Istanbul Taste of Two Continents Food Tour - Spice Market & Ferry
Overview
Available languages
5 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Ready to taste the best food on both sides of Istanbul?
Start with a delicious traditional Turkish breakfast in Europe in the heart of the historic Old City, before you sail across to Asia and explore the vibrant streets of Kadıköy.
With your foodie guide, you’ll make 8-9 delicious stops during your walk with a variety of samples at each – enough to fill your belly to the brim with all the fantastic Turkish flavors!
From street foods and home-made Turkish food to traditional kebabs and Turkish ice cream, The Taste of Two Continents tour is your full-day immersion inside Istanbul’s food scene and a glimpse of Turkish culture and daily life.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Maximum group size is 10
Comfortable walking shoes recommended
Children aged 5 years and younger are welcome at no charge
Tour runs rain or shine
This is a walking tour. Max walking distance is 10 minutes between many stops. Total 2.5kms (1.5miles) walk.
Not recommended for vegan, gluten free, lactose free travelers
Not recommended for travelers with serious allergies or food restrictions
Please advise any specific dietary/allergy requirements at time of booking
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Historic Areas of Istanbul
The Taste of Two Continents food tour begins in Istanbul’s Old City. There, we meet to begin our tour in the heart of Eminönü, close to Spice Market.
Misir Carsisi (Spice Market)
Market Sourced Turkish Breakfast: Visit a breakfast market in the morning and gather an assortment of Turkish breakfast items, including cheeses, buffalo cream, hazelnut paste, honey, olives, dried beef pastrami, simit, and enjoy it all with traditional Turkish tea & menemen (Turkish scrambled eggs) at a local tea house. Listen to your guide’s entertaining & interesting stories about culture and daily life in Turkey while wondering if this could be your favorite breakfast ever.
What‘s Included
Friendly, knowledgeable and passionate English-speaking tour guide
8-9 uniquely different eateries and restaurants, multiple tastings at each
A day filled with culinary, cultural, historic and personal anecdotes, with a local insider’s view
Snacks
Lunch
4-5 exciting local drinks.
Gratuities / Tips for guide
No vegetarian food options at 2-3 of the food stops
No vegan food options at 4-5 of the food stops
This is a walking tour. Max walking distance is 10 minutes between many stops. Total 2.5-3.5kms (1.5-2miles) walk.
Options
Istanbul Taste of Two Continents Food Tour - Spice Market & Ferry
Reviews
3,153 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Don't leave home before booking this!
galllant,,Dec 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I feel so much richer for going on this tour. I've studied a little history and knew a bit about the significance of Istanbul as a world city, but without this tour, my first trip to the city would have missed so much of what my eyes were seeing. First, this was no mini tour; it was six hours of walking the streets of the old city, tasting/eating turkish cuisine at places ready to serve. I was told to skip breakfast and glad I did. I didn't eat til the next day! The trip includes a ferry ride to the Asian side of Istanbul and back and while there more tasting, more restaurants, and more authentic flavor. All expertly guided by a resident who knew his city, his commentary along the was was spontaneous, non scripted, but totally knowledge based and engrossing. I'm sure every member of our group (there were about 12 of us) were deeply impressed, moved, and grateful (as I was) that I was fortunate enough to have had this experience. Put it on your "must do" list for the first timer of if you've been to the city scores of times. 5 Bright Stars!
Worth it
Dedre,,Dec 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Look no further. Ali, the tour genius, added a lot of history of Turkey as well as a wide knowledge and grasp of food in general to this day trip. We tasted a vast amount of very delicious and sumptuous typical dishes of the country with lovely breaks in between. Try to do this tour. Well worth the money
Absolutely worth it!
U474BZtimothys,,Dec 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Selen is a great tour guide and very knowledgeable on both food and the history of Istanbul. I would absolutely recommend this trip to my friends and family, and I am grateful that I was able to go on this experience!
Excellent time in Istanbul with this food tour
695adityaj,,Dec 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent, easy must do if you are in Istanbul. Ayse was fantastic. This was very much well worth the money. Would Do again.
A day I'll remember
anuragistripping,,Dec 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide Ayşe was very sweet and warm, and she made the whole tour feel deeply contentful. We started with Turkish delights, a really tasty traditional breakfast, and a quick Spice Bazaar walk before heading to the Asian side, which had a more urban vibe. The ferry ride was short, and we tried so many traditional dishes I had never had before, ending with some amazing desserts. She shared lots of stories, and we ended up chatting about local farming and cooking and how food shapes people and culture. The pickle drink was a standout for me, and the whole experience felt rich and memorable.
A MUST tour! Don’t eat breakfast!
Anonymous,,Dec 9, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Amazing tour - Ali our guide was exceptional and provided us extremely well detailed descriptions of the food and history of all the different spices and foods. He is also very knowledgeable of the areas the spices and foods come from and the history behind them. We will offer this to any future customers - book this tour first before heading out in your own, you will have toolbox of experience when shopping and NOT eat breakfast, the food is not only delicious you will eat enough to not need dinner! Ali, thanks for kicking off our visit to your lovely city and country, we are so much more prepared now.
Fun feast
Explorer43843997484,,Dec 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Highly recommended. We toured places we would have never been to. Helpful hint, don't eat breakfast before coming. You'll get so much food, it feels like you won't have to eat for two days. A super fun time. Our host was excellent, funny and knowledgeable.
Worth every nibble and chew!!
Adrian C,,Dec 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The tour was what we were expecting and more. Our guide, Bahri, took us to various places and provided a variety of ways of eating from a sit down breakfast filled with various helpings of food, hand samplings of spices, along the way snacks and dining in restaurants. You will not be hungry after the tour!! He was very attentive, answering questions and shared his time among the participants. Worth the time and money! Learned a lot and feasted on a wide variety of food in Istanbul. Highly recommended especially if you can get Bahri as your guide!
A great experience for a variety of Turkish Cuisine
Y2190HUrobertb,,Dec 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Enjoyable experience venturing through the European and Asian side of Istanbul to enjoy delicious food. A wide verity of food from a small traditional Turkish breakfast to Fish Wraps at a small fish vendor. It gives you a good overview of the Turkish Cuisine.
Simply fabulous
MrSteveB,,Dec 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolutely brilliant day! A great way to see and learn about Istanbul and get to taste the flavours at the same time! Our guide Ali was incredible and I can’t recommend this enough ❤️😎🤩
From US$135.00
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
Related Experiences
Operated by Yummy Istanbul