Food Tour Istanbul: Spice Bazaar, Bosphorus & Local Eateries

You cross the world's narrowest strait between courses.

A food tour in Istanbul led by a local guide takes you through the Spice Bazaar and across the Bosphorus Strait to Kadıköy, where you eat at six traditional restaurants serving centuries-old recipes. The tour includes all food, drinks and ferry transport, and runs four to five hours with tastings at multiple stops.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Spice Bazaar30m
2. Bosphorus StraitEntry included25m

Explore Istanbul's food markets and tastes

• Meet local guide in morning
• Visit Spice Bazaar and taste delights
• Take public ferry across Bosphorus Strait
• Explore Kadıköy food market and eat local
• Return and visit best baklava shop

The experience

The day starts at the Spice Bazaar, the second oldest covered market in Istanbul, where you taste Turkish delights and see the spices locals have bought for generations. From there you walk to the ferry terminal and board a public boat across the Bosphorus (the narrowest natural channel between two continents) with transport fees already paid. The crossing itself is part of the meal: you're moving between Europe and Asia while the guide talks you through what's ahead.

Once you reach Kadıköy on the Asian side, you eat at local restaurants that serve the food Istanbul residents actually choose, not the places built for tourists. The guide picks spots that have been around long enough to perfect their recipes, and you'll taste multiple dishes at some of them. By the end you'll have eaten at six different eateries, with non-alcoholic drinks and water included throughout. The tour finishes at one of the city's best baklava shops before heading back across the strait.

Come hungry. The amount of food is designed to be more than enough, and the guide (an English speaker who knows both the food and the history) makes sure you understand what you're eating and why it matters to the city.

What’s included

• All food and tastings at six restaurants and markets.
• non-alcoholic drinks and water throughout the day.
• public ferry transport across the Bosphorus.
• English-speaking local guide.

Information

Lasts 4h–5h, runs every day at 09:30, from US$ 140 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 8 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30Last departure this season: 28 Feb 2027Another time? ›

GroupUp to 81 private ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.2 with pickup ›

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (18 to 90 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (under 6): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Local guide

Is this one for you?Join a group following a set route with your guide to eat at old local restaurants on both Istanbul's European and Asian sides. Choose this if you want someone else navigating the ferry and deciding which stops matter.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What kind of food do you actually eat on this tour?

You taste local and street foods at six traditional restaurants that serve centuries-old recipes, mostly places where Istanbul residents eat rather than tourist spots. Multiple tastings happen at some stops, and the Spice Bazaar includes Turkish delights and traditional sweets.

Do you have to cook or prepare anything yourself?

No. You eat at established restaurants and markets where the food is already prepared. Your role is to taste, ask questions and move between the stops with the guide.

What is the Spice Bazaar actually like?

The Spice Bazaar is the second oldest covered market in Istanbul, filled with vendors selling spices and traditional foods. You'll see how locals shop there and taste the Turkish delights and other goods the market is known for.

How does the Bosphorus crossing work during the tour?

You take a public ferry across the Bosphorus Strait to reach the Asian side of Istanbul, where the second food market and more restaurants are located. The ferry ride is included in the tour price, and it's the narrowest natural channel between two continents.

Is this tour suitable if I have food allergies?

The operator notes this tour is not recommended for travelers with food allergies, since tastings are a core part of the experience and happen at multiple stops throughout the day.