeable of Istanbul and a very nice person to spend the day with. He made sure we would have memories of the day, taking photos and suggesting others for us to take. It was a great day and we highly recommend!
When you are trying to plan a trip in these difficult times, it can be stressful. The best places to stay, visit, eat, and relax. I truly could not have done all of that without Derya's assistance. She crafted an active agenda to maximize our experience in Turkey along with several options for hotels and tours for us to select from. She was also our tour guide in Istanbul and gave us some truly unforgettable experiences, filled with unique and insightful anecdotes. She was always available via mobile or email to guide us along the way that was very impressive and helpful. The local guides she selected for us in Ephesus, and Cappadocia were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. They shared a wealth of information, went above and beyond to ensure that we had a memorable trip. Thank you so much, Derya. We are so appreciative of the hard work, and for sharing your beautiful country with us
Turkey what an amazing country we fell in love with the country and its people. the planning, organization and delivery of the trip was excellent. The itinerary was suitable for travelers of all ages and provides a great experience and insight into the Turkish way of life. Derya was a charming young lady with extensive local knowledge. we had a fantastic trip with her and appreciated having a local experienced guide. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone looking for a relaxing and fulfilling opportunity to experience the excellent food. culture and history of Turkey.
Our 10-day trip was the perfect mix of culture, fun, and relaxation. We had more than expected and our guide Derya was a legend. We are very thankful to her. She was a friend, always take an extra step to help us have a great experience in every stop. and helper in every situation. The activities were amazing, the highlights were our food tour in Istanbul, a day in Gallipoli, and a balloon tour in Cappadocia. Turkey is a real diamond and you never realized how incredible and beautiful sites and people in Turkey until you see and meet them in person. Best tour we have ever done. Just do it if you have been thinking of visiting Turkey.
Our trip to Turkey was amazing. Derya was so easy to work with, she responded to all my emails punctually. Our overall experience was nothing but fabulous. She arranged for us centrally located boutique hotels, private drivers, and experienced English speaking guided tours in Ephesus, Cappadocia, and Gallipoli. She was also our fantastic guide in Istanbul. You describe your dreams and budget. Derya and her team take care of everything. This was a completely wonderful and stress-free trip to Turkey. I would highly recommend using them.
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